Blog Kiosk: 2/5/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a fantastic view of Dodger Stadium in the mist of being built, via RMY Auction (link here).

It is dated to 1958 and was taken by Delmar Watson -- a onetime child actor and news photographer.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2009 the Dodgers announced that on May 16th Dodger Stadium will host a regular season game between Mexico City Diablos Rojos and the Monterrey Sultanes of Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB) summer league. Unfortunately, the game was postponed due to a week-long closure of the Mexican League in April due to a swine flu outbreak. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe they ever rescheduled the game.
• Happy Birthday, Joe Hutcheson, John Gaddy, Cy Buker & Don Hoak!

Blog Kiosk: 11/2/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Guess who's in LA?

As you know, today is round 2 of the 'will he, or won't he' Clayton Kershaw sweepstakes, and I think it's getting clearer what the decision will be.

Clayton Kershaw was spotted at the LAFC home game yesterday with teammate Joc Pederson and funnyman Will Ferrell, and I'd be willing to bet that he'll be present for a special announcement today. So, stay tuned!

Photo above via LAFC on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1976 the Dodgers traded minor league catcher Steven Patchin to the Royals for future Baseball legend Ron Washington. He would wear Dodger Blue for only one season, 1977, getting into just ten games as a 25-year old rookie. -- he slashed .368/.400/.368/.768 with seven singles in 19 at-bats. He is more famed for being a highly regarded manager. In 1977 Tommy John comes in a distant second place in Cy Young voting -- having been beaten by Steve Carlton of the Phillies. John went 20-7 for the Dodgers with an 2.78 ERA, FIP of 3.05, eleven complete games and three shutouts.
• Happy Birthday, George Sharrott, George Bell, Jerry Standaert, Tom Paciorek, Wilson Betemit & Al Campanis! 

Vintage Pics of Holman Stadium at Dodgertown, Vero Beach from its Opening in 1953

Over the past few days I've been posting up vintage pics (here and here) from an well-known eBay auctioneer named Hyee_Auctions that feature vintage photographic transparencies.  Nearly every Baseball team is available, but none are cooler than the photos featuring the "Boys in Blue" (except for maybe the Yankees pics; which are just as good).  Most of the Dodgers photos available were taken during various spring days over the decades, and the most fantastic ones are in this post.  BTW, these pics were all taken by a duo known as "Cranston & Livia."  If you happen to know who they are please let me know.

Featured here are photographs from the very first game played at Holman Stadium in Dodgertown, Vero Beach, FL - Its Opening Day. The date is March 11, 1953.

At the very top are the stadium flags raised as a part of the Opening Ceremonies (Auction Link Here).  The white flag seen above celebrates the Dodgers National League Pennant in 1952.  Below is Brooklyn Borough President John Cashmore with Walter O'Malley in the stands (Link Here).

(Auction Link)

Below is a view of the crowd in the left field stands (Link Here).  On the right you can see what the players dugout looked like.  Also, the blue flag on the left says "Elmira."  I believe this refers to a town in the western part of New York state; near Ithica.  

(Auction Link)

This last photo is of the Dodgers dugout that sits along the right field line (Link Here).  Roy Campanella (#39) is easily recognizable at the center of the photo.

BTW, the Dodgers won the days game, and Cark Erskine is credited with throwing the very first pitch in the stadium.  Per a letter O'Malley sent to The Sporting News:

“I believe our attendance at the game (opening game for Holman Stadium on March 11th) exceeded the total population of the City of Vero Beach.”

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Historic Dodgertown Writes About the Dodgers Connection to Cuba

As relations with the island national of Cuba softens and Spring Training comes to a close for the Dodgers in Arizona, the Historic Dodgertown website put together a timely article that focuses on the Dodgers history of playing in Cuba during Spring.  You can check that out here.

Below is an excerpt:

Prior to making Historic Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida their Spring Training base in 1948, the Dodgers trained in Cuba three times, including in 1947. Then Dodger President Branch Rickey sought an isolated location to accommodate Jackie Robinson, the player who would courageously break the color barrier in Major League Baseball on April 15, 1947. From 1900, the Dodgers gained popularity in Cuba, as they frequently played exhibition games there. In 1941-42, the Dodgers held Spring Training camps in Havana. Cuba’s rabid baseball fans appreciated colorful Dodger players like Van Lingle Mungo, Pee Wee Reese, Dolph Camilli and Leo Durocher.

