1965 Los Angeles Dodgers season

1965  Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series champions National League champions
League	National League
Ballpark	Dodger Stadium
City	Los Angeles
Record	97–65 (.599)
League place	1st
Owners	Walter O'Malley, James & Dearie Mulvey
President	Walter O'Malley
General managers	Buzzie Bavasi
Managers	Walter Alston
Television	KTTV–TV 11 (Vin Scully, Jerry Doggett)
Radio	KFI–AM 640 (Vin Scully, Jerry Doggett) KWKW–AM 1330 (Jose Garcia, Jaime Jarrín)
←  1964 Seasons 1966  →

The 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 76th season for the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB), their 8th season in Los Angeles, California, and their 4th season playing their home games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles California. The Dodgers finished the regular-season with a 97–65 record, which earned them the NL pennant by two games over their arch-rivals, the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series in seven games over the Minnesota Twins.

Offseason

• October 15, 1964: Nick Willhite was purchased from the Dodgers by the Washington Senators. ^[1]
• October 15, 1964: Larry Miller was traded by the Dodgers to the New York Mets for Dick Smith. ^[2]
• November 30, 1964: Doug Camilli was purchased from the Dodgers by the Washington Senators. ^[3]
• December 4, 1964: Frank Howard, Phil Ortega, Pete Richert and a player to be named later were traded by the Dodgers to the Washington Senators for Claude Osteen, John Kennedy and cash. The Dodgers completed the deal by sending Dick Nen to the Senators on December 15. ^[4]

Regular season

Season recap

The Dodgers won the World Series in 1963, but injuries and poor play saw them fall to 6th place in 1964. Despite their weak offense and the trade of power hitting Frank Howard for Claude Osteen during the off season, they were expected to contend in 1965 with their strong pitching. However, one month into the season, they lost their best hitter Tommy Davis when he fractured his ankle sliding into second base. Most experts thought this ended any hope the Dodgers had of winning the pennant. To replace Davis, the club called up journeyman Lou Johnson; his infectious cheerful attitude and knack for timely hitting helped keep the club in contention.

The National League pennant race was a thriller, with 6 teams (the Dodgers, Giants, Pirates, Reds, Braves, and Phillies) in contention throughout a summer that saw the Dodgers, Giants, Braves, and Reds all take their turns in first place. With these 6 teams tightly bunched heading into September, the Giants went on a 14-game winning streak to take a 4+1⁄2-game lead with two weeks to play. Then the Dodgers went on a 13-game winning streak, and won 15 of their last 16 games to win the pennant by 2 games over the Giants.

The Dodgers were led by shortstop Maury Wills with 94 stolen bases, Sandy Koufax (26–8, 2.04 E.R.A. and a then record 382 strikeouts), and Don Drysdale (23–12, 2.77 E.R.A.) Drysdale also chipped in with 7 home runs and was the club's only .300 hitter.

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Los Angeles Dodgers	97	65	.599	—	50‍–‍31	47‍–‍34
San Francisco Giants	95	67	.586	2	51‍–‍30	44‍–‍37
Pittsburgh Pirates	90	72	.556	7	49‍–‍32	41‍–‍40
Cincinnati Reds	89	73	.549	8	49‍–‍32	40‍–‍41
Milwaukee Braves	86	76	.531	11	44‍–‍37	42‍–‍39
Philadelphia Phillies	85	76	.528	11½	45‍–‍35	40‍–‍41
St. Louis Cardinals	80	81	.497	16½	42‍–‍39	38‍–‍42
Chicago Cubs	72	90	.444	25	40‍–‍41	32‍–‍49
Houston Astros	65	97	.401	32	36‍–‍45	29‍–‍52
New York Mets	50	112	.309	47	29‍–‍52	21‍–‍60

Record vs. opponents

1965 National League record v t e Sources:
Team	CHC	CIN	HOU	LAD	MIL	NYM	PHI	PIT	SF	STL
Chicago	—	7–11	8–10	8–10	9–9	11–7–1	8–10	5–13	6–12	10–8–1
Cincinnati	11–7	—	12–6	6–12	12–6	11–7	13–5	8–10	6–12	10–8
Houston	10–8	6–12	—	5–13	4–14	14–4	6–12	8–10	3–15	9–9
Los Angeles	10–8	12–6	13–5	—	10–8	12–6	9–9	9–9	10–8	12–6
Milwaukee	9–9	6–12	14–4	8–10	—	13–5	6–12	9–9	10–8	11–7
New York	7–11–1	7–11	4–14	6–12	5–13	—	7–11–1	4–14	5–13	5–13
Philadelphia	10–8	5–13	12–6	9–9	12–6	11–7–1	—	8–10	8–10	10–7
Pittsburgh	13–5	10–8	10–8	9–9	9–9	14–4	10–8	—	11–7–1	4–14
San Francisco	12–6	12–6	15–3	8–10	8–10	13–5	10–8	7–11–1	—	10–8
St. Louis	8–10–1	8–10	9–9	6–12	7–11	13–5	7–10	14–4	8–10	—

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day starters
Name	Position
Maury Wills	Shortstop
Wes Parker	First baseman
Willie Davis	Center fielder
Tommy Davis	Left fielder
John Roseboro	Catcher
Jim Lefebvre	Second baseman
Ron Fairly	Right fielder
John Kennedy	Third baseman
Don Drysdale	Starting pitcher

Notable transactions

• May 11, 1965: Nick Willhite was purchased by the Dodgers from the Washington Senators. ^[1]
• December 15, 1965: Dick Tracewski was traded by the Dodgers to the Detroit Tigers for Phil Regan. ^[5]

