The Dodgers season could be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday if one of the following conditions is met:

1. The Dodgers lose to Colorado
2. All three of the Giants, Padres, and Braves win.
   

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The task of trying to make the case for the most successful manager in Dodgers history may not seem to be the most difficult job. Walter Alston managed the Dodgers to 2040 wins, seven pennants, and four World Series wins in 23 seasons in charge. However, The Quiet Man from Darrtown still manages to be a forgotten man in Dodgers history at times.

[via www.baseball-almanac.com]

When Alston was a manager, he was overshadowed by some of the greatest names in Dodgers history: Robinson, Snyder, Drysdale, Koufax, Hodges, Wills, Gilliam, Podres. Alston was the manager when the Dodgers unveiled the seemingly eternal infield of Garvey, Lopes, Russell, and Cey.

Alston did not have a distinctive style as a manager. He just tried to win with with the players he had. He knew that his philosophy was not as important as winning. He surrounded himself with good coaches and was blessed with a Dodgers farm system that seemed to churn out talent on demand.
 
But, Alston’s successor, Tommy Lasorda, is etched in the minds of Dodgers fans today as THE manager of the Dodgers. Alston stepped down as Dodgers manager with four games left in the 1976 season. And, he was rarely seen again in Los Angeles before he passed away in 1984.

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