Ranking the 15 greatest Dodgers players ever, from Shohei Ohtani to Sandy Koufax

The Los Angeles Dodgers are positioning themselves not just as baseball's current powerhouse, but as a sustainable powerhouse.

With a willingness to spend more resources than any other MLB franchise and a growing fan base in Japan, the Dodgers appear to be here to stay as baseball's new "evil empire," after nearly a century with the New York Yankees as the league's most prominent franchise, at least from the perspective of year-to-year dominance.

The Dodgers might be in a new era of excellence, but championship-level success is far from new for the organization. Plenty of greats have worn Dodger blue, whether in Brooklyn or Southern California. 

AllSportsPeople ranks the top 15 players in Dodgers history, from Shohei Ohtani to Sandy Koufax.

Players were ranked based on a points system made up of nine categories. Points from a scale of 1-10 were assigned based on each player's strength in a particular category and added up for a final score.

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15. Orel Hersheiser (1983-1994)

Dodgers accolades: 12 seasons; 1988 World Series champion; 1988 World Series MVP; 1988 NL Cy Young Award; 3-time All-Star; 4 top-5 Cy Young finishes; 135 wins; 1,456 strikeouts

Why he made SN's list: Orel Herheiser's peak was short, but it was excellent. The right-hander was one of baseball's best starters from 1984-89, winning the NL Cy Young Award in 1988 and earning World Series MVP honors the same year with a dominant 1.53 ERA in the postseason. Injuries played a role in turning Hersheiser into a more pedestrian pitcher over his final stretch with the Dodgers, but he was a bonafide ace in the late 1980s.

Place in Dodgers history: Hersheiser secured his Dodgers legacy in 1988, putting together a dominant season that ended in a championship. His raw numbers might not stack up against some of the other aces in franchise history, but his peak is up there with one of the best runs a Dodgers pitcher has had. 

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14. Mike Piazza (1992-1998)

Dodgers accolades: Hall of Famer; 7 seasons; 5-time All-Star; 5-time Silver Slugger; 1993 NL Rookie of the Year; 3 top-5 MVP finishes;.331 AVG; 177 home runs

Why he made SN's list: Mike Piazza might be better known for his time with the Mets, but his best statistical offensive stretch came at the start of his career with the Dodgers. An All-Star in each of his five full seasons in Los Angeles, Piazza posted an OPS higher than.900 each year from 1993-97 and was the NL MVP runner-up with a.362 AVG, 40 home runs and a 1.070 OPS as a catcher in 1997.

Place in Dodgers history: Piazza's ranking is hurt by virtually no postseason track record and such a limited amount of time with the Dodgers, but his stretch offensively from 1993-97 still goes down as one of the best runs by any hitter in franchise history.

MORE: Most home runs by a catcher in MLB history

13. Dazzy Vance (1922-1932, 1935)

Dodgers accolades: Hall of Famer; 12 seasons; 1924 NL MVP; 7-time NL strikeout leader; 1,918 strikeouts; 190 wins

Why he made SN's list: Dazzy Vance debuted with the Dodgers more than a century ago, playing with the franchise before it moved from Brooklyn, but he was a legend of his time, leading the NL in wins twice, ERA three times and strikeouts seven times during his 12 seasons with the organization. Vance's only championship came away from the Dodgers, but he earned NL MVP honors in 1924 and was an early face of the franchise.

Place in Dodgers history: Vance never appeared in a World Series game with the Dodgers, so he has no postseason history with the team given that was the only playoff round at the time, but he was a dominant force during the franchise's Brooklyn days as one of baseball's bonafide aces on the mound.

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12. Mookie Betts (2020-present)

Dodgers accolades: 6 seasons; 2-time World Series champion; 4-time All-Star; 4-time Silver Slugger; 2-time Gold Glove winner; 3 top-5 NL MVP finishes; 152 home runs

Why he made SN's list: Mookie Betts' only MVP season came with the Boston Red Sox, but he has lived up to the high price the Dodgers paid to extend him after acquiring him from Boston in 2020. Betts won the World Series in 2020 and 2024 and was the NL MVP runner-up with a dominant season in 2023, recording his second season of at least 35 home runs in an L.A. Uniform.

Place in Dodgers history: As a Dodger, Betts hasn't had that kind of otherworldly season he had with the Red Sox in 2018, but he has remained one of the best all-around players in baseball and helped lead the franchise to a pair of championships during a golden era. 

MORE: How illness caused Mookie Betts to lose 20 pounds before 2025 Opening Day

11. Steve Garvey (1969-1982)

Dodgers accolades: 14 seasons; 1981 World Series champion; 1974 NL MVP; 8-time All-Star; 4-time Gold Glove winner; 1,968 hits; 211 home runs

Why he made SN's list: Steve Garvey isn't a Hall of Famer, but he is a beloved Dodger who cemented his legacy when he helped the franchise win the World Series in 1981. Initially a part-time catcher, Garvey broke through with an MVP season in 1974 and remained one of baseball's best catchers through 1981, earning an All-Star selection in eight consecutive seasons due to his work at the plate and behind it.