Roster

1965 Los Angeles Dodgers
Roster
Pitchers 21 Jim Brewer 53 Don Drysdale 37 Mike Kekich 32 Sandy Koufax 15 Bob Miller 23 Claude Osteen 16 Ron Perranoski 22 Johnny Podres 35 John Purdin 39 Howie Reed 40 Bill Singer 45 Nick Willhite		Catchers  8 John Roseboro 10 Jeff Torborg 17 Héctor Valle Infielders 19 Jim Gilliam 11 John Kennedy  5 Jim Lefebvre 31 Don LeJohn 29 Nate Oliver 28 Wes Parker 44 Dick Tracewski 14 Johnny Werhas 30 Maury Wills		Outfielders 43 Willie Crawford 12 Tommy Davis  3 Willie Davis  6 Ron Fairly 20 Al Ferrara 26 Derrell Griffith 41 Lou Johnson  9 Wally Moon 25 Dick Smith		Manager 24 Walter Alston Coaches 19 Jim Gilliam 18 Preston Gómez 33 Danny Ozark 36 Lefty Phillips

Game log

Regular season

Legend
	Dodgers win
	Dodgers loss
	Postponement
	Clinched pennant
Bold	Dodgers team member

1965 regular season game log: 97–65 (Home: 50–31; Away: 47–34) [6]
April: 10–5 (Home: 7–4; Away: 3–1) # Date Time (PT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 1 April 12 11:00 a.m. PST @ Mets W6–1 Drysdale (1–0) Jackson (0–1) — 2:23 37,999 1–0 W1 2 April 14 5:15 p.m. PST @ Pirates W3–1 Osteen (1–0) Gibbon (0–1) — 1:58 7,770 2–0 W2 — April 15 5:15 p.m. PST @ Pirates Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 11 3 April 17 5:05 p.m. PST @ Phillies L2–3 Short (2–0) Drysdale (1–1) Baldschun (1) 2:23 17,021 2–1 L1 4 April 18 10:35 a.m. PST @ Phillies W6–2 Koufax (1–0) Belinsky (0–1) — 2:43 11,107 3–1 W1 5 April 20 8:00 p.m. PST Mets L2–3 Spahn (1–0) Osteen (1–1) — 2:37 36,161 3–2 L1 6 April 21 8:00 p.m. PST Mets W 5–1 Drysdale (2–1) Willey (0–1) Miller (1) 3:09 18,134 4–2 W1 7 April 22 8:00 p.m. PST Mets W2–1 Koufax (2–0) Fisher (0–1) — 2:12 20,888 5–2 W2 8 April 23 8:00 p.m. PST Phillies W4–0 Podres (1–0) Bunning (1–2) — 1:58 29,120 6–2 W3 9 April 24 8:00 p.m. PST Phillies W9–3 Osteen (2–1) Belinsky (0–2) — 2:47 36,500 7–2 W4 10 April 25 1:00 p.m. PDT Phillies L4–6 Herbert (1–0) Drysdale (2–2) Baldschun (2) 2:42 25,766 7–3 L1 11 April 26 8:00 p.m. PDT Phillies L3–4 Short (3–1) Koufax (2–1) Baldschun (3) 3:00 24,703 7–4 L2 12 April 27 8:00 p.m. PDT Pirates W5–4 Reed (1–0) Gibbon (0–3) Miller (2) 2:54 17,630 8–4 W1 13 April 28 8:00 p.m. PDT Pirates L0–2 Veale (2–0) Osteen (2–2) — 2:05 17,464 8–5 L1 14 April 29 8:00 p.m. PDT Giants W2–1 Drysdale (3–2) Marichal (3–2) — 2:13 30,219 9–5 W1 15 April 30 8:00 p.m. PDT Giants W6–3 Miller (1–0) Bolin (0–3) — 3:02 48,586 10–5 W2
May: 19–12 (Home: 11–8; Away: 8–4) # Date Time (PT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 16 May 1 8:00 p.m. PDT Giants W4–2 Purdin (1–0) Perry (1–2) Brewer (1) 2:27 49,758 11–5 W3 17 May 2 1:00 p.m. PDT Giants L2–4(10) Sanford (2–1) Miller (1–1) Linzy (1) 2:43 40,439 11–6 L1 18 May 4 6:05 p.m. PDT @ Reds W8–6 Brewer (1–0) Jay (1–1) — 2:30 9,767 12–6 W1 19 May 5 6:05 p.m. PDT @ Reds W4–2 Koufax (3–1) O'Toole (0–4) — 2:38 9,753 13–6 W2 20 May 6 6:05 p.m. PDT @ Reds W4–3 Podres (2–0) Tsitouris (2–2) Miller (3) 2:20 7,821 14–6 W3 21 May 7 8:15 p.m. PDT @ Giants W4–3 Osteen (3–2) Henry (2–1) — 2:26 33,977 15–6 W4 22 May 8 1:00 p.m. PDT @ Giants W9–0 Drysdale (4–2) Herbel (1–2) — 2:22 37,548 16–6 W5 23 May 9 1:00 p.m. PDT @ Giants L3–6 Marichal (5–2) Koufax (3–2) — 2:48 40,596 16–7 L1 24 May 10 8:00 p.m. PDT Astros W3–2(10) Miller (2–1) Woodeshick (1–2) — 2:44 22,535 17–7 W1 25 May 11 8:00 p.m. PDT Astros L1–2 Giusti (6–0) Osteen (3–3) — 1:57 21,086 17–8 L1 26 May 12 8:00 p.m. PDT Astros W4–2 Drysdale (5–2) Nottebart (0–2) — 2:06 19,302 18–8 W1 27 May 13 8:00 p.m. PDT Astros W3–0 Koufax (4–2) Bruce (1–4) — 2:05 20,963 19–8 W2 28 May 14 8:00 p.m. PDT Cubs L1–2 Buhl (4–2) Purdin (1–1) Abernathy (8) 2:23 26,356 19–9 L1 29 May 15 1:00 p.m. PDT Cubs W3–1 Miller (3–1) Ellsworth (3–3) Brewer (2) 2:02 22,047 20–9 W1 30 (1) May 16 1:00 p.m. PDT Cubs L3–5(10) Jackson (3–3) Perranoski (0–1) — 2:38 — 20–10 L1 31 (2) May 16 4:13 p.m. PDT Cubs W3–2 Drysdale (6–2) McDaniel (0–1) — 2:22 45,739 21–10 W1 32 May 17 5:30 p.m. PDT @ Astros W5–3(11) Koufax (5–2) Bruce (1–5) Miller (4) 2:59 40,858 22–10 W2 33 May 18 5:30 p.m. PDT @ Astros L1–4 Johnson (3–1) Brewer (1–1) Woodeshick (2) 2:07 22,220 22–11 L1 34 May 19 5:30 p.m. PDT @ Astros W4–2(14) Purdin (2–1) MacKenzie (0–2) Drysdale (1) 4:04 30,885 23–11 W1 35 May 21 11:30 a.m. PDT @ Cubs L3–4 Ellsworth (4–3) Drysdale (6–3) — 2:22 4,716 23–12 L1 36 May 22 11:30 a.m. PDT @ Cubs W3–1 Koufax (6–2) Koonce (3–2) — 2:30 17,922 24–12 W1 37 May 23 11:30 a.m. PDT @ Cubs L2–3(16) Ellsworth (5–3) Reed (1–1) — 4:09 17,139 24–13 L1 38 May 24 8:00 p.m. PDT Cardinals L4–6 Stallard (3–1) Osteen (3–4) Schultz (1) 3:11 22,987 24–14 L2 39 May 25 8:00 p.m. PDT Cardinals W2–0 Drysdale (7–3) Gibson (8–1) — 1:41 28,515 25–14 W1 40 May 26 8:00 p.m. PDT Cardinals L1–2 Simmons (3–5) Koufax (6–3) — 2:26 30,794 25–15 L1 41 May 27 8:00 p.m. PDT Braves W3–2 Podres (3–0) Lemaster (2–5) — 2:02 19,001 26–15 W1 42 May 28 8:00 p.m. PDT Braves L4–5 O'Dell (3–2) Osteen (3–5) — 2:20 30,107 26–16 L1 43 May 29 2:15 p.m. PDT Braves W5–3 Drysdale (8–3) Carroll (0–1) — 2:28 23,707 27–16 W1 44 May 30 1:00 p.m. PDT Reds W12–5 Koufax (7–3) Ellis (7–2) — 2:43 36,309 28–16 W2 45 (1) May 31 1:00 p.m. PDT Reds W4–3 Perranoski (1–1) Maloney (5–1) — 2:44 — 29–16 W3 46 (2) May 31 4:19 p.m. PDT Reds L1–6 Jay (3–1) Osteen (3–6) — 2:14 50,997 29–17 L1
June: 17–14 (Home: 6–7; Away: 11–7) # Date Time (PT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 47 June 2 6:00 p.m. PDT @ Cardinals W4–1 Drysdale (9–3) Washburn (3–3) Perranoski (1) 2:46 17,560 30–17 W1 48 June 3 6:00 p.m. PDT @ Cardinals W11–10 Brewer (2–1) Schultz (1–1) Miller (5) 3:19 19,946 31–17 W2 49 June 4 6:00 p.m. PDT @ Braves L2–5 Blasingame (6–4) Miller (3–2) — 2:50 5,760 31–18 L1 50 June 5 11:30 a.m. PDT @ Braves L1–9 Cloninger (7–4) Podres (3–1) — 2:20 4,116 31–19 L2 51 (1) June 6 11:00 a.m. PDT @ Braves W4–0 Drysdale (10–3) Kelley (0–1) — 2:20 — 32–19 W1 52 (2) June 6 1:50 p.m. PDT @ Braves L4–5 Lemaster (3–5) Reed (1–2) O'Dell (6) 2:35 17,175 32–20 L1 53 June 7 5:05 p.m. PDT @ Phillies W14–3 Koufax (8–3) Burdette (0–3) — 3:02 23,345 33–20 W1 54 June 8 5:05 p.m. PDT @ Phillies W2–1 Osteen (4–6) Bunning (5–5) Perranoski (2) 2:49 14,975 34–20 W2 55 June 9 5:05 p.m. PDT @ Phillies L3–7 Short (5–6) Kekich (0–1) — 3:01 16,241 34–21 L1 56 June 10 5:05 p.m. PDT @ Phillies L0–4 Herbert (3–3) Podres (3–2) — 1:58 19,467 34–22 L2 57 June 11 5:00 p.m. PDT @ Mets W2–1 Drysdale (11–3) Spahn (4–7) — 2:16 55,023 35–22 W1 58 June 12 11:15 a.m. PDT @ Mets W 5–0 Koufax (9–3) Jackson (2–8) — 2:50 38,915 36–22 W2 59 (1) June 13 10:00 a.m. PDT @ Mets W5–2 Osteen (5–6) Fisher (5–6) Miller (6) 2:41 — 37–22 W3 60 (2) June 13 1:16 p.m. PDT @ Mets W4–3 Perranoski (2–1) Kroll (3–5) Podres (1) 3:25 57,175 38–22 W4 61 June 15 8:00 p.m. PDT Giants L1–2 Marichal (10–5) Drysdale (11–4) — 2:16 52,357 38–23 L1 62 June 16 8:00 p.m. PDT Giants W2–1 Koufax (10–3) Shaw (6–4) — 2:36 44,499 39–23 W1 63 June 