Matt Kemp started the 2008 season by solidifying his position as the starting center fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers. During the first part of the season, Kemp was named Player of the week for the week of April 28 to May 4 after he drove in 11 runs and stole 6 bases. Kemp then went on to finish second in Dodgers history with a total of 35 stolen bases for the season, following Mariano Duncan in 1985 who stole 38 bases. 

Along with the 35 stolen bases, Kemp also had a batting average of .290 with 38 doubles, 18 home runs, and 76 RBI in a career-high 155 games, and starting 144 games. 

 

 

 

Joe Torre was named the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers on November 1, 2007 after signing a three year contract ending in 2010. In 2008, under Torre’s leadership, the Dodgers won the National League Western Division for the first time since 2004. They beat the Cubs in first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, their run was cut short after they lost their next round to the Phillies who went on to win the 2008 World Series Championship. But, Torre is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees from 1996 to 2007.  Torre led the New York Yankees to ten American League Eastern Division titles, six American League pennants, and four World Series Championships. He currently ranks seventh for the most Major League Baseball wins for a manager. 

On March 10, 1999, Torre learned that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and left the Yankees. But, under the care of Dr. William Catalona, he recovered after a successful surgery on March 18, 1999, which was the same year that he won the third of four World Series Championships.