Colorful is putting it lightly. 

No doubt, there a more than a handful of "adult-styled" stories of Dodger misadventures on the island.  Unfortunately, the article at the Historic Dodgertown website doesn't go into any details.  Nevertheless, it's informative and a good read for Dodger history buffs.

BTW, several years ago I interviewed Jim Vitti about his book "Brooklyn Dodgers in Cuba."  He provides background on the Dodger exploits on the island.  You can check that post out here.

Another great thing about the article at the Historic Dodgertown website are the handful of vintage photos that they share; including a pic of several Dodgers shooting guns with Ernest Hemingway.

At the very top, the Brooklyn Dodger players loosen up for another day of Spring Training at Cerveza Tropical Stadium. The stadium in ballplayer jargon, “played big,” as it was reported in the New York Herald Tribune that center field was 505 feet from home plate.

Below is Dodger President Larry MacPhail (left) and Manager Leo Durocher in Havana. MacPhail, the man who first brought stadium lights for a night major league baseball game in Cincinnati, was president of the Dodgers when they won the 1941 National League pennant, their first in 21 seasons. Durocher managed the Dodgers to the 1941 pennant and was later a coach on the 1963 World Championship Los Angeles Dodgers team.

*All photos above courtesy of historicdodgertown.com

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(L-R) Historic Dodgertown Vice Presidents Craig Callan, Brady Ballard, Steve Snure, Jeff Biddle and Historic Dodgertown Chairman Peter O’Malley outside the conference center at Historic Dodgertown – Vero Beach, FL.

BTW, History Dodgertown announced today that Steve Snure and Jeff Biddle have each been named Vice President, Historic Dodgertown.

Via the press release:

“Steve Snure is in his 27th year at Historic Dodgertown, starting in 1988 as executive chef during Spring Training for the Dodgers,” said O’Malley. “Steve’s duties expanded to operations manager six years ago and he has always handled his added responsibilities extremely well. 

“Jeff Biddle has been with us since 2009 and he deserves credit for bringing to Historic Dodgertown athletic teams from all over the world year-round. He understands the business of attracting and accommodating unique teams. Steve and Jeff will continue to work closely with longtime Vice President Craig Callan, as well as Vice President Brady Ballard.” 

Congrats, guys.  One of these days I'll have to venture out to Vero Beach and check out the old place.  It's been years since I've visited and I sorely miss the place.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 16 / Home Game 8

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

--------------------------

Chicago Cubs (6-9-1) at Los Angeles Dodgers (8-2-5)
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

RHP Brandon McCarthy (0-0, 3.60) vs. RHP Jake Arietta (1-1 1.50)    
TV: SNLA Radio: None

--------------------------

(Yasiel Puig, pic via @MLB on twitter)

WINNING TIME: The Dodgers, who have the Cactus League’s best winning percentage at .800 and are unbeaten in their last six games, take on the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch this afternoon. The last time the Dodgers lost was March 11 in Mesa, when they were beaten by these same Cubs, 4-3. Los Angeles won the season series over Chicago last year, 4-3, and will play six regular-season games against the Cubs, June 22-24 at Wrigley Field and Aug. 28-30 at Dodger Stadium.

AND SO IT HAS BEEN DONE: The Dodgers exploded for 11 runs and 15 hits yesterday, but gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth and finished in an 11-11 tie with the Rangers in Surprise. The five ties for Los Angeles this spring (with 15 Cactus League games left) equals the franchise mark for ties in Spring Training, previously reached in 2006 and 2014.

(Kendrick Home Run, via Dodgers on tumblr)

• New Dodger Howie Kendrick was 2-for-2 and hit a long three-run homer to the deepest part of center field yesterday, giving him six RBI this spring, which ties Darnell Sweeney, Kyle Jensen and Scott Schebler for the team lead. Kendrick is also hitting .364 during his first spring in blue.
• The Dodgers’ 18 home runs rank fourth in the Cactus League, trailing the Giants (22), Cubs (19) and Padres (19).

TEXAS TWO-STEP: Big League Weekend, with the Dodgers taking on the Rangers Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome in San Antonio, is almost here! The traveling party will depart Camelback Ranch tomorrow at 5:40 p.m. Erik Bedard and Zack Greinke are expected to start the two San Antonio exhibition games for the Dodgers, with a roster that includes Yasmani Grandal, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, and Joc Pederson.

