A lie resulted in one of the most iconic infield in Dodgers history

By: Claire Zhou

On June 23, 1973, the Dodgers were crushed and lost 4-1. They earned only seven hits. Before that day’s nightcap, manager Walter Alston had looked for a way to change the lineup. This change led to one of the best developments in Dodger history.

Walter Alston came over to Steve Garvey and asked him if he had ever played first.

Garvey hadn’t. But was he going to tell him that? No.

Instead, Garvey told Alston that he had and that night he lined up with Ron Cey, Bill Russell, and Davey Lopes.

Over the next few years, the Dodgers rarely changed their infield.

Cey said, “It’s one of those things in Dodger history that you don’t go back too many times over 50 years.”

Half-century later, that Dodgers infield was honored Friday night before the team’s game against the Houston Astros. Garvey, Cey, and Russell were at the stadium to throw out the first pitch and watch a pregame video tribute.

The three of them are still standing alongside each other, in the same field they called “home” for almost a decade.