Orel Leonard Quinton Hershiser IV (born September
16, 1958 in Buffalo, New York) is an American
former right-handed pitcher, and current pitching
coach, for the Texas Rangers.

Hershiser first gained notice as a pitcher at
Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green,
Ohio. He was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 17th round of the 1979 amateur draft and
was assigned to their farm team in Clinton, Iowa.
After four more seasons in the minor leagues with
San Antonio and Albuquerque, Hershiser was called
up to the Dodgers on September 1, 1983.

A fierce competitor, Hershiser was nicknamed
"Bulldog" by his team manager Tommy Lasorda. He
had a breakthrough season in 1985 when he led the
National League in winning percentage. His best
season was 1988 when he led the league in wins
(23), innings (267), and complete games (15). He
finished the season with a record 59 consecutive
scoreless innings pitched, breaking the mark held
by Dodger great Don Drysdale. In his final start
of the year on September 28, Hershiser needed to
pitch 10 shutout innings to set the mark – meaning
not only that he would have to prevent the San
Diego Padres from scoring, but that his own team
would also need to fail to score in order to
ensure extra innings. The Dodgers' anemic offense
was obliging, however, and Hershiser pitched the
first 10 innings of a scoreless tie, with the
Padres eventually prevailing 2-1 in 16 innings.
Hershiser almost did not pitch in the 10th inning,
in deference to Drysdale, but was convinced by the
Hall of Famer to take the mound and try to break
the record.

He then capped the season in the World Series by
pitching a shutout in Game 2 and the clinching
victory in Game 5, winning the World Series MVP
Award. He later received both the Cy Young Award
and Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of
the Year" award for his accomplishments in 1988.

After averaging over 250 innings per season from
1985-89, the slender Hershiser broke down from
overwork in 1990 when he tore ligaments in his
elbow. Hershiser returned aft