TELL YOUR STORY: Major League Baseball has officially launched the 2015 Honorary Bat Girl Contest, which will recognize one fan per MLB Club who has been affected by breast cancer and has demonstrated a commitment to battling the disease.  Dodger fans, ages 18 and older, can now share stories about themselves or loved ones who are “Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer” by visiting HonoraryBatGirl.com for a chance to be recognized on the field, Sunday, May 17 (1:10 p.m. vs. Rockies). Fans also are invited to visit the site to vote for these inspirational stories, designed to provide hope and motivation for those currently in the fight against breast cancer. Entries can be submitted through April 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Brandon McCarthy will make his third start of the spring today. He has allowed two runs in 5.0 innings pitched with three strikeouts. The 6’7’’ veteran established career highs in wins (10), strikeouts (175) and innings pitched (200.0) last season with the Diamondbacks and Yankees. McCarthy made his major league debut against the Cubs on May 22, 2005, allowing two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings.

• LHP Adam Liberatore is expected to make his fifth appearance of the spring today. Through four Cactus League appearances, Liberatore has tossed 4.0 scoreless innings, surrendering only two hits and striking out three.
• RHP Dustin McGowan is also expected to see action today. McGowan has allowed five hits and 4 runs in 3.0 innings thus far.
• RHP Sergio Santos will make his fifth Cactus League appearance today. Santos has not allowed a run in 4.0 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .083 batting average.
• Veteran RHP Mike Adams will make his second appearance of the spring today. In his first Cactus League appearance, Adams allowed one run on one hit in 0.2 innings pitched.

REMEMBER WHEN: Sixty years ago today, Dodger Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax pitched for the first time in a Dodger uniform at Holman Stadium, Dodgertown, Vero Beach, FL. On March 18, 1955, Koufax made his debut for Brooklyn in a camp game against the “All-Stars,” a collection of players from Dodger minor league teams. The 19-year-old faced seven batters and struck out five, while walking two in two innings of work. Sports writer Roscoe McGowan wrote in The New York Times, “Sandy Koufax, Brooklyn’s $17,000 bonus right-hander, made his debut tonight against the All-Stars.” Apparently, an editing mistake changed Koufax to a “right-hander.”  

(Rollins playing catch, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Pitchers & Catchers Workout #6

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

--------------------------

(Puig and Uribe, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR: Today marked the sixth and final day of workouts for pitchers and catchers only as all 61 players are in camp and ready to go for tomorrow’s first full-squad workout of 2015.

• Several Dodgers fired their third bullpen of the spring this morning, including Clayton Kershaw, Daniel Coulombe, Brandon League, Joe Wieland, Brandon McCarthy, Chris Hatcher, David Huff and Ryan Buchter. Submarine-style right-hander Ben Rowen threw his first “official” bullpen of the spring.
• Several special guests arrived at Camelback Ranch-Glendale yesterday or today, including Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax and Tommy Lasorda, Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten and Dodger Executive Vice President and CMO Lon Rosen.

A NEW CHAD: This morning, the Dodgers announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Chad Gaudin. Gaudin was signed to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. He will wear No. 30, following infielder Darwin Barney’s switch from No. 30 to No. 6 yesterday. Gaudin didn’t waste any time getting acclimated, as he also threw his first bullpen this morning at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. 

(Shawn Zarraga and Chad Gaudin, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

HURRY UP AND GET WELL: Dodger Manager Don Mattingly announced this morning that left-handed starter Hyun-Jin Ryu was experiencing some mid-back tightness and would not participate on the field today. After throwing his first bullpen yesterday, starter Zack Greinke has now returned to his normal schedule. 

DODGERTOWN DIGEST: It was announced today by Historic Dodgertown Chairman Peter O’Malley that the feature story “Haven of Tolerance” by scholar, historian and author Jerald Podair is now available on the historicdodgertown.com website. In the article, Podair writes, “Dodgertown was more than just an incubator of talent. Its significance extends beyond the playing field and into the social and racial history of Florida, the South, and America as a whole.” Dodgertown advanced the cause of civil rights and in 1962, Holman Stadium was integrated for all fans. Local schools didn’t become integrated until seven years later. Historic Dodgertown, was named a “Florida Heritage Landmark” on Nov. 10, 2014, with a historical marker now displayed on site. Podair is a professor of history and American studies at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisc. His feature may be accessed through the “History” section of historicdodgertown.com.

