This Day in Dodgers Lore: David Roberts Takes the Helm

On Nov. 23, 2015, the Los Angeles Dodgers officially announced the hiring of Dave Roberts as the franchise’s 28th manager and 10th since the club moved from Brooklyn. Roberts, who is of African-American and Japanese descent, additionally became the Dodgers’ first minority manager.

He was formally introduced at Dodger Stadium eight days later, accompanied by Dodgers part-owner Magic Johnson, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and then-general manager Farhan Zaidi.

Some considered the hiring of Roberts a bit of an upset as former Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler was thought to have an inside track and be Friedman’s preferred candidate.

While Kapler found his footing with the San Francisco Giants before getting fired in September 2023, there’s no denying the Dodgers’ success with tabbing Roberts for manager.

Roberts became the first manager in MLB history to lead his team to a division title in each of his first four seasons. Prior to Roberts being hired, the Dodgers had never won three consecutive National League West titles in franchise history.

In 2016 they became the first team to win the NL West in four consecutive seasons since the Divisional Era began in 1969 — a record that was extended to eight before being snapped.

Overall, the Dodgers’ streak trailed only the Braves (14) and New York Yankees (nine) for most consecutive division titles since 1969.

Roberts additionally helped lead the Dodgers to the World Series in 2017 and 2018, and in 2020 captured their first championship since 1988. In 2019, Roberts guided the club to a then-franchise-record 106 wins — a mark that was tied during the 2021 season — and broken by the 2022 Dodgers that won 111 games.

Since taking the helm as manager, Roberts has led the Dodgers to an MLB-best 851-506 record, eight NL West titles, four NL pennants and two World Series titles.

Roberts won NL Manager of the Year in 2016 and placed second in 2017, but has been a finalist just once since then — finishing sixth (2018), fourth (2019), fifth (2020), fifth (2021), second (2022), fifth (2023) and seventh (2024).

Dave Roberts’ winning percentage

Roberts’ winning percentage (.627) is the best of any manager in MLB history (minimum 315 games). It trails only Negro League managers Bullet Rogan (.698), Vic Harris (.663) and Rube Foster (.633).