Los Angeles/Brooklyn Dodgers All-Time Lineup

1965: 26-8, 2.04 ERA, 335.2IP, 216 H, 382 Ks, 0.855 WHIP

Rest of the rotation: Dazzy Vance (1924, 28-6, 2.16 ERA, 30 CG, 308 IP, 262 Ks, 1.022 WHIP), Orel Hershiser (1988, 23-8, 2.26 ERA, 267 IP, 208 H, 178 Ks, 1.052 WHIP), Don Sutton (1972, 19-9, 2.08 ERA, 272.2 IP, 186 H, 207 Ks, 0.913 WHIP), Clayton Kershaw (2011, 21-5, 2.28 ERA, 233 IP, 248 Ks, 0.977 WHIP)

A really, really deep rotation begins with one of the best left-handers of all-time, Sandy Koufax, who had a four-year stretch from 1963-66 -- his final four seasons -- that was as dominant as any pitcher ever. He won three Cy Young Awards in that span (and was third in the other). To fill out the rotation, you only have Cy Young Award or MVP winners. Vance, a Hall of Famer, played in the era before the Cy Young was awarded and was incredible in 1924. Hershiser set a record with 59 consecutive scoreless innings as he won the Cy Young in 1988, a record that still stands as of 2012. Sutton didn't win 20 games in 1972, but the Hall of Famer dominated on the way to his Cy Young. And we'll close it out with a young lefty whose best might be to come in Kershaw, who won the Cy Young in 2011 with a dominant season at age 23. Three won the Cy Young and didn't make the cut: Don Drysdale, Don Newcombe and Fernando Valenzuela.

1997: .362, 40 HR, 124 RBI, 1.070 OPS

Backup: Roy Campanella (1953, .312, 41 HR, 142 RBI, 1.006 OPS) - MVP

A Hall of Famer backs up a guy who will be one in the near future. Piazza is the best offensive catcher in history, and is also the starting catcher in the Mets' all-time lineup. He had his best season in 1997, when he had his career best in average and home runs. His backup was a great pro in the 1950s whose career was cut short by an auto accident that paralyzed him. Campy was awesome in his MVP season of 1953.

1954: .304, 42 HR, 130 RBI, .952 OPS

Backup: Eddie Murray (1990, .330, 26 HR, 95 RBI, .934 OPS)

Hodges still isn't in the Hall of Fame, but perhaps he should be. He hit 22 or more homers in 111 consecutive seasons for the Dodgers, and set career highs in all three triple crown categories in 1954. The backup is a tough call, but we'll go with a guy who also is the backup on the Orioles' all-time lineup in Murray, a Hall of Famer who was second in the NL in batting in 1990.

1949: .342, 16 HR, 124 RBI, 37 SB, .960 OPS

Backup: Davey Lopes (1979, .265, 28 HR, 73 RBI, 44 SB, .836 OPS)

How could it be anybody else? He deserved it statistically as well after his third season, when he won the NL MVP for Brooklyn. The backup, Lopes, was part of a great infield on some great Dodgers teams of late 1970s and early 1980s, a group that included Steve Garvey, Bill Russell and Ron Cey that stayed together for a long time.

2004: .334, 48 HR, 121 RBI, 1.017 OPS

Backup: Pedro Guerrero (1983, .298, 32 HR, 103 RBI, 23 SB, .904 OPS)

Beltre has had an up-and-down career, but when he's been up, he's really been up. He's the backup on the Red Sox's all-time lineup as well. We'll take advantage of a small loophole for the backup in Guerrero, who wasn't great defensively and was moved to the outfield for most of his career (and had his best seasons there). But he played the majority of his games at third base in 1983.

2000: .325, 43 HR, 109 RBI, 1.081 OPS

Backup: Tommy Davis (1962, .346, 27 HR, 153 RBI, .910 OPS)

Sheffield is in the tainted category after admittingly using a performance-enhancing substance, but that came after his great 2000 season for the Dodgers. Davis was the batting champ and RBI champ in 1962, and he's a solid backup at a position over an MVP (Kirk Gibson) and a Hall of Famer (Zack Wheat).

1953: .336, 42 HR, 126 RBI, 16 SB, 1.046 OPS

Backup: Matt Kemp (2011, .324, 39 HR, 126 RBI, 40 SB, .986 OPS)

The Duke of Flatbush is an easy choice in center field, a pillar in Brooklyn for the final decade the franchise was there. Snider, among the best center fielders in history, hit at least 40 homers aevery season from 1953-57. The backup, Kemp, was second in the MVP voting in 2011 after his breakout season for the Dodgers.

2003: 2-3, 1.20 ERA, 55 saves, 82.1 IP, 37 H, 137 Ks, 0.692 WHIP

Backup: Phil Regan (1966, 14-1, 1.62 ERA, 21 saves, 0.934 WHIP)

There have been few seasons more dominant at closer than Gagne's 2003, when he struck out 100 more than got hits off of him and saved a franchise-record 55 games. Gagne was simply untouchable that season. The backup played in a different era but the Dodgers always seemed to win when he pitched in 1966.