Walker Buehler Celebrates Dodgers Legend at World Series Parade

Thirty-six years before the Dodgers won the 2024 World Series title, and six years before Walker Buehler was born, legendary Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser helped the franchise win their sixth World Series title in 1988.

Hershiser pitched one of the best seasons in MLB history that year. Hershiser led the National League in wins and won the Cy Young award. He pitched 15 complete games and posted a 2.26 ERA, third in MLB. He came up even more clutch during the postseason, becoming the first pitcher to win the Cy Young award, League Championship MVP, and World Series MVP in the same season.

In the 1988 NLCS, Hershiser started Games 1, 3, and 7, pitching a complete game shutout in Game 7. He even came in during Game 4 to record the save. He started two games during the World Series and helped clinch the Dodgers’ 1988 World Series victory.

Twenty-six years later, it was Buehler who came up clutch for the Dodgers to clinch the World Series title. Walker Buehler has channeled Los Angeles Dodgers pitching legend Orel Hershiser throughout the 2024 MLB postseason. After pitching four scoreless innings during Game 3 of the NLCS, Buehler called Hershiser and asked to wear the jersey he wore during the 1988 World Series

“He said, ‘Man I love that jersey you wore in the ’88 World Series with the white piping. Can I wear it to my next start?’” Hershiser recalled on Dodgers Territory.

Hershiser had his wife FedEx the jersey to Buehler from out of state, and the jersey arrived in time for Buehler to wear it during the Dodgers’ celebrations after winning the NLCS. Buehler wore the jersey again for Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees.

Buehler would start Game 3 of the World Series, pitching five more scoreless innings against the Yankees. Two days later in Game 5, the Dodgers held a narrow 7-6 lead over the Yankees with the game on the line entering the ninth inning. Buehler returned to the mound and pitched the final inning of the World Series. He struck out two, including the final batter to clinch the series and title.

Now, Buehler is celebrating the championship by wearing Hershiser’s classic 1988 jersey once again at the Dodgers’ parade.

Buehler and Hershiser’s relationship goes back to Buehler’s first spring training. Hershiser recalled that his relationship with Buehler began during Buehler’s first spring training when then Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt suggested that Hershiser “get close to Walker.”

Hershiser was part of Buehler’s development as both a player and person. He watched Buehler go through two Tommy John surgeries and struggle at the mound at times. This week, he got to see the player called “Buehldog,” a homage to his nickname “Bulldog,” represent him by winning the World Series with his jersey in hand.

Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!