Togetherness in Los Angeles

From left, Ron Cey with Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Steve Garvey

The Los Angeles Dodgers 51 years ago today first put together an infield alignment of first baseman Steve Garvey, second baseman Davey Lopes, shortstop Bill Russell and third baseman Ron Cey.

The quartet plays together for the next 8½ seasons, the longest such run for any infield in baseball history.

The first game together comes when Garvey enters the game in the fourth inning at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium, where Lopes, Russell and Cey already start the game.

Among the Dodgers not seeing the moment is Tommy John, their starting pitcher that day in 1973 who uncharacteristically is chased from the game in the second inning after giving up eight runs in what turns out to be a 16-3 rout by the Phillies before a Wednesday night crowd of 13,068 in South Philly.