(Running Drills, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

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Photos from the Historic Dodgertown Ceremony and Dodger Adult Baseball Camp

Last week I mentioned that Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida would be designated an Florida Heritage Landmark and that a ceremony dedicating a marker would happen today.  Thankfully, the good folks at Historic Dodgertown passed along some photos from today's big event. (Photo credit: Historic Dodgertown – Vero Beach, Fla.)

In the above photo you see Vero Beach community leader Bud Holman (on left), Tommy Lasorda and Peter O’Malley at Florida Heritage Landmark ceremony.  Below, Steve Garvey and Sandy Koufax watch Maury Wills offering some instruction at Dodgers Adult Baseball Camp at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla.

As you may know, today was Day 1 of the Dodgers Adult Baseball Cam, and a whole bunch of Dodgers were in attendance to help out the players.

Here are even more photos from today's ceremony, via the @Dodgers on twitter:

Camp is underway at Historic Dodgertown, which today was designated as a "Heritage Landmark." http://t.co/6rXAMBEq30 pic.twitter.com/UIeXehjyaH
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 10, 2014

And here are some pics of some of the former Dodgers providing an helping hand at the Baseball camp.  Steve Garvey tweeted the below photo; featuring Chan Ho Park:

@ Pinetar5...Our great Kirean friends...Park, Lee and Kim at @historicdodgertown #mlb @dodgers pic.twitter.com/jMpnhkbwS9
— Steve Garvey (@SteveGarvey6) November 10, 2014

Here's Wills and Garvey with some campers:

The fabulous @DodgersAdultCamp starts tomorrow @HistoricDodgertown..Maury Wills and the Great Guy Wellman! pic.twitter.com/QujjjlxkFW
— Steve Garvey (@SteveGarvey6) November 10, 2014

And Steve Garvey having fun in the rain at Historic Dodgertown:

Back @HistoficDodgertown for first #AdultCamp in 5 years..A little drizzly☔️☔️☔️ pic.twitter.com/fsv93uznod
— Steve Garvey (@SteveGarvey6) November 10, 2014

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Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach is Now a Florida Heritage Landmark

Well... It's about time!

This coming Monday, November 10th at noon, a special ceremony will be held along a well-known path between Holman Stadium and Historic Dodgertown’s all-purpose conference center.  They will unveil a two-sided marker (shown above) that designates the Dodgers former Spring Training home, Historic Dodgertown, as an Florida Heritage Landmark.  It says:

Baseball and Dodgertown

Dodgertown was the spring training facility of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers.  Originally part of a World War II Naval Air Station, Dodgertown became the spring training home of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948, when local business leader Bud Holman convinced the Dodgers to set up a spring training facility in Vero Beach.  Here, Dodger President Branch Rickey sought to create a "baseball campus" where players could live and play together.  Dodgertown was the South's first racially integrated spring training camp, where 600-plus players from the Brooklyn Dodgers 26 minor league teams played.  Hall of Famer players Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella were among the first African American players to train here.  In 1953, Dodger President Walter O'Malley privately built the 6,500-seat Holman Stadium, a state-of-the-art ball park at Dodgertown.  During its history, 6 World Championships and 14 National League Pennant-winning teams played at Dodgertown.  In 2001, the Dodgers sold Dodgertown to Indian River County, then leased it back until 2008, when their spring training facilities moves west to Arizona.  In 2012, the O'Malley family stepped up to manage historic Dodgertown as a year-round multi-sport complex.

For anyone who has ever visited Dodgertown you know how incredible the place is.  It's a quaint little baseball hamlet surrounded by palm trees and ball fields more reminiscent of a small town little league park rather than a Major League facility.  It's that kind of charm that endeared fans to Dodgertown, and transformed the former Naval Station into a must visit Baseball mecca. 

Over my life I've had an opportunity to visit during spring training on four different occasions and each time was an absolute blast.  There was no place better to chat it up with other fans, and no facility provided fans the kind of closeness it allowed to the players.  I still think back about how uniquely wonderful Dodgertown was, and feel bad that Dodger fans today will never have an opportunity to experience it.

