"Now Batting #18 Bill Russell........" The player is a Dodgers favorite as well one of 2 bloggers favorite players in the 1970s that being Mr. Night Owl & Mr GCRL. Bill was the Shortstop in the famous infield of Ron Cey at 3rd, Russell at Short, Davey Lopes at 2nd, & Steve Garvey (Another member of this set) that roamed the Dodger infield from June 23rd, 1973 Until the final out of the 1981 World Series. Russell was the only one to spend his entire career in the Dodger Blue cause as we all know Lopes went to Oakland in 1982 Garvey tested free agency in 1983 to join the Padres & Cey went to the Cubs in 1983 to help a struggling 3rd baseman at the time so he could move to 2nd base that 3rd basemen was Ryne Sandberg. Russell was always one of those unsung heroes of the game he just happened to play around the same time at a position that was dominated by another member of this set Dave Conception.
Now as I mentioned before Bill spent his entire career with the Dodgers after the 1986 season concluded he stayed on to become the Dodgers bench coach with Tommy LaSorda at the helm. Then when Tommy had to be forced out to leave the game in 1996 due to health issues the Dodgers called on Bill to be the interm he stayed on as Manager until June 21 1998 he was fired due to a disappointing start of the 1998 season. I am sure that Night Owl & GRCL can share their Dodger insights on why they believe Bill Russell deserves to be on this list if were up to me in my opinion he's another borderline member if ya ask me so what's your take on it yeah or nay. Next up in the line up is Bud Harrelson Until then I am reminded of what Rogers Hornsby once said about signing autographs for little kids "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American,He's a Communist."
