The 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 76th season for the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB), their 8th season in Los Angeles, California, and their 4th season playing their home games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles California. The Dodgers finished the regular-season with a 97–65 record, which earned them the NL pennant by two games over their arch-rivals, the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series in seven games over the Minnesota Twins.
Offseason October 15, 1964: Nick Willhite was purchased from the Dodgers by the Washington Senators. October 15, 1964: Larry Miller was traded by the Dodgers to the New York Mets for Dick Smith.Larry Miller at Baseball Reference November 30, 1964: Doug Camilli was purchased from the Dodgers by the Washington Senators.Doug Camilli at Baseball Reference December 4, 1964: Frank Howard, Phil Ortega, Pete Richert and a player to be named later were traded by the Dodgers to the Washington Senators for Claude Osteen, John Kennedy and cash. The Dodgers completed the deal by sending Dick Nen to the Senators on December 15.Frank Howard at Baseball Reference
Regular season
Season recap The Dodgers won the World Series in 1963, but injuries and poor play saw them fall to 6th place in 1964. Despite their weak offense and the trade of power hitting Frank Howard for Claude Osteen during the off season, they were expected to contend in 1965 with their strong pitching. However, one month into the season, they lost their best hitter Tommy Davis when he fractured his ankle sliding into second base. Most experts thought this ended any hope the Dodgers had of winning the pennant. To replace Davis, the club called up journeyman Lou Johnson; his infectious cheerful attitude and knack for timely hitting helped keep the club in contention.
The National League pennant race was a thriller, with 6 teams (the Dodgers, Giants, Pirates, Reds, Braves, and Phillies) in contention throughout a summer that saw the Dodgers, Giants, Braves, and Reds all take their turns in first place. With these 6 teams tightly bunched heading into September, the Giants went on a 14-game winning streak to take a -game lead with two weeks to play. Then the Dodgers went on a 13-game winning streak, and won 15 of their last 16 games to win the pennant by 2 games over the Giants.
The Dodgers were led by shortstop Maury Wills with 94 stolen bases, Sandy Koufax (26–8, 2.04 E.R.A. and a then record 382 strikeouts), and Don Drysdale (23–12, 2.77 E.R.A.) Drysdale also chipped in with 7 home runs and was the club's only .300 hitter.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Opening Day lineup +Opening Day startersName Position Maury Wills ShortstopWes Parker First basemanWillie Davis Center fielderTommy Davis Left fielderJohn RoseboroCatcherJim Lefebvre Second basemanRon Fairly Right fielderJohn Kennedy Third basemanDon Drysdale Starting pitcher
Notable transactions May 11, 1965: Nick Willhite was purchased by the Dodgers from the Washington Senators. December 15, 1965: Dick Tracewski was traded by the Dodgers to the Detroit Tigers for Phil Regan.Dick Tracewski at Baseball Reference
Roster 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers Roster Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Coaches
Game log Regular season Legend Dodgers win Dodgers loss Postponement Clinched pennantBoldDodgers team member
|-style="background:#bfb;" | 1 || || 11:00a.m. PST || @ Mets || W 6–1 || Drysdale (1–0) || Jackson (0–1) || — || 2:23 || 37,999 || 1–0 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || || 5:15p.m. PST || @ Pirates || W 3–1 || Osteen (1–0) || Gibbon (0–1) || — || 1:58 || 7,770 || 2–0 || W2 |-style="background:#bbb;" | — || || 5:15p.m. PST || @ Pirates || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 11 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || || 5:05p.m. PST || @ Phillies || L 2–3 || Short (2–0) || Drysdale (1–1) || Baldschun (1) || 2:23 || 17,021 || 2–1 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || || 10:35a.m. PST || @ Phillies || W 6–2 || Koufax (1–0) || Belinsky (0–1) || — || 2:43 || 11,107 || 3–1 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || || 8:00p.m. PST || Mets || L 2–3 || Spahn (1–0) || Osteen (1–1) || — || 2:37 || 36,161 || 3–2 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 6 || || 8:00p.m. PST || Mets || W 5–1 || Drysdale (2–1) || Willey (0–1) || Miller (1) || 3:09 || 18,134 || 4–2 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 7 || || 8:00p.m. PST || Mets || W 2–1 || Koufax (2–0) || Fisher (0–1) || — || 2:12 || 20,888 || 5–2 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 8 || || 8:00p.m. PST || Phillies || W 4–0 || Podres (1–0) || Bunning (1–2) || — || 1:58 || 29,120 || 6–2 || W3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 9 || || 8:00p.m. PST || Phillies || W 9–3 || Osteen (2–1) || Belinsky (0–2) || — || 2:47 || 36,500 || 7–2 || W4 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 10 || || 1:00p.m. PDT || Phillies || L 4–6 || Herbert (1–0) || Drysdale (2–2) || Baldschun (2) || 2:42 || 25,766 || 7–3 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 11 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Phillies || L 3–4 || Short (3–1) || Koufax (2–1)|| Baldschun (3) || 3:00 || 24,703 || 7–4 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 12 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Pirates || W 5–4 || Reed (1–0) || Gibbon (0–3) || Miller (2) || 2:54 || 17,630 || 8–4 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Pirates || L 0–2 || Veale (2–0) || Osteen (2–2) || — || 2:05 || 17,464 || 8–5 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 14 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Giants || W 2–1 || Drysdale (3–2) || Marichal (3–2) || — || 2:13 || 30,219 || 9–5 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 15 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Giants || W 6–3 || Miller (1–0) || Bolin (0–3) || — || 3:02 || 48,586 || 10–5 || W2
|-style="background:#bfb;" | 16 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Giants || W 4–2 || Purdin (1–0) || Perry (1–2) || Brewer (1) || 2:27 || 49,758 || 11–5 || W3 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 17 || || 1:00p.m. PDT || Giants || L 2–4 || Sanford (2–1) || Miller (1–1) || Linzy (1) || 2:43 || 40,439 || 11–6 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 18 || || 6:05p.m. PDT || @ Reds || W 8–6 || Brewer (1–0) || Jay (1–1) || — || 2:30 || 9,767 || 12–6 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 19 || || 6:05p.m. PDT || @ Reds || W 4–2 || Koufax (3–1) || O'Toole (0–4) || — || 2:38 || 9,753 || 13–6 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 20 || || 6:05p.m. PDT || @ Reds || W 4–3 || Podres (2–0) || Tsitouris (2–2) || Miller (3) || 2:20 || 7,821 || 14–6 || W3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 21 || || 8:15p.m. PDT || @ Giants || W 4–3 || Osteen (3–2) || Henry (2–1) || — || 2:26 || 33,977 || 15–6 || W4 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 22 || || 1:00p.m. PDT || @ Giants || W 9–0 || Drysdale (4–2) || Herbel (1–2) || — || 2:22 || 37,548 || 16–6 || W5 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 23 || || 1:00p.m. PDT || @ Giants || L 3–6 || Marichal (5–2) || Koufax (3–2) || — || 2:48 || 40,596 || 16–7 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 24 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Astros || W 3–2 || Miller (2–1) || Woodeshick (1–2) || — || 2:44 || 22,535 || 17–7 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 25 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Astros || L 1–2 || Giusti (6–0) || Osteen (3–3) || — || 1:57 || 21,086 || 17–8 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 26 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Astros || W 4–2 || Drysdale (5–2) || Nottebart (0–2) || — || 2:06|| 19,302 || 18–8 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 27 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Astros || W 3–0 || Koufax (4–2) || Bruce (1–4) || — || 2:05 || 20,963 || 19–8 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 28 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Cubs || L 1–2 || Buhl (4–2) || Purdin (1–1) || Abernathy (8) || 2:23 || 26,356 || 19–9 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 29 || || 1:00p.m. PDT || Cubs || W 3–1 || Miller (3–1) || Ellsworth (3–3) || Brewer (2) || 2:02 || 22,047 || 20–9 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 30 || || 1:00p.m. PDT || Cubs || L 3–5 || Jackson (3–3) || Perranoski (0–1) || — || 2:38 || — || 20–10 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 31 || || 4:13p.m. PDT || Cubs || W 3–2 || Drysdale (6–2) || McDaniel (0–1) || — || 2:22 || 45,739 || 21–10 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 32 || || 5:30p.m. PDT || @ Astros || W 5–3 || Koufax (5–2) || Bruce (1–5) || Miller (4) || 2:59 || 40,858 || 22–10 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 33 || || 5:30p.m. PDT || @ Astros || L 1–4 || Johnson (3–1) || Brewer (1–1) || Woodeshick (2) || 2:07 || 22,220 || 22–11 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 34 || || 5:30p.m. PDT || @ Astros || W 4–2 || Purdin (2–1) || MacKenzie (0–2) || Drysdale (1) || 4:04 || 30,885 || 23–11 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 35 || || 11:30a.m. PDT || @ Cubs || L 3–4 || Ellsworth (4–3) || Drysdale (6–3) || — || 2:22 || 4,716 || 23–12 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 36 || || 11:30a.m. PDT || @ Cubs || W 3–1 || Koufax (6–2) || Koonce (3–2) || — || 2:30 || 17,922 || 24–12 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 37 || || 11:30a.m. PDT || @ Cubs || L 2–3 || Ellsworth (5–3) || Reed (1–1) || — || 4:09 || 17,139 || 24–13 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 38 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Cardinals || L 4–6 || Stallard (3–1) || Osteen (3–4) || Schultz (1) || 3:11 || 22,987 || 24–14 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 39 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Cardinals || W 2–0 || Drysdale (7–3) || Gibson (8–1) || — || 1:41 || 28,515 || 25–14 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 40 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Cardinals || L 1–2 || Simmons (3–5) || Koufax (6–3) || — || 2:26 || 30,794 || 25–15 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 41 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Braves || W 3–2 || Podres (3–0) || Lemaster (2–5) || — || 2:02 || 19,001 || 26–15 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 42 || || 8:00p.m. PDT || Braves || L 4–5 || O'Dell (3–2) || Osteen (3–5) || — || 2:20 || 30,107 || 26–16 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 43 || || 2:15p.m. PDT || Braves || W 5–3 || Drysdale (8–3) || Carroll (0–1) || — || 2:28 || 23,707 || 27–16 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 44 || || 1:00p.m. PDT || Reds || W 12–5 || Koufax (7–3) || Ellis (7–2) || — || 2:43 || 36,309 || 28–16 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 45 || || 1:00p.m. PDT|| Reds || W 4–3 || Perranoski (1–1) || Maloney (5–1) || — || 2:44 || — || 29–16 || W3 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 46 || || 4:19p.m. PDT || Reds || L 1–6 || Jay (3–1) || Osteen (3–6) || — || 2:14 || 50,997 || 29–17 || L1
|-style="background:#bfb;" | 47 || || 6:00p.m. PDT || @ Cardinals || W 4–1 || Drysdale (9–3) || Washburn (3–3) || Perranoski (1) || 2:46 || 17,560 || 30–17 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 48 || || 6:00p.m. PDT || @ Cardinals || W 11–10 || Brewer (2–1) || Schultz (1–1) || Miller (5) || 3:19 || 19,946 || 31–17 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 49 || || 6:00p.m. PDT || @ Braves || L 2–5 || Blasingame (6–4) || Miller (3–2) || — || 2:50 || 5,760 || 31–18 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 50 || || 11:30a.m. PDT || @ Braves || L 1–9 || Cloninger (7–4) || Podres (3–1) || — || 2:20 || 4,116 || 31–19 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 51 || || 11:00a.m. PDT || @ Braves || W 4–0 || Drysdale (10–3) || Kelley (0–1) || — || 2:20 || — || 32–19 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 52 || || 1:50p.m. PDT || @ Braves || L 4–5 || Lemaster (3–5) || Reed (1–2) || O'Dell (6) || 2:35 || 17,175 || 32–20 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 53 || || 5:05p.m. PDT || @ Phillies || W 14–3 || Koufax (8–3) || Burdette (0–3) || — || 3:02 || 23,345 || 33–20 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 54 || || 5:05p.m. PDT || @ Phillies || W 2–1 || Osteen (4–6) || Bunning (5–5) || Perranoski (2) || 2:49 || 14,975 || 34–20 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 55 || || 5:05p.m. PDT || @ Phillies || L 3–7 || Short (5–6) || Kekich (0–1) || — || 3:01 || 16,241 || 34–21 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 56 || || 5:05p.m. PDT || @ Phillies || L 0–4 || Herbert (3–3) || Podres (3–2) || — || 1:58 || 19,467 || 34–22 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 57 || || 5:00p.m. PDT ||@ Mets || W 2–1 || Drysdale (11–3) || Spahn (4–7) || — || 2:16 || 55,023 || 35–22 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 58 || || 11:15a.m. PDT || @ Mets || W 5–0 || Koufax (9–3) || Jackson (2–8) || — || 2:50 || 38,915 || 36–22 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;"