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A20 SPORTS
Saturday 21 OctOber 2017
Dynamic Dodgers reach World Series with consummate teamwork

By GREG BEACHAM standing October starts
AP Sports Writer from newcomer Yu Darvish.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — After Their bullpen was dominant
third baseman Justin Turner in the postseason after be-
and closer Kenley Jansen ing the NL’s best in the regu-
propelled the Los Ange- lar season, allowing no runs
les Dodgers to their most to the Cubs in the entire
recent home playoff vic- NLCS. And their lineup is a
tory a few days ago, they masterpiece of teamwork
took off their uniforms and orchestrated by manager
pulled on T-shirts supporting Dave Roberts, who usually
a teammate. picks the right guys from his
Jansen’s shirt urged fans to numerous options.
send Turner to the All-Star The Dodgers scored fewer
Game, albeit three months runs than the other four
late. The red-bearded Turn- NL playoff teams during
er’s shirt simply bore Yasiel the regular season with no
Puig’s No. 66 in big blue nu- 100-RBI producers and just
merals. one .300-hitting regular.
This type of thing happens Yet their lineup is stacked
almost every day around nightly with professional hit-
the Dodgers, who will host ters who work counts, wear
their franchise’s first World out opponents’ starters
Series game in 29 years on The Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate after Game 5 of baseball’s National League and confidently take con-
Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, in Chicago. The Dodgers
Tuesday night. won 11-1 to win the series and advance to the World Series. trol of the late innings for 47
“The thing is, I think we all comeback victories and 10
care about each other,” expensive roster is extraor- Nobody carries the Dodg- greatest records in base- walk-off wins.
Jansen said. “It’s not about dinarily deep, the Dodg- ers. They lift each other. ball history. Right before And they also post the oc-
that one guy. We are all ers lack a peerless star “All season long, it hasn’t that, the Dodgers went casional blowout, such as
here helping each other beyond Clayton Kershaw, been about one guy,” 82-25 during an astonish- the clinching 11-1 win at
out and getting better ev- who doesn’t play every said Turner, who achieved ing summer, and they’ve Wrigley Field on Thursday
ery day. Ever since spring day. They share the offen- Dodgers immortality with regained that edge in the night. The Dodgers popped
training, we’ve been doing sive load to a remarkable his walk-off homer to win postseason. bottles into the night inside
that.” degree, and they play de- Game 2 of the NL Champi- Los Angeles swept the Ari- the friendly confines be-
Jansen’s belief has been fense with an aggressive- onship Series. “It’s a group zona Diamondbacks and fore a flight home that ar-
proven throughout a sea- ness that underlines their of guys all showing up to dropped only a single one- rived in the wee hours. “I
son that’s already one of deep trust in each other. the field and figuring out run decision to the Cubs on think about each individu-
the most remarkable in As Los Angeles fans — at a way to win a ballgame, the way to the franchise’s al player and coach and
Dodgers history. Despite least the ones who can get one night at a time. You 22nd NL pennant. They fin- staff (member) and their
their jaw-dropping payroll, the Dodgers’ television net- know, we’ve been pretty ished in Chicago quickly families, and what we had
an LA-record 104 regular- work — already know, this is good at that so far.” enough to earn four days to sacrifice to get to where
season wins and a 7-1 an upbeat, thoroughly lik- They’ve been incredible off, allowing Kershaw to we’re at,” Roberts said.
rampage through the NL able group of players and at it from April to October make his World Series debut “And to do what we did, it
playoffs, these Dodgers are coaches working together — well, except for a 1-16 on full rest in the opener. takes a lot of talent, a lot of
a team in a fundamental to end a championship stretch from late August into Their starting rotation was give, a lot of open-minded-
sense. drought before it reaches September that prevented excellent, from Kershaw ness. There was a complete
Although the majors’ most three decades. them from challenging the and Rich Hill to two out- buy-in.” q

Rare Jackie Robinson rookie jersey up for auction

By VIN A. CHERWOO came the first black player include Babe Ruth’s pants
AP Sports Writer in the majors and earned from the Hall of Fame in-
NEW YORK (AP) — A rare Rookie of the Year honors. duction in 1939, Keith Her-
jersey from Jackie Robin- “This is the only one known nandez’s 1978 Gold Glove
son’s historic rookie season from the ‘47 season, the award, a Wilt Chamberlain
with the Brooklyn Dodg- only one that survived,” jersey from 1966, Bill Vu-
ers 70 years ago could be Chris Ivy, Heritage’s direc- kovich’s Indianapolis 500
available for someone with tor of sports auctions, told trophy from 1953 and Mu-
a few spare millions. The Associated Press in a hammad Ali’s shoes from
The jersey, part of a Heroes phone interview. “It stayed his fight against Ken Norton
of Sports offering by Heri- in his closet for five decades in 1973. Ivy said the Robin-
tage Auctions, has been plus until it was eventually son jersey has been valued
certified by Mears, one of sold to a private collector at more than $3 million. He
the top memorabilia au- in the early 2000s.” wouldn’t be surprised to see
thentication companies. It The online auction opened it exceed that. “It’s tough
is accompanied by a let- Friday and closes at 11 p.m. to estimate a piece like this
ter from Robinson’s widow, on Nov. 19. The entire col- — it’s a one of a kind,” he
Rachel, saying it is the one In this Sept. 23, 1947, file photo, Brooklyn Dodgers baseball lection is from one owner said. “As far as collectibles
brought home by the Hall player Jackie Robinson, right, receives the keys to a car from and can be viewed on a rookie (jersey) is always
of Famer at the end of the tap dancer Bill Bojangles Robinson as Jackie Robinson’s wife, Heritage’s website. Other sought after, something
Rachel, looks on at Ebbets Field in New York.
1947 season, when he be- Associated Press items available for bidding that’s significant.”q