Per a press release:

Participating in the ceremonies at noon are Hall of Fame Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda, as well as O’Malley and other Dodger legends, who are serving as instructors at the 53rd Los Angeles Dodgers Adult Baseball Camp from November 9-15 at Historic Dodgertown. Instructors include Ron Cey, Tommy Davis, Steve Garvey, Mickey Hatcher, Ken Landreaux, Rick Monday, Jerry Reuss, Maury Wills and Steve Yeager. Lasorda and former National League umpire Bruce Froemming will be guest instructors. Former Dodger scout Guy Wellman serves as the camp coordinator as he has since the first camp in 1983.

Per Peter O'Malley:

“This recognition is appropriate because of Historic Dodgertown’s significance in baseball history. It truly is unique and we appreciate the efforts of all those involved to gain this special designation.”

Here is something I did not know about Dodgertown.  Walter O'Malley built a golf course in Dodgertown called Dodgertown Golf Club and it was the first integrated golf course in Vero Beach.  O'Malley had wanted his African-American ballplayers to have an opportunity to enjoy the game, since they couldn't anywhere else.

Check out the Historic Dodgertown website here for information about the facility.  Today, it is a year-round, multi-sport training site and conference center for all manner of sport.  You can also check out a bunch of photos from my past Dodgertown spring training adventures here.

The photo at the very top courtesy of Historic Dodgertown – Vero Beach, Fla.

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Blog Kiosk: 4/23/2014 - Dodger Links - We Do Deserve an Apology

Clayton Kershaw did some heavy lifting yesterday at the Dream Center.  Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Ken Gurnick at MLB.com tells us a bit about it here.

• Via Howard Cole at LA Weekly, "Time Warner Owes Us an Apology. And So Do the Dodgers."  I've been agnostic about this whole situation, but am finding myself more disturbed about it.  Howard is right, at some point, if this ever gets worked out, they (and I mean all of them-Dodgers-TWC-Comcast-DISH-etc.-All of Them) owe fans an apology.  A quote from Howard's piece is below:

Love does not mean never having to say you're sorry. In fact, an apology of some sort is definitely indicated when the tear-jerker of a love story we're talking about is Dodger baseball - - and the Southland's inability to cherish what is nearly as precious to many of us as a family member.

• Cora at the Sons of Steve Garvey finally shares his photos from the Australia Series games.  Here are his second set of photos.
• Via Dan Arritt at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Mattingly: Mistakes 'become a frustration.'"

"The plays that you're supposed to make, you've got to make," he said. "Simple as that."

• Chad Moriyama at Dodgers Digest writes a, "Down On The Farm Update: Games Of 4/15 – 4/21."
• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider tells us about Adult Baseball Camp in November at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach.
• Jon also shares a video of Clayton Kershaw's most recent bullpen throwing session, here.  He is throwing to Don Mattingly.
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Chad Billingsley to receive PRP injection Wednesday."
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Guerrero's Triple-A tear creates buzz."
• Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest shares a prospect report, "Jonathan Martinez off to strong start in Great Lakes."
• Ken Levine, formerly of Dodger Talk, sums up my feelings about Linkedin precisely. Heck, I kinda feel that way about all the social networks.  I am constantly surprised at how folks take any of it seriously, yet I understand and appreciate the importance that the self-promotion provides.  A comment I read on Ken's post really rings true:

LinkedIn is like a bunch of people at a marketing/networking conference seminar at a crappy hotel: Everyone spends their time standing around touching all the donuts in the back, not really knowing anyone, and trying not to seem out of touch or awkward. Nobody knows how to really use the damn thing, why they're even there, or why it even matters beyond "I got sent here because the boss thinks this is important somehow ... but I get a free day out of the office, so I'm kinda all good".

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Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida is Back

The Guggenheim folks continue to build Dodger fan goodwill by being the exact opposite of Frank McCourt.

Word came down yesterday that the former Spring Training home of the Dodgers in Vero Beach, Florida will make an important change.  Once dubbed Vero Beach Sports Village, it will now pay homage to it's important past by being renamed to “Historic Dodgertown – Vero Beach, Florida.”

Check out this great photo of former Dodger owner Peter O'Malley with the new signage below.

This is great news.  I had several opportunities to visit this complex when the Dodgers had Spring Training there several years ago, and I enjoyed every single minute of it.  The facility was a quaint homespun kind of place that made me feel like I was at a little league ballpark- except with a bunch of seats.  It was homey and personal, and you couldn't help falling in love with it. 

Now, after several years of having McCourt refuse to allow them to acknowledge their Dodger past, the new owners, along with MLB's help, worked to make sure it maintains its important lineage.

