- Clayton Kershaw’s 79.9 bWAR is the most of any player in Dodgers history.
- Duke Snider holds the record for the most homers in franchise history with 359.
- The Dodgers have won 14 MVPs.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been among the World Series favourites in MLB odds for the last decade or so. This is a franchise with a rich history.
Comparing greats from different eras is always tricky. To whittle down this list to just five players, I had to make some difficult cuts while balancing longevity with peak performance.
Here are my five greatest Dodgers players ever.
Best Los Angeles Dodgers Players of All Time
| Rank | Player | Position | Dodgers Years |
| 1 | Clayton Kershaw | Starting Pitcher | 2008-Present |
| 2 | Jackie Robinson | Second Baseman | 1947-1956 |
| 3 | Sandy Koufax | Starting Pitcher | 1955-1966 |
| 4 | Duke Snider | Outfielder | 1947-1962 |
| 5 | Mookie Betts | Outfielder/Second Baseman | 2020-Present |
1. Clayton Kershaw
With over 10 bWAR more than anyone else, Clayton Kershaw had to take the No. 1 spot. Kershaw is fifth in total innings and sixth in career ERA as a Dodger. He’s also fourth among all pitchers in ERA+.
At his peak, Kershaw was one of the most dominant pitchers the game has ever seen. He won three Cy Young awards in four years, and even as he’s aged, he’s remained very effective, albeit with a lower innings count.
All-Star Clayton Kershaw.
Congratulations Clayton on tying the franchise record with 10 All-Star selections! pic.twitter.com/90kjrZLMNF
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 2, 2023
The postseason meltdowns have been high-profile, but Kershaw’s combination of an incredible peak and durability earned him the top spot in these rankings.
2. Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson changed baseball forever. The Dodgers’ decision to sign Robinson was a vital step towards the ending of racial segregation in the sport.
After debuting in 1947 and winning Rookie of the Year for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Robinson established one of the great infield careers. He was voted MVP in 1949, and was named an All-Star every year from 1949 through 1957.
Robinson registered 200 stolen bases and a career 133 OPS+. Only four players have more bWAR in franchise history.
3. Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax retired at just 30 years old due to arthritis in his pitching elbow. Koufax ultimately became the youngest-ever Hall of Famer at 36, but his early retirement means his counting stats are a long way away from some other Dodgers greats.
There’s no question Koufax belongs in the top three regardless. He won five ERA titles, four World Series and three Triple Crowns.
His postseason heroics were particularly extraordinary, pitching to a 0.95 ERA over 57 innings with a 0.83 WHIP.
4. Duke Snider
Duke Snider earned eight consecutive All-Star nods at his peak. He had two top-three MVP finishes in that span, including narrowly missing out to teammate Roy Campanella in 1955
Snider is the franchise leader in homers, he’s fifth in OPS, and he’s got by far the most offensive bWAR as a Dodger.
Presenting the #Dodgers #FranchiseFour: Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Jackie Robinson and Duke Snider pic.twitter.com/ZulSIp5004
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 15, 2015
Winning a pair of World Series just adds to Snider’s Dodgers legacy. His No. 4 was retired by the franchise, and he was rightly elected to Cooperstown in 1980.
5. Mookie Betts
Is it premature to have Mookie Betts fifth? Perhaps.
In just 471 regular season games as a Dodger, however, Betts is already tied at 29th in position player bWAR. With a contract that runs through 2032, the former Red Sox outfielder could easily break into the top five among all Dodgers position players.
Betts has had two MVP runner-up finishes as a Dodger. He was integral in Los Angeles ending their World Series drought in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season.
The counting stats aren’t there just yet, but only six players have had a better OPS as a Dodger, and Betts has picked up three Silver Slugger awards and two Gold Gloves over four seasons.