Los Angeles Dodgers
He continued to star with the team after their 1958 move to Los Angeles, California, though he gradually shifted to third base; for the 1959 champions he led the NL in walks (96), along with 23 steals, and was again an All-Star, hitting a home run in that year's second All-Star Game. During the team's Los Angeles years, he moved back to second base from 1961 to 1963, batting .282 in the 1963 pennant year and placing sixth in that year's MVP vote; he also relinquished the leadoff role to Maury Wills in the 1960s, instead batting second in the order.
Gilliam was named a coach after the 1964 season, and intended to end his playing career, but team injuries resulted in his seeing substantial play at third base in 1965 and 1966, with the team again winning the NL championship in both seasons. In 1965 he was part of the major leagues' first all-switch-hitting infield, with shortstop Wills, first baseman Wes Parker and second baseman Jim Lefebvre. On September 5, Gilliam hit a 2-run pinch triple in a road game against the Houston Astros, giving the Dodgers a 3–2 lead in the 9th inning; the Los Angeles Rams, playing a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at the Coliseum, were playing so poorly despite their 10–0 win that the biggest cheer from the stands came from people listening to portable radios tuned to the Dodger game who cheered when Gilliam got the hit.
He finally retired as a player following the 1966 season with a .265 career batting average, 1889 hits, 1163 runs, 65 home runs, 558 runs batted in, 304 doubles, 71 triples, 1036 walks and 203 stolen bases over 14 seasons.
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