Per a press release:

O’Malley has signed a licensing agreement enabling his partnership to utilize the new name in cooperation with the Dodgers and Major League Baseball. O’Malley also unveiled a new Historic Dodgertown – Vero Beach, Florida logo.

 

“We appreciate the extraordinary cooperation of Dodger President Stan Kasten and the Dodger organization in recognizing the significance of this unique site,” said O’Malley, the Dodger president from 1970-1998. “We also are grateful to Major League Baseball for working with us, perpetuating the history and tradition of Historic Dodgertown and what it has meant to the game for decades.”

Something I had forgotten about:

In January 2012, O’Malley saved Dodgertown and formed a partnership including his sister Terry O’Malley Seidler, former co-owner of the Dodgers, former Dodger star pitchers Chan Ho Park and Hideo Nomo and MiLB to manage the property.

Park and Nomo's ties to the franchise appear to be as strong as ever.

Go ahead and check out Dodgertown's new website here.

And here are some great quotes from some Dodger legends about the Dodgers former Spring Training home.

Dodgers’ Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully:
“No other place in the world holds as many memories for me as Dodgertown.”

Dodgers’ Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda:
“I remember the last time I walked off the field at Dodgertown, knowing that I would probably never return. I thought of the 60 years of going there for spring training. It’s the greatest spring training complex in the United States. I’ll never love anything the way I loved going to Dodgertown.”

Dodgers’ Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax:
“Spring training at Dodgertown was something very special to me because of its rich history and the people who experienced Dodgertown.  It was a wonderful time.  We were isolated there and players spent a lot of time together and we grew very close. When I got there, I had the opportunity to meet and play with so many great players—Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe, Carl Furillo and on and on.  These were all the folks I rooted for in Brooklyn.  I have so many great memories.  Dodgertown is truly a historic place.”

Two-time National League batting champion Tommy Davis:
“When I think of Dodgertown, the first thing that comes to mind is the nine fields and that we had to run to every one of them. And I loved the great food. Seriously, I’ll always treasure the opportunity I had to get to know guys from different parts of the country and to develop a great camaraderie with them. I was young when I was there and I had to learn about a lot of things, so the opportunity to absorb all that information was something I loved.”

Dodgers’ All-Star pitcher and ESPN broadcaster Orel Hershiser:
“My time at Dodgertown was priceless. Doing what you love in a place where everything is first class. Thanks to the O’Malley family!!!”

Dodgers pitching great Fernando Valenzuela:
“I get very emotional when I think about Dodgertown and my first spring training. It was great for a rookie who just wanted to play baseball. It has everything you could possibly want to get ready for the season. You can eat, sleep and train there and never have to go anywhere else. It brings back a lot of good memories for me.”

Former Dodgers All-Star shortstop Maury Wills:
“I first went to Dodgertown shortly after I turned 18. I had grown up in the projects in Washington, D.C. and didn’t know anything about the world and had no clue about life. My growth as a man started at Dodgertown. I got to live my passion for baseball and it all started when I got to go to Dodgertown.”

Dodgers’ two-time All-Star Game MVP Steve Garvey:
"With Dodgertown, the O'Malley family created the ultimate environment from which to cultivate, develop, and nurture their ideal of what a professional baseball franchise should be."

Former Dodgers All-Star second baseman, major league manager and now Dodgers’ coach Davey Lopes:
“Dodgertown was ahead of its time as a baseball training complex. Dodgertown was Vero Beach. It was like a town. It had everything. You never had to leave the grounds.”

Former Dodgers All-Star shortstop, coach and manager Bill Russell:
“I always looked forward to going to Dodgertown for spring training.  It was a wonderful atmosphere and put you in a great frame of mind to start a new baseball season and give you the confidence you needed to try to win a championship.”

Former Dodgers All-Star third baseman and 1981World Series tri-MVP Ron Cey:
“Dodgertown was the ideal spring training facility for us. It gave us a great comfort level with everything that was going on. Everything you needed to succeed at baseball was at your fingertips and you didn’t have to worry about anything else, other than preparing for the season and hopefully winning a championship.”

Former Dodgers outfielder and now team broadcaster Rick Monday:
“I had images of Dodgertown from listening to and watching games being broadcast from there when I was a kid growing up in Santa Monica. When I was traded to the Dodgers, I got a chance to visit this magical place. Dodgertown was the Disneyland of baseball. With its fields, living quarters, dining room, lounge and hallways filled with the history of the Dodgers, it had great facilities to get you ready for the championship season. I fell so in love with it, I now make my home in Vero Beach.” 