17 8:00 p.m. PDT Giants W3–0 Osteen (6–6) Perry (6–6) — 2:24 40,707 40–23 W2 64 June 18 8:00 p.m. PDT Phillies L2–4 Short (7–6) Podres (3–3) — 2:23 30,401 40–24 L1 65 June 19 8:00 p.m. PDT Phillies W4–0 Willhite (1–0) Herbert (3–4) Perranoski (3) 2:19 20,518 41–24 W1 66 (1) June 20 1:00 p.m. PDT Mets W2–1 Koufax (11–3) Spahn (4–9) — 1:52 — 42–24 W2 67 (2) June 20 3:27 p.m. PDT Mets L2–3 Miller (1–0) Drysdale (11–5) — 2:30 52,248 42–25 L1 68 June 21 8:00 p.m. PDT Mets L0–1 Jackson (3–9) Osteen (6–7) — 1:54 18,867 42–26 L2 69 June 22 8:00 p.m. PDT Mets W4–2 Reed (2–2) Parsons (0–4) Perranoski (4) 2:18 20,633 43–26 W1 70 June 24 8:00 p.m. PDT Pirates L3–13 Cardwell (5–2) Drysdale (11–6) — 2:33 28,867 43–27 L1 71 June 25 8:00 p.m. PDT Pirates W4–1 Koufax (12–3) Friend (3–6) — 2:04 32,060 44–27 W1 72 June 26 1:00 p.m. PDT Pirates L1–6 Law (8–5) Osteen (6–8) — 2:28 21,769 44–28 L1 73 June 27 1:00 p.m. PDT Pirates L2–10 Veale (8–5) Podres (3–4) — 2:39 33,161 44–29 L2 74 June 28 8:15 p.m. PDT @ Giants L0–5 Marichal (12–6) Drysdale (11–7) — 2:38 36,702 44–30 L3 75 June 29 1:00 p.m. PDT @ Giants W9–3 Koufax (13–3) Shaw (7–5) — 2:45 29,380 45–30 W1 76 (1) June 30 11:00 a.m. PDT @ Cubs L1–4 Ellsworth (9–3) Osteen (6–9) — 2:03 — 45–31 L1 77 (2) June 30 1:38 p.m. PDT @ Cubs W4–3 Miller (4–2) Hoeft (0–1) — 2:38 17,950 46–31 W1
July: 15–13 (Home: 9–5; Away: 6–8) # Date Time (PT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 78 July 1 11:30 a.m. PDT @ Cubs L3–6 McDaniel (3–3) Podres (3–5) Abernathy (16) 2:34 7,420 46–32 L1 79 July 2 5:30 p.m. PDT @ Astros L3–4 Cuellar (1–1) Drysdale (11–8) — 2:35 33,044 46–33 L2 80 July 3 5:30 p.m. PDT @ Astros W3–1 Koufax (14–3) Dierker (2–4) — 2:10 50,136 47–33 W1 81 July 4 12:30 p.m. PDT @ Astros L1–3 Raymond (5–3) Osteen (6–10) — 2:04 47,642 47–34 L1 82 July 5 6:05 p.m. PDT @ Reds L4–7 Maloney (9–4) Miller (4–3) McCool (8) 2:29 29,047 47–35 L1 83 July 6 6:05 p.m. PDT @ Reds W11–7 Drysdale (12–8) O'Toole (1–8) Perranoski (5) 2:54 18,833 48–35 W1 84 July 7 6:05 p.m. PDT @ Reds L6–7 Nuxhall (4–2) Miller (4–4) — 2:58 25,785 48–36 L1 85 July 8 4:30 p.m. PDT @ Pirates W9–4 Reed (3–2) Law (8–8) — 2:59 22,247 49–36 W1 86 July 9 5:15 p.m. PDT @ Pirates L1–4 Veale (9–6) Willhite (1–1) — 2:29 16,284 49–37 L1 87 July 10 11:15 a.m. PDT @ Pirates W8–4 Drysdale (13–8) Cardwell (8–3) Perranoski (6) 2:57 14,880 50–37 W1 88 (1) July 11 10:00 a.m. PDT @ Pirates W4–2 Koufax (15–3) Gibbon (2–8) — 2:29 — 51–37 W2 89 (2) July 11 1:04 p.m. PDT @ Pirates L3–4(10) Carpin (3–0) Miller (4–5) — 2:42 37,631 51–38 L1 — July 13 11:00 a.m. PDT 36th All-Star Game National League vs. American League (Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota) 90 July 15 8:00 p.m. PDT Cubs W5–0 Drysdale (14–8) Ellsworth (10–5) — 2:19 25,538 52–38 W1 91 July 16 8:00 p.m. PDT Cubs W3–0 Koufax (16–3) Jackson (8–11) — 2:20 47,947 53–38 W2 92 July 17 8:00 p.m. PDT Cubs W7–2 Osteen (7–10) Koonce (7–8) — 2:21 31,228 54–38 W3 93 July 18 1:00 p.m. PDT Cubs W4–3(11) Reed (4–2) Hendley (0–2) — 3:05 27,508 55–38 W4 94 July 19 8:00 p.m. PDT Astros W8–3 Drysdale (15–8) Nottebart (1–7) — 2:34 22,756 56–38 W5 95 July 20 8:00 p.m. PDT Astros W3–2 Koufax (17–3) Taylor (2–4) — 2:15 30,937 57–38 W6 96 July 21 8:00 p.m. PDT Braves L4–6 Blasingame (11–7) Osteen (7–11) O'Dell (10) 3:05 28,721 57–39 L1 97 July 22 8:00 p.m. PDT Braves L2–5 Cloninger (12–8) Miller (4–6) O'Dell (11) 2:24 27,179 57–40 L2 98 July 23 8:00 p.m. PDT Cardinals L3–4(12) Washburn (6–7) Willhite (1–2) — 3:48 40,286 57–41 L3 99 July 24 8:00 p.m. PDT Cardinals L2–3(10) Dennis (2–1) Perranoski (2–2) Woodeshick (12) 3:04 48,998 57–42 L4 100 July 25 1:00 p.m. PDT Cardinals W5–1 Osteen (8–11) Simmons (6–10) — 2:44 31,710 58–42 W1 101 July 26 8:00 p.m. PDT Reds W5–4 Podres (4–5) Maloney (11–5) Perranoski (7) 2:20 39,978 59–42 W2 102 July 27 8:00 p.m. PDT Reds W9–7 Perranoski (3–2) Jay (8–3) — 3:25 46,537 60–42 W3 103 July 28 8:00 p.m. PDT Reds L1–4 Ellis (14–6) Koufax (17–4) — 2:00 53,604 60–43 L1 104 July 30 6:00 p.m. PDT @ Cardinals W4–2 Miller (5–6) Dennis (2–2) Perranoski (8) 2:39 29,497 61–43 W1 105 July 31 6:00 p.m. PDT @ Cardinals L3–4 Gibson (13–8) Perranoski (3–3) — 2:31 30,109 61–44 L1
August: 14–13 (Home: 5–3; Away: 9–10) # Date Time (PT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 106 August 1 11:15 a.m. PDT @ Cardinals W3–2 Koufax (18–4) Sadecki (2–9) — 2:29 30,605 62–44 W1 107 August 2 6:00 p.m. PDT @ Cardinals L5–6 Stallard (8–4) Perranoski (3–4) Dennis (6) 2:34 20,518 62–45 L1 — August 3 5:30 p.m. PDT @ Braves Postponed (inclement weather); Makeup: August 4 108 (1) August 4 4:00 p.m. PDT @ Braves L3–4 Fischer (5–5) Drysdale (15–9) O'Dell (15) 2:44 — 62–46 L2 109 (2) August 4 7:14 p.m. PDT @ Braves W3–2 Osteen (9–11) Lemaster (4–9) Miller (7) 2:25 19,950 63–46 W1 110 August 5 5:30 p.m. PDT @ Braves W6–3 Koufax (19–4) Blasingame (13–8) — 2:46 18,368 64–46 W2 111 August 6 6:05 p.m. PDT @ Reds L4–5(11) McCool (7–6) Perranoski (3–5) — 3:26 25,668 64–47 L1 112 August 7 5:05 p.m. PDT @ Reds W5–3 Reed (5–2) Ellis (14–7) Perranoski (9) 2:37 27,844 65–47 W1 113 August 8 10:30 a.m. PDT @ Reds L0–18 Maloney (13–5) Drysdale (15–10) — 2:20 28,335 65–48 L1 114 August 10 8:00 p.m. PDT Mets W4–3 Koufax (20–4) Jackson (5–16) — 2:07 36,815 66–48 W2 115 August 11 8:00 p.m. PDT Mets W1–0 Drysdale (16–10) Richardson (0–1) — 2:34 23,376 67–48 W3 116 August 13 8:00 p.m. PDT Pirates W3–1 Osteen (10–11) Veale (12–9) — 2:21 32,551 68–48 W4 117 August 14 8:00 p.m. PDT Pirates W1–0(10) Koufax (21–4) Cardwell (10–7) — 2:43 29,237 69–48 W5 118 August 15 1:00 p.m. PDT Pirates L2–4 Sisk (4–2) Drysdale (16–11) McBean (13) 3:02 25,175 69–49 L1 119 August 16 8:00 p.m. PDT Phillies L1–6 Short (14–8) Podres (4–6) — 2:47 22,611 69–50 L2 120 August 17 8:00 p.m. PDT Phillies W4–2 Osteen (11–11) Herbert (5–6) Perranoski (10) 2:31 23,144 70–50 W1 121 August 18 8:00 p.m. PDT Phillies L3–6(12) Wagner (5–3) Brewer (2–2) — 4:05 38,267 70–51 L1 122 August 19 8:15 p.m. PDT @ Giants W8–5(15) Perranoski (4–5) Perry (8–11) — 4:11 35,901 71–51 W1 123 August 20 8:15 p.m. PDT @ Giants W5–1 Shaw (14–6) Reed (5–3) — 2:38 41,858 71–52 L1 124 August 21 1:00 p.m. PDT @ Giants W6–4(11) Podres (5–6) Henry (3–2) — 3:27 42,283 72–52 W1 125 August 22 1:00 p.m. PDT @ Giants L3–4 Herbel (8–6) Koufax (21–5) Murakami (5) 2:18 42,807 72–53 L1 126 August 23 5:00 p.m. PDT @ Mets W8–4 Drysdale (17–11) Miller (1–3) Miller (8) 2:59 33,393 73–53 W1 127 August 24 5:00 p.m. PDT @ Mets L3–4 Eilers (1–0) Miller (5–7) — 2:34 37,023 73–54 L1 128 August 25 5:00 p.m. PDT @ Mets L5–7 Richardson (2–1) Osteen (11–12) — 2:38 32,432 73–55 L2 129 August 26 5:00 p.m. PDT @ Mets L2–5 McGraw (2–2) Koufax (21–6) Fisher (1) 2:24 45,950 73–56 L3 130 August 27 5:05 p.m. PDT @ Phillies W9–8 Drysdale (18–11) Herbert (5–7) Reed (1) 3:16 26,740 74–56 W1 131 August 28 5:05 p.m. PDT @ Phillies W8–4 Brewer (3–2) Short (14–9) Koufax (1) 3:16 27,439 75–56 W2 132 August 29 10:35 a.m. PDT @ Phillies L3–13 Culp (9–9) Osteen (11–13) — 2:39 21,744 75–57 L1 — August 31 5:15 p.m. PDT @ Pirates Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 1
