Hershiser Headed Back To LA

December 17, 1999 / 6:02 PM EST / CBS/AP

Much to his delight, Orel Hershiser is coming home.

Hershiser, who began his career in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 1979, agreed Friday to a one-year contract worth about $2 million.

The Dodgers, who have an option for 2001, haven't won a postseason game since 1988, when Hershiser won the NL Cy Young Award before helping them win the World Series in one of baseball's true dream seasons.

"I'm elated, I just can't wait," said the 41-year-old right-hander, who left the Dodgers following the 1994 season and won 69 games in the last five years. "It's a sweet, sweet possible ending to my career.

"I've been having my last season for probably the last five years. Everyone including my wife and kids have been writing me off. I love pitching in the big leagues, I love the camaraderie in the locker room. There's no other reason to play than to win."

The Dodgers didn't do much of that last season, going 77-85 to finish a disappointing third in the NL West after many picked them to win the division.

"The more guys we can add like Orel, who are committed to winning, the better chance we have to win," Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone said. "We lacked some leadership, we lacked the right chemistry, we didn't win enough games. We've got to make the necessary changes."

Malone said right now, the Dodgers are looking at Hershiser as a reliever, but said he could also start, with much of that depending on how young pitchers like Eric Gagne, Jeff Williams and Mike Judd fare in spring training. Kevin Brown, Chan Ho Park, Darren Dreifort and Carlos Perez head the rotation.

"He's willing to do whatever," Malone said. "If we need him to start, he'll start. He's so versatile, he can help us in many areas."

One of those areas, Malone stressed, is the clubhouse.

Hershiser, who went 13-12 with a 4.58 ERA in 32 games last season with the New York Mets all of them starts said relieving is OK with him. To back that up, he pointed to last fall's postseason, when he pitched 5 1-3 hitless innings in relief for the Mets against Arizona and Atlanta.

"I thought I threw the ball the best I have in the last 3-to-5 years in the second half of last season," he said.

Hershiser was with the Dodgers from 1983-94, and ranks sixth on the Los Angeles career wins list with 134. He then pitched three years for the Cleveland Indians, one for the San Francisco Giants and one for the Mets.

After last season, Hershiser briefly explored whether any teams wanted him as a manager, and it appeared as recently as last weekend he was heading in another direction. The Boston Red Sox showed interest.

"He had a couple of options," Malone said. "We were able to work through some issues and get it resolved."

Hershiser, who has a 203-145 career record with a 3.41 ERA, was 23-8 in 1988 with a 2.26 ERA and 15 complete games before going 1-0 in the NL Championship Series against the Mets and 2-0 in the World Series against Oakland. He was voted MVP of both postseason series.

Hershiser had reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder early in the 1990 season, and returned to action in May 1991. He had a 7-2 record in 21 games that year.

"Orel's already taken a physical, Dr. (Frank) Jobe said he's the picture of health; he's in great shape," Malone said.

In three seasons with the Indians, from 1995-97, Hershiser had records of 16-6, 15-9 and 14-6. He was 11-10 with the Giants in 1998.

"He's one of the smartest people about baseball that I have ever talked to," said Bob Daly, the Dodgers' new chief executive officer. "He is a motivator. We need somebody to motivate, push everybody, help our young people develop.

"I was one of his biggest fans and still am. I think he will add such an extra dimension to the team. That's the kind of dimension the Dodgers need."

Hershiser wants to stay in baseball after he retires. The Dodgers would be a natural fit.

"I think something like that may happen," Malone said, "but I don't know when that's going to be. He keeps proving to people he can still be productive."