Place in Dodgers history: Garvey was one of the faces of the Dodgers in the 1970s before playing a major role in the team's run to a championship in 1981. An MVP and perennial All-Star at his peak, Garvey helped define an era for the organization.

MORE: Is Shohei Ohtani the GOAT?

10. Fernando Valenzuela (1980-1990)

Dodgers accolades: 11 seasons; 2-time World Series champion; 1981 NL Cy Young Award; 1981 NL Rookie of the Year; 141 wins; 1,759 strikeouts

Why he made SN's list: Like Orel Hersheiser, Fernando Valenzuela's peak was not as long as he would have wanted, but he was a sensation as soon as he first stepped on a major league mound and helped the Dodgers win the 1981 World Series with a historic rookie season. Before injuries got the better of him, Valenzuela posted a 2.94 ERA with six All-Star selections from 1980-86.

Place in Dodgers history: Valenzuela brought "Fernandomania" to Los Angeles, helping bring Mexican fans into the Dodgers family and lighting the league on fire with an electrifying Cy Young season as a rookie. While injuries prevented him from fulfilling what could have been Hall of Fame potential, Valenzuela's first six seasons as a Dodger were special enough to leave a legacy. 

MORE: Baseball world mourns the loss of Fernando Valenzuela

9. Pee Wee Reese (1940-1958)

Dodgers accolades: 16 seasons; Hall of Famer; 10-time All-Star; 1955 World Series champion; 2,170 hits; 8 top-10 NL MVP finishes

Why he made SN's list: One of the faces of the Dodgers in the decade before their move to Los Angeles, Pee Wee Reese spent this entire career with the organization, returning after World War II for 13 more seasons. Reese was a nine-time All-Star after his military service, never hitting for much power but bringing contact hitting and excellent defense to the table while amassing more than 2,000 hits.

Place in Dodgers history: Reese is well known in popular culture for his support of teammate Jackie Robinson, but he was a terrific player in his own right and helped the Dodgers win the 1955 World Series after spending nearly a decade as a perennial All-Star for his work at the plate and in the infield. 

MORE: History of back-to-back World Series winners

8. Don Sutton (1966-1980, 1988)

Dodgers accolades: 16 seasons; Hall of Famer; 5-time All-Star; 5 top-5 NL Cy Young finishes; 2,696 strikeouts; 233 wins

Why he made SN's list: Don Sutton never won a Cy Young Award or a World Series, but he goes down as one of the best pitchers in Dodgers history. He spent his first 15 seasons in Los Angeles, posting seven seasons with a sub-3 ERA and five seasons of at least 200 strikeouts. Sutton would record 2,696 strikeouts with the Dodgers as part of a career that saw him post 3,574 strikeouts and 324 wins on his way to the Hall of Fame.

Place in Dodgers history: Sutton can't claim a championship like so many Dodgers greats can, as the final season of his first stint ended right before 1981, but the numbers don't lie. He helped define the 1970s Dodgers, serving as one of baseball's most reliable arms on his way to the Hall of Fame.

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7. Roy Campanella (1948-1957)

Dodgers accolades: 10 seasons; Hall of Famer; 1955 World Series champion; 3-time MVP; 8-time All-Star; 242 home runs

Why he made SN's list: Roy Campanella starred alongside Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson during the Dodgers' final decade in Brooklyn, winning three NL MVP awards and earning eight All-Star selections. Campanella recorded four 30-home run seasons, topping out at 41 home runs and 142 RBI in 1953, and he helped lead the Dodgers to a World Series win in 1955. 

Place in Dodgers history: The Dodgers were often the bridesmaid during the late 1940s and early 1950s before finally winning it all in 1955, but Campanella helped define an era of some terrific Brooklyn teams before the franchise shipped off to Los Angeles. 

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6. Shohei Ohtani (2024-present)

Dodgers accolades: 2 seasons; 2024 NL MVP; 2024 World Series champion; franchise single-season home run record; MLB's first 50-50 season; 109 home runs

Why he made SN's list: Shohei Ohtani's time with the Dodgers might still be in its infancy, but the reality is he already has quite a legacy with the franchise. On his way to two MVPs in two seasons, Ohtani set the Dodgers' single-season home run record in 2024 and broke it again in 2025. He also recorded MLB's first 50-50 season with the Dodgers and won the World Series in 2024. In 2025, the future Hall of Famer returned to the mound and proved he could still be a two-way player in a Dodgers uniform.

Place in Dodgers history: The book is largely still unwritten on Ohtani's time with the Dodgers, but with one MVP and another on the way plus a World Series win to his name, he is already going to go down as a Dodgers great. As a generational talent, Ohtani has also helped the the Dodgers expand their influence in Japan, making the organization a destination for top Japanese talent and attracting fans from across the world.