September: 20–7 (Home: 10–3; Away: 10–4) # Date Time (PT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 133 (1) September 1 2:30 p.m. PDT @ Pirates L2–3(11) Gibbon (4–9) Koufax (21–7) — 3:00 — 75–58 L2 134 (2) September 1 6:05 p.m. PDT @ Pirates L1–2 Law (16–9) Drysdale (18–12) — 2:18 26,394 75–59 L3 135 September 2 5:15 p.m. PDT @ Pirates W7–1 Osteen (12–13) Veale (14–10) Perranoski (11) 2:38 29,200 76–59 W1 136 September 3 5:30 p.m. PDT @ Astros W3–0 Willhite (2–2) Nottebart (4–13) Perranoski (12) 2:14 31,154 77–59 W2 137 September 4 11:15 a.m. PDT @ Astros W5–0 Podres (6–6) Bruce (9–17) Perranoski (13) 2:13 41,951 78–59 W3 138 September 5 12:30 p.m. PDT @ Astros W4–2 Reed (4–2) Roberts (4–1) — 2:05 49,442 79–59 W4 139 September 6 1:00 p.m. PDT Giants L6–7(12) Linzy (7–2) Reed (6–4) — 3:43 53,581 79–60 L1 140 September 7 6:00 p.m. PDT Giants L1–3 Shaw (15–8) Osteen (12–14) Murakami (7) 2:48 48,586 79–61 L2 141 September 9 8:00 p.m. PDT Cubs W1–0 Koufax (22–7) Hendley (2–3) — 1:43 29,139 80–61 W1 142 September 10 8:00 p.m. PDT Astros W5–2 Drysdale (19–12) Roberts (4–2) Perranoski (14) 2:00 30,200 81–61 W2 143 September 11 8:00 p.m. PDT Astros W8–3 Osteen (13–14) Farrell (10–10) Perranoski (15) 2:32 30,278 82–61 W3 144 September 12 1:00 p.m. PDT Astros L2–3 Owens (6–4) Perranoski (4–6) Raymond (4) 2:40 21,918 82–62 L1 145 September 14 11:30 a.m. PDT @ Cubs L1–2 Hendley (3–3) Koufax (22–8) — 1:57 6,220 82–63 L2 146 September 15 11:30 a.m. PDT @ Cubs L6–8 Ellsworth (14–14) Reed (6–5) Hoeft (1) 2:45 1,886 82–64 L3 147 September 16 11:30 a.m. PDT @ Cubs W2–0 Osteen (14–14) Faul (5–5) Koufax (2) 2:15 550 83–64 W1 148 September 17 6:00 p.m. PDT @ Cardinals W3–2 Drysdale (20–12) Simmons (9–15) Perranoski (16) 2:36 19,042 84–64 W2 149 September 18 6:00 p.m. PDT @ Cardinals W1–0 Koufax (23–8) Washburn (9–11) — 2:11 29,063 85–64 W3 150 September 19 11:15 a.m. PDT @ Cardinals W5–0 Osteen (15–14) Gibson (18–11) Perranoski (17) 2:33 23,941 86–64 W4 151 September 21 5:30 p.m. PDT @ Braves W3–1 Drysdale (21–12) Lemaster (6–13) — 2:30 5,169 87–64 W5 152 September 22 6:00 p.m. PDT @ Braves W7–6(11)} Perranoski (5–6) Olivo (0–1) Miller (9) 3:38 12,577 88–64 W6 153 September 24 8:00 p.m. PDT Cardinals W4–3 Perranoski (6–6) Gibson (18–12) — 2:38 37,450 89–64 W7 154 September 25 1:00 p.m. PDT Cardinals W2–0 Koufax (24–8) Briles (2–3) — 2:10 31,532 90–64 W8 155 September 26 1:00 p.m. PDT Cardinals W1–0 Drysdale (22–12) Sadecki (6–14) — 2:18 40,317 91–64 W9 156 September 27 8:00 p.m. PDT Reds W6–1 Podres (7–6) Ellis (21–10) Perranoski (18) 2:31 32,593 92–64 W10 157 September 28 8:00 p.m. PDT Reds W2–1(12) Reed (7–5) Jay (9–8) — 3:52 38,424 93–64 W11 158 September 29 6:00 p.m. PDT Reds W5–0 Koufax (25–8) Maloney (20–9) — 2:20 52,312 94–64 W12 159 September 30 8:00 p.m. PDT Braves W4–0 Drysdale (23–12) Fischer (8–9) — 2:18 36,006 95–64 W13
October: 2–1 (Home: 2–1; Away: 0–0) # Date Time (PT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 160 October 1 8:00 p.m. PDT Braves L0–2 Lemaster (7–13) Osteen (15–15) — 2:19 50,813 95–65 L1 161 October 2 2:15 p.m. PDT Braves W3–1 Koufax (26–8) Cloninger (24–11) — 2:42 41,574 96–65 W1 162 October 3 1:00 p.m. PDT Braves W3–0 Miller (6–7) Sadowski (5–9) Willhite (1) 2:01 39,922 97–65 W2

