Shelby showed surprising offensive prowess when obtained by Los Angeles from Baltimore in May 1987 for pitcher Tom Niedenfuer. Shelby hit .271 with 21 HR in 120 games for the Dodgers. Always a good outfielder, Shelby had been a free swinger with little power, and he reverted to form the following year. A high-percentage base stealer, he led the minor leagues in outfield assists three times, and in 1983 once threw out three baserunners in a game. His shoestring catch of the last out of Game Four of the 1988 NLCS saved the Dodgers’ 12-inning victory.
