The Dodgers had just moved into first place in the National League West for good, in a month they had won 21 of 28 games. They were gliding toward their first division championship in nine years when their first-year general manager suddenly tossed a bomb into the clubhouse.
“I don’t know that there were many days that were much tougher than that one,” said Jim Tracy, then the Dodgers’ manager, “because of the emotions that were exploding in the clubhouse.”
Paul Lo Duca, the catcher, went into Tracy’s office and said he didn’t want to go. Guillermo Mota, the setup man, went into Tracy’s office and said he didn’t want to go.