Detailed records

National League
Opponent	Home	Away	Total	Pct.	Runs scored	Runs allowed
Chicago Cubs	7–2	3–6	10–8	.556	55	46
Cincinnati Reds	7–2	5–4	12–6	.667	91	89
Houston Astros	7–2	6–3	13–5	.722	66	38
Los Angeles Dodgers	—	—	—	—	—	—
Milwaukee Braves	5–4	5–4	10–8	.556	61	60
New York Mets	6–3	6–3	12–6	.667	62	42
Philadelphia Phillies	4–5	5–4	9–9	.500	81	76
Pittsburgh Pirates	4–5	5–4	9–9	.500	59	66
San Francisco Giants	5–4	5–4	10–8	.556	70	58
St. Louis Cardinals	6–3	6–3	12–6	.667	91	66
	50–31	47–34	97–65	.599	608	521

Postseason Game log

1965 Postseason game log: 4–3 (Home: 3–0; Away: 1–3)

World Series vs. Minnesota Twins 4–3 (Home: 3–0; Away: 1–3) # Date Time (PT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Series Box/ Streak 1 October 6 12 Noon PDT @ Twins L2–8 Grant (1–0) Drysdale (0–1) — 2:29 47,797 MIN 1–0 L1 2 October 7 12 Noon PDT @ Twins L1–5 Kaat (1–0) Koufax (0–1) — 2:13 48,700 MIN 2–0 L2 3 October 9 1:00 p.m. PDT Twins W4–0 Osteen (1–0) Pascual (0–1) — 2:06 55,934 MIN 2–1 W1 4 October 10 1:00 p.m. PDT Twins W7–2 Drysdale (1–1) Grant (1–1) — 2:15 55,920 TIE 2–2 W2 5 October 11 1:00 p.m. PDT Twins W7–0 Koufax (1–1) Kaat (1–1) — 2:34 55,801 LAN 3–2 W3 6 October 13 12 Noon PDT @ Twins L1–5 Grant (2–1) Osteen (1–1) — 2:16 49,578 TIE 3–3 L1 7 October 14 12 Noon PDT @ Twins W2–0 Koufax (2–1) Kaat (1–2) — 2:27 50,976 LAN 4–3 W1

Player stats

Note: Team batting and pitching leaders are in bold.

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; PA = Plate appearances; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles hit; 3B = Triples hit; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; CS = Caught stealing; BB = Walks; SO = Strikeouts; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On-base percentage; SLG = Slugging; OPS = On Base + Slugging; TB = Total bases; GDP = Grounded into double play; HBP = Hit by pitch; SH = Sacrifice hits; SF = Sacrifice flies; IBB = Intentional base on balls

Pos	Player	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	Avg.	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
C	John Roseboro	136	480	437	42	102	10	0	8	57	1	6	34	51	.233	.289	.311	.601	136	5	2	3	4	7
1B	Wes Parker	154	644	542	80	129	24	7	8	51	13	7	75	95	.238	.334	.352	.687	191	6	5	19	3	1
2B	Jim Lefebvre	157	631	544	57	136	21	4	12	69	3	5	71	92	.250	.337	.369	.706	201	8	2	10	4	7
SS	Maury Wills	158	711	650	92	186	14	7	0	33	94	31	40	64	.286	.330	.329	.660	214	6	4	14	2	2
3B	Jim Gilliam	111	432	372	54	104	19	4	4	39	9	5	53	31	.280	.374	.384	.758	143	1	4	1	2	5
LF	Lou Johnson	131	518	468	57	121	24	1	12	58	15	6	24	81	.259	.315	.391	.706	183	7	16	7	3	8
CF	Willie Davis	142	595	558	52	133	24	3	10	57	25	9	14	81	.238	.263	.346	.609	193	7	7	9	7	3
RF	Ron Fairly	158	654	555	73	152	28	1	9	70	2	0	76	72	.274	.361	.377	.738	209	7	3	14	6	11

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Dick Tracewski	78	186	40	.215	1	20
Jeff Torborg	56	150	36	.240	3	13
John Kennedy	104	105	18	.171	1	5
Wally Moon	53	89	18	.202	1	11
Al Ferrara	41	81	17	.210	1	10
Don LeJohn	34	78	20	.256	0	7
Tommy Davis	17	60	15	.250	0	9
Derrell Griffith	22	41	7	.171	1	2
Willie Crawford	52	27	4	.148	0	0
Hector Valle	9	13	4	.308	0	2
Dick Smith	10	6	0	.000	0	1
Johnny Werhas	4	3	0	.000	0	0
Nate Oliver	8	1	1	1.000	0	0

Pitching

= Indicates league leader

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Sandy Koufax	43	335.2	26	8	2.04	382
Don Drysdale	44	308.1	23	12	2.77	210
Claude Osteen	40	287.0	15	15	2.79	162
Johnny Podres	27	134.0	7	6	3.43	63

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Howie Reed	38	78.0	7	5	3.12	47
Nick Willhite	15	42.0	2	2	5.36	28
Mike Kekich	5	10.1	0	1	9.58	9

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Ron Perranoski	59	6	6	18	2.24	53
Bob Miller	61	6	7	9	2.97	77
Jim Brewer	19	3	2	2	1.82	31
John Purdin	11	2	1	0	6.75	16
Bill Singer	2	0	0	0	0.00	1

1965 World Series

Main article: 1965 World Series

Game 1

October 6, 1965, at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Los Angeles (N)	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	10	1
Minnesota (A)	0	1	6	0	0	1	0	0	x	8	10	0
W: Mudcat Grant (1–0)   L: Don Drysdale (0–1)
HR: LAD – Ron Fairly (1)   MIN – Don Mincher (1), Zoilo Versalles (1)

Game 2

October 7, 1965, at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Los Angeles (N)	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	7	3
Minnesota (A)	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	2	x	5	9	0
W: Jim Kaat (1–0)   L: Sandy Koufax (0–1)

Game 3

October 9, 1965, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Minnesota (A)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Los Angeles (N)	0	0	0	2	1	1	0	0	x	4	10	1
W: Claude Osteen (1–0)  L: Camilo Pascual (0–1)

