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This is Hershiser's fifth season as a senior analyst for Dodgers television shows. For many fans, it is by far the most visible link with the last title team. Tommy Lasorda, the fiery manager, will be 91 this weekend. Kirk Gibson, the indelible drummer who won the World Series opening, calls games for the Detroit Tigers as he battles Parkinson's. Fernando Valenzuela is a Spanish voice of the Dodgers and brought them to the 1981 crown, but he fought in 1988 and did not participate in the playoffs.
It's Hershiser, and often Hershiser alone, which represents this last and best victory in public almost every day. He's wearing his World Series ring, he said, because fans are asking to see him so often. They show him constantly how much that means.
"I just went to the front office for a meeting, and while I was going out, there was a gentleman from BMW who was here on tour, and he almost started crying," said Hershiser. "He is wearing his Dodger jersey and his wife is shaking and they are trying to pull out the ball so they can sign it and take a picture with his family. I was 30 at the time, and he was probably 12 years old. The fans reacted with emotion and it is interesting to note that this comes from this age group.
Fans who took root for the 1988 champions are now older than almost all players. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was still in high school at the time. Their baseball operations president, Andrew Friedman, was 11 years old.
"I'm one of the oldest, and in 1988, I was born," said Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers ace. "Most of these guys were not even alive yet. We respect history here; obviously, as a franchise, we could have the most history of any team, really. But at the same time, yes, we are fed up. We are tired of hearing about it. I mean, it's up to us to change that. But all the strengths you see, all the other stuff, we'd like to create some.
Kershaw said he appreciated Hershiser for his positive way of playing with the players and for the way he analyzes the modern game without criticizing the evolving style of play. Hershiser is fascinated by the data revolution and believes that Friedman's theory that defensive changes might have made it even better. He sympathizes with the fate of today's launcher.
"This is a tougher match for pitchers because there is so much information on what they are going to do," said Hershiser. "The hitter sees 100 deliveries even before the guy comes to the mound. He gets used to his rhythm. He can look at a screen and go, "Yeah, when the ball starts here, it ends up on the plate." There are so many studies to do to prepare for what was a mystery. "
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