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5. Jackie Robinson (1947-1956)

Dodgers accolades: 10 seasons; Hall of Famer; 1955 World Series champion; 1949 NL MVP; 1947 NL Rookie of the Year; 6-time All-Star; 1,563 hits; 141 home runs; 200 stolen bases 

Why he made SN's list: Jackie Robinson's place in baseball history is well-documented as MLB's first Black player, but he also put together an excellent career on the diamond. Robinson earned an MVP in 1949, helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 1955 and posted an OPS north of.900 in six consecutive seasons during his peak as one of baseball's best contact hitters.

Place in Dodgers history: Robinson is a name known far beyond the walls of baseball for obvious reasons, with his number retired across MLB and his story taught in schools. That's all central to his Dodgers legacy, as is his stardom alongside Pee Wee Reese and Roy Campanella on some great teams in the late 1940s and 1950s.

MORE: Jackie Robinson Day — The eternal impact of No. 42

4. Duke Snider (1947-1962)

Dodgers accolades: 16 seasons; Hall of Famer; 2-time World Series champion; 7-time All-Star; 3 top-5 MVP finishes; 1,995 hits; Dodgers' all-time home run leader

Why he made SN's list: Duke Snider has the strongest case to have had the best Dodgers career of any position player, as he is a Hall of Famer, the franchise's all-time home run leader and a 2-time World Series champion. Snider hit at least 40 home runs in five consecutive seasons in the 1950s, leading the Dodgers' offense in 1955 and winning a title even as some of the organization's other stars aged. Snider posted a.936 OPS over his 16 years with the Dodgers. 

Place in Dodgers history: Known purely for his bat, Snider never won an MVP, but he helped the Dodgers win a pair of championships and carried the load for L.A.'s lineup when Robinson, Campanella and Reese were nearing the end of their primes. He remains the team's all-time home run leader.

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3. Don Drysdale (1956-1969)

Dodgers accolades: 14 seasons; Hall of Famer; 3-time World Series champion; 1962 NL Cy Young Award; 8-time All-Star; 209 wins; 2,486 strikeouts

Why he made SN's list: Don Drysdale first emerged as a star in the Dodgers' final season in Brooklyn, but he was one of the faces of the franchise's first decade in Los Angeles. A star throughout the 1960s, Drysdale earned eight All-Star selections, posting nine seasons with a sub-3 ERA in his 14-year career and earning NL Cy Young honors in 1962 after winning 25 games. Drysdale was forced to retire at 33, but he still racked up 2,486 strikeouts in a Hall of Fame career.

Place in Dodgers history: Drysdale was one of the Dodgers' first bonafide stars after the move to Los Angeles and helped the team win three championships, defining the 1960s for the organization alongside Sandy Koufax as one of baseball's true aces.

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2. Clayton Kershaw (2008-2025)

Dodgers accolades: 18 seasons; 2-time World Series champion; 2014 NL MVP; 3-time NL Cy Young winner; 11-time All-Star; 3,052 strikeouts; 223 wins; Dodgers all-time strikeout leader

Why he made SN's list: Few pitchers in MLB history have had a more dominant peak than Clayton Kershaw, who posted a 2.10 ERA and 1,623 strikeouts from 2011-17, winning three Cy Young Awards and an MVP along the way. While injuries limited Kershaw a bit throughout the rest of his career, he remained effective when healthy and finished with a career 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts. 

Place in Dodgers history: While even Kershaw would admit he was not the same pitcher in the postseason as he was in the regular season, that was all he left on the table. Kershaw was one of baseball's most dominant players regardless of position in the first 25 years of the 21st century and was a beloved Dodger, spending his entire 18-year career with the organization and picking up his first World Series ring in 2020.

MORE: Where Clayton Kershaw ranks on baseball's all-time career Ks list

1. Sandy Koufax (1955-1966)

Dodgers accolades: 12 seasons; Hall of Famer; 3-time World Series champion; 3-time NL Cy Young winner; 1963 NL MVP; 6-time All-Star; 2,396 strikeouts; 165 wins

Why he made SN's list: Sandy Koufax will never necessarily have the counting stats because he abruptly retired in his prime after the 1966 season, but there was no more dominant player in Dodgers history in his prime than Koufax. A pedestrian starter at the start of his career, Koufax led the NL in ERA over each of the last five seasons of his career, posting a sub-2 ERA three times and winning three Cy Young Awards in addition to an MVP. Koufax also won three championships as a Dodger and was elected to the Hall of Fame when first eligible.

Place in Dodgers history: Koufax's status as the greatest Dodger ever can easily be debated because his peak wasn't as long as some of the franchise's other greats, but he was so dominant over that final stretch of his short career that, with the personal and team accolades in his arsenal, he has a legitimate claim to be the best to put on the uniform.

MORE: TSN Archives — Sandy Koufax spins strikeout tale (Oct. 19, 1963)