When men were men, and every Dodger was a 'great'

As the Dodgers approach the playoffs, it's easy for me to focus on their weaknesses -- or at least what I perceive as their weaknesses. They leave too many runners on base, some of their relievers aren't exactly clutch, a starter or two lacks confidence.

But the Dodgers have made the playoffs three of the last four seasons, which means it's almost time for me to start thinking about this current group the way I think about past Dodger postseason greats -- as flawless and always clutch. Dodger Blue superheroes. The past is always rosier than the present, isn't it?

It helps to have card sets like Fleer Greats of the Game around. It gives your favorite bygone stars that superhuman vibe. With none of the icky "hits .165 with runners in scoring position" after taste.

Thorzul Will Rule recently held a box break of the 2006 set and I swooped in on the Dodgers. I didn't get any big hits -- the copper parallel of Dusty Baker up top is the only "hit" I received -- but I did manage 11 Dodgers cards.

Let's see what I got, and how these Dodgers did in postseason play:

Player: Steve Sax
Dodger postseasons: 4 (1981, 1983, 1985, 1988)
Overall stats: .276 avg., .337 OBP, .647 OPS
Best series: either 1985 NLCS vs. Cardinals or 1988 WS vs. A's

Player: Don Sutton
Dodger postseasons: 3 (1974, 1977, 1978)
Overall stats: 5-3, 43 Ks, 3.56 ERA
Best series: 1974 NLCS vs. Pirates

Player: Don Drysdale
Dodger postseasons: 5 (1956, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1966)
Postseason stats: 3-3, 36 Ks, 2.95 ERA
Best series: 1963 WS vs. Yankees

Player: Dusty Baker
Dodger postseasons: 4 (1977, 1978, 1981, 1983)
Postseason stats: .282 avg., .341 OBP, .764 OPS
Best series: Tie, either 1977 or 1978 NLCS. Man, he loved facing the Phillies

Player: Steve Garvey
Dodger postseasons: 4 (1974, 1977, 1978, 1981)
Postseason stats: .338 avg., .361 OBP, .910 OPS
Best series: He had a bunch of great ones. But hitting .417 in 1981 World Series vs. Yankees is hard to top.

Player: Don Newcombe
Dodger postseason series: 3 (1949, 1955, 1956)
Postseason stats: 0-4, 19Ks, 8.59 ERA (heh, not so great, I guess)
Best series: 1949 WS vs. Yankees

Player: Maury Wills
Dodger postseasons: 4 (1959, 1963, 1965, 1966)
Postseason stats: .244 avg., .289 OBP, .571 OPS (again, not so great)
Best series: 1965 WS vs. Twins

Player: Ron Cey
Dodger postseason series: 4 (1974, 1977, 1978, 1981)
Postseason stats: .261 avg., .362 OBP, .803 OPS
Best series: 1981 WS vs. Yankees (MVP!)

Very pleased with landing the Penguin cards.

So, here's hoping that some of the present-day Dodgers land in future retro-greats card series. Yes, that means retro series will have to continue long into the future. I don't have a problem with that.