Walker Buehler celebrates Dodgers legend at World Series parade

Twenty-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 its sixth World Series title in 1988.

Hershiser had one of the best seasons in MLB history this 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 the MLB. He stepped up his game in 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 and threw 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 the Dodgers to a World Series victory in 1988.

26 years later, it was Buehler who secured the Dodgers the World Series title. Walker Buehler accompanied Los Angeles Dodgers pitching legend Orel Hershiser during the 2024 MLB postseason. After pitching four scoreless innings in Game 3 of the NLCS, Buehler called Hershiser and asked him to wear the jersey he wore during the 1988 World Series

“He said, ‘Man, I love that jersey with the white piping that you wore in the 1988 World Series. Can I wear it in my next start?'” Hershiser recalled to Dodgers Territory.

“In Walker there was a lot of ego, tough head, a special person in terms of talent and intelligence.”

Orel Hershiser on how he developed a deep relationship with Walker Buehler. Walker also asked Orel to send him his 1988 jersey to wear in the postseason. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/BRkN1eQToJ

– Dodgers Territory (@LADTerritory) October 31, 2024

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' celebration after the NLCS victory. 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 and pitched five more scoreless innings against the Yankees. Two days later, in Game 5, the Dodgers had a slim 7-6 lead over the Yankees entering the ninth inning. Buehler returned to the mound and pitched the final inning of the World Series. He struck out two batters, including the last batter, clinching the series and the title.

Walker Buehler had the worst regular season of his career.

He started for the Dodgers out of necessity in October.

He pitched five shutout innings in Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium.

Two days later, he got the final three outs and won it all.pic.twitter.com/IAPdXFA8o8

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) October 31, 2024

Now Buehler is celebrating the championship by wearing Hershiser's classic 1988 jersey again in the Dodgers parade.

The relationship between Buehler and Hershiser dates 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 a person. He watched Buehler go through two Tommy John surgeries and struggle at times on the mound. This week he got to see the player named “Buehldog,” an homage to his nickname “Bulldog,” representing him by winning the World Series with his jersey in hand.

Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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