By: Isabella Wong

Lies. Everyone’s told one. Though they may call it a “fib” or merely “bending the truth,” a lie’s a lie. It is usually considered to be a negative habit, but it was what lead to the most memorable infields in Dodgers history.

It begins when an opportunity opens up for Steve Garvey, a 21-year-old utility infielder at the time. Today, he is a 74 year old former former Dodger’s player, standing at the 5’10” tall. Before all his success, he was a back up player However, that changed rapidly. After the Dodgers lost 4-1 against the Cincinnati Reds, their team manager, Walter Alston, decided it was time to alter the team’s lineup. Not long after, Steve Garvey was approached and asked about whether he had experience playing first base. He hadn’t.

“But I wasn’t gonna tell him,” he explained. This was his chance. He lied and said he did.

At the age of 25, Garvey was moved to play on first base for the Dodgers. Aside the immense amount of pressure he was under, he played his heart out on the field. There Garvey stood alongside his teammates at first base for many of the following years. In 1974, he not only won the NL Most Valuable Player Award but also won four Gold Glove awards for his first base role on the team. From there, the Dodgers’ infield remained as it was and went on to win the 1981 World Series.

“Take advantage of every opportunity; where there is none, make it for yourself,” Garvey, now 74 years old, said.