Game 4

October 10, 1965, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Minnesota (A)	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	5	2
Los Angeles (N)	1	1	0	1	0	3	0	1	x	7	10	0
W: Don Drysdale (1–1)  L: Mudcat Grant (1–1)
HR: MIN – Harmon Killebrew (1), Tony Oliva (1)   LAD – Wes Parker (1), Lou Johnson (1)

Game 5

October 11, 1965, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Minnesota (A)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
Los Angeles (N)	2	0	2	1	0	0	2	0	x	7	14	0
W: Sandy Koufax (1–1)  L: Jim Kaat (1–1)

Game 6

October 13, 1965, at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Los Angeles (N)	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	6	1
Minnesota (A)	0	0	0	2	0	3	0	0	x	5	6	1
W: Mudcat Grant (2–1)   L: Claude Osteen (1–1)
HR: LAD – Ron Fairly (2)   MIN – Bob Allison (1), Mudcat Grant (1)

Game 7

October 14, 1965, at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Los Angeles (N)	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	7	0
Minnesota (A)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
W: Sandy Koufax (2–1)   L: Jim Kaat (1–2)
HR: LAD – Lou Johnson (2)

Awards and honors

Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax

• National League Cy Young Award
  • Sandy Koufax
• National League Rookie of the Year
  • Jim Lefebvre
• World Series Most Valuable Player
  • Sandy Koufax
• Associated Press Athlete of the Year
  • Sandy Koufax ^[7]
• TSN Pitcher of the Year Award
  • Sandy Koufax
• TSN Major League Player of the Year Award
  • Sandy Koufax

All-Stars

• 1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
  • Maury Wills starter
  • Don Drysdale reserve
  • Sandy Koufax reserve
• TSN National League All-Star
  • Sandy Koufax
  • Maury Wills

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Spokane Indians	Pacific Coast League	Bill Brenzel Duke Snider Pete Reiser
AA	Albuquerque Dodgers	Texas League	Roy Hartsfield
A	Santa Barbara Dodgers	California League	Norm Sherry
A	St. Petersburg Saints	Florida State League	George Scherger
A	Salem Dodgers	Northwest League	Stan Wasiak
Rookie	Pocatello Chiefs	Pioneer League	Tommy Lasorda

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Albuquerque

1965 Major League Baseball draft

This was the first Major League Baseball draft. The Dodgers drafted 30 players this year in the June draft and an additional 2 in the August Legion draft. The first player the Dodgers ever drafted was a shortstop from Bakersfield High School named John Wyatt. He played in the teams farm system through 1970 but never advanced past Class-A.

The most notable player drafted this year was Tom Seaver, who was picked in the 10th round from the University of Southern California, but he did not sign with the team and re-entered the draft the following year, where he was selected by the New York Mets.

1965 draft picks

June draft [8] Round Name Position School Signed Career span Highest level 1 John Wyatt SS Bakersfield High School Yes 1965–1970 A 2 Alan Foster RHP Los Altos High School Yes 1965–1976 MLB 3 Michael Criscione C Syracuse University Yes 1965–1967 A 4 George Mercado OF Bishop Dubois High School Yes 1965–1967 A- 5 John Radosevich LHP West Virginia University Yes 1965–1968 A 6 Peter Barnes OF Southern University and A&M College No 7 Larry Griffith RHP Anadarko High School Yes 1965–1967 AA 8 James Johnson OF Las Vegas High School Yes 1965–1970 A 9 Paul Dennenbaum 1B Syracuse University No 10 Tom Seaver RHP University of Southern California No Mets −1966 1966–1986 MLB 11 Joseph Austin 1B University of Southern California Yes 1965–1966 A 12 Richard Binder LHP Waterloo High School No 13 Terrance Derringer RHP Southwest Miami High School No 14 Stephen McGreevy 1B University of Kansas Yes 1965–1967 A 15 Leon Everitt RHP Pemberton High School Yes 1965–1969 MLB 16 Michael McCall SS Greenville High School No Red Sox −1965 1967–1970 A 17 Johnny Alexander INF Whitmire High School No 18 Rod Austin OF Santa Clara University No 19 George Lewark SS University of Colorado No 20 William Maxwell RHP Central High School No 21 Daro Quiring RHP Stanford University No 22 Eric Krumlauf 3B Shaker Heights High School No 23 Rich Hinton LHP Marana High School No White Sox −1969 1969–1979 MLB 24 Frederick Moulder SS Oklahoma State University Yes 1967–1972 AAA 25 Jon Keirns OF Edmond High School No 26 Robert Harvey 3B John Marshall High School Yes 1966–1968 A 27 Rhett Thompson 3B Del Mar High School Yes 1965–1967 A- 28 Gary Moore OF University of Texas at Austin Yes 1967–1971 MLB 29 Kyle Carlin RHP Sulphur High School Yes 1965–1969 AA 30 Dennis Jensen SS Jacksonville University Yes 1965 A August Legion draft [9] The August Legion draft was for college players who had participated in summer amateur leagues. Round Name Position School Signed Career span Highest level 1 Barry Snyder C No 2 Frank Stanek 1B No

Notes

1. "Nick Willhite Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
2. Larry Miller at Baseball Reference
3. Doug Camilli at Baseball Reference
4. Frank Howard at Baseball Reference
5. Dick Tracewski at Baseball Reference
6. "1965 Los Angeles Dodgers schedule and results". Baseball Reference. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
7. Associated Press Athlete of the Year (male)
8. 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft
9. 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers Picks in the MLB August Legion Draft

References

• Baseball-Reference season page
• Baseball Almanac season page

External links

• Los Angeles Dodgers 1965 uniform
• Los Angeles Dodgers official web site