All-time Dodgers’ pinch-hitting great Manny Mota:
“Dodgertown is a very, very special place. Just hearing the word `Dodgertown’ brings back a lot of great memories. I cherish the time I got to spend there with Walter O’Malley and the entire O’Malley family. I have great respect and admiration for the O’Malley family. A few years ago I asked my wife where she wanted to go on vacation and she said `Dodgertown.”

Member of Dodgers’ 1988 World Championship team Mickey Hatcher:
“Having the opportunity to train at Dodgertown matured me as a player and as an individual. It taught me a lot about what baseball is really about. Being around Peter O’Malley and his family brought a great closeness, and getting to meet the players I played with and those from the past and sharing stories with them was an unbelievable experience.”

Former Dodger first baseman and now FOX broadcaster Eric Karros:
“I grew up in a household where my dad was a huge Brooklyn Dodgers fan as a kid and I heard about Dodgertown and had seen pictures of it, but as a player that’s where you really understood the history of the Dodgers. You realized you were a part of more than just the ballclub you were playing on at that particular time.  As a player at Dodgertown, the thing I remember most is the interaction with the fans and the accessibility the fans had, unlike any other spring training site. It made for a very intimate environment. It was very peaceful, very calming. It was baseball in its purest sense.”

Retired MLB umpire Bruce Froemming:
“To start the spring at Dodgertown was a huge perk for me before those long seasons. Everyone there treated me like a part of the family. It was the best and I’ll never forget those years.”

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The Original Dodgertown Continues to Live On as the Vero Beach Sports Village

I'll be honest with ya... I really miss Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida.  Sure, it was several thousand miles across the country, but I didn't care.  The handful of times I had a chance to go there made me feel like I was on a real vacation - going to some far off land totally foreign to me, as if another country.  It was like a quaint little backyard park that reminded you of the simplicity of the game, and I loved it.  The main field was no better than a high school ballpark with only a waist-level chain linked fence separating the fans from the players.  The access we had to the players was incredible, and the ambiance of the place gave it a homey feel.

I will forever miss the former Dodgers Spring home.  Fortunately, the Dodgers leaving town did not mean that it would disappear and become only a memory.  Old Dodgertown still exist, albeit renamed and refocused towards something new.

A year after the Dodgers left Vero Beach, Minor League Baseball reactivated the complex and renamed it the Vero Beach Sports Village. It had minor league ball, various tournaments and an umpire school.  Still, it struggled to survive.  Then in 2012, former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley came in with some partners to save the site from potentially closing for a second time.

After a year of heightened activity and seemingly good business, O'Malley has just signed a new long-term renewal of the facility lease agreement with Indian River County for a period of 5 years, ending in 2019.  Per a press release from the Vero Beach Sports Village:

“We greatly appreciate the confidence of the County Commissioners in our vision,” said O’Malley, whose family has been affiliated with Dodgertown since it first opened in 1948. “We also thank Minor League Baseball President Pat O’Conner for stepping up to reactivate the property in May 2009.   Prior to Pat’s accepting the responsibility of Dodgertown, its future was not bright.”

Joe Flescher, County Commission Chairman said, “ Vero Beach Sports Village has been a great asset to our entire community and we are grateful for the efforts of Peter O’Malley and his partners to maintain a strong business presence at the former Dodgertown property. This renewal of the agreement provides a solid foundation for a strong relationship for years to come.”

Vero Beach Sports Village Vice President Craig Callan said: “We are grateful to the County that we reached a mutually beneficial accord that has a long-term view.  This means that we will continue to have a significant economic impact in Indian River County and in Vero Beach . Our site is steeped in tradition and our plan is to grow the business, which will further benefit the community.” 

Go here to the sites website to see what they offer.  It looks like it's working on becoming a go to place for all things sports.  There is high school and college baseball and softball camps, an adult baseball camp, umpire camp, and camps for swimming, soccer, lacrosse and football.

One of these days I am going to go by there, just for the heck of it.

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Miss Vero?

I was fortunate to have had several opportunities to go to Florida to watch the Dodgers play at Dodgertown in Vero Beach several years ago. I kinda miss the place.

Check out a recent view of Holman Stadium below.

YouTube Link: