Ron Fairly was a local product. He played college ball at USC under famed coach Rod Dedeaux, and was on the 1958 team that won the College World Series. During that season he batted .358 with 9 home runs and 67 RBI's. Soon thereafter, he signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and quickly found himself wearing Dodger Blue in September. In that first month of Major League ball he played in 15 games, batting .283, with 2 home runs and had a slugging percentage of .415.
In 1961, the season when this booklet was issued, he broke out. Fairly batted a career high .322 in 111 games; as he bounced between 4 different positions. The next year, he planted himself on the everyday roster as the Dodgers 1st baseman, hitting a respectable .278 with 14 home runs and 71 RBI's in 147 games.
Ron Fairly continued to play regularly, but never equaled the promise he showed as a USC center fielder. Nevertheless, he was a fierce competitor with a disciplined bat, and a key component of 3 World Series Dodger clubs. Over his entire 21-year playing career, he walked 1,052 times and struck out only 877 times. He also recorded 68 career pinch hits; hitting as many as 12 in 1975 as a Cardinal.
After his playing days were over, he entered the broadcast booth. He called games for the California Angels, the SF Giants and most notably for the Seattle Mariners. Fairly retired after the 2006 season.
Below are complete scans of every page from Ron Fairly's 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet. Click any pic to embiggen.
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