I was just wondering what made some of you out there Dodger fans? Myself, born in LA it was an easy choice when they moved here in 1958. I was ten, just getting into the sport. Baseball cards were a nickel a pack. We all had some sort of small radio and Vin Scully’s voice and story’s were mesmerizing.
I already had a few of the earlier cards and I loved the look of the Dodger uni. Although I had never seen him play, Campy was my favorite. So that was a blow when we found out he would not be coming west with the team.
So #4, Duke Snider became my favorite player. We both hit from the left side and the first Louisville slugger bat I had was signed by the Duke. I even patterned my stance after his. Left elbow high and level. Knees slightly bent.
I went to my first Dodger game at the coliseum sometime in June of 1958. We sat way down the RF line in the really cheap seats. John Russell was there….for you youngsters, Russell was the star of the Lawman TV series. Players looked very small that far away and you could not really see the action well. But it was fun. Got my first of many player picture packs. They were 50 cents and had 20 photos of the players in them.
I was totally hooked. Never missed a game on the radio. I really had no clue what a pennant race was, I just knew they were nowhere close to being in it.
A lot of the players who were in that game were gone the next season. New Dodger heroes would emerge in 59, Moon, Wills, Essegian, Demeter. A couple of the old guys had better years than 58, Hodges, Snider, and one, Carl Furillo, got his last hurrah in the playoffs.
Beating the White Sox in the series kind of sealed the deal for me. I knew I would never change allegiance to the team even if I were to move from Los Angeles. Over the years that has proven to be the case. I have remained a loyal fan even though they are 1100 miles away.
Tell me your Dodger journey and what brought you into this circle with me.
MiLB Game Report and Summary
by Jeff Dominique
The pitcher of the night was University of Connecticut RHP alum, Ben Casparius, Great Lakes. 24 year old Casparius was the 5th round selection in 2021 draft. He threw 6.0 hitless/scoreless innings for the best MiLB start of the year.
Offensive Player of the night was Tulsa’s CF, Andy Pages. He was 3-4 with a BB, 2 HR, 1 double, 4 RBI. He is now batting .429/.594/.857/1.451 (32 PA). Could he get the Michael Harris II call directly from AA?
OKC Dodgers 4 – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston ) 2
OKC won this one with Michael Busch and Luke Williams going 0-7 with a BB. They had 7 hits and 4 runs and 4 RBIs from three unlikely heroes.
Ryan Ward had a solo and 2 run HR and Steven Duggar had a solo HR to account for the 4 runs.
- Ben DeLuzio – 2-4
- Steven Duggar – 3-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 double (3), 1 HR (3)
- Ryan Ward – 2-3, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 HR (3), 3 RBI
That was the total offense for OKC.
William Cuevas and 4 relievers shut down the Space Cowboys. Cuevas gave up a pair of solo HRs for the Space Cowboys offense. He allowed 4 hits in his 5.0 IP plus 4 K. The four relievers were outstanding. Combined 4.0 IP, 1 hit, 1 BB, 6 K.
- Justin Bruihl – 1.0 IP, 3 K
- Mark Washington – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K
- Nick Robertson – 1.0 IP, 1 K
- Scott Tayler – 1.0 IP, 1 BB
OKC is 10-3 on the season and in 1st place in the Pacific Coast League.
Box Score
Tulsa Drillers 6 – Midland RockHounds 1
Andy Pages continues to put on a show. In this game, Pages had a 3-4 night, including a pair of 2-run HRs, and a double. He also had a BB with 3 runs and 4 RBIs.
Pages was not the only hitter that shined on the night.
- Jorbit Vivas – 3-5, 2 doubles, 2 runs – .345/.424/.552/.976
- José Ramos – 3-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB – .364/.440/.409/.849
USC alum, Kyle Hurt, pitched a scoreless three innings. 2 hits and 3 Ks.
Alec Gamboa gave up a walk, double, and fielder’s choice for a run in the 4th. Otherwise in his 4.0 IP, he allowed 3 hits and 3 BB, to go with 2 Ks.
Ben Harris pitched the final two scoreless innings. He allowed 1 hit and 4 Ks to get the save.
Tulsa is now 5-2 on the season.
Box Score
Great Lakes 1 – Dayton Dragons 0
There were a total of three hits in this game: 2 for Great Lakes and 1 for Dayton.
Dalton Rushing had one of the hits as he drove home the only run in the game in the first inning. Alex Freeland drew a walk, stole second, and scored on Rushing double in RF. After 10 Loons were out in order, Chris Alleyne singled, stole 2nd and 3rd, but was left there.
The Loons had a couple of walks through the remainder of the game, but nothing looking like a potential score.
OTOH, four Loons pictures were masterful, especially starting pitcher Ben Casparius, the pride of UConn Baseball. Casparius got through 6.0 hitless and scoreless innings. He threw a total of 67 pitches / 47 strikes. He gave up a pair of walks.
Braydon Fisher continued his excellent start to the season. 1.0 hitless and scoreless 7th inning.
With Antonio Knowles on the bump, and two outs in the 8th, he gave up a clean line drive single to Hayden Jones. He got the final out of the inning. He struck out the side in the 8th.
Jake Pilarski retired the side in order in the 9th. Overall, the Loons pitchers allowed 1 hit, 2 walks, 1 HBP, and 10 strikeouts.
Box Score
Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 8 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 2
Peter Heubeck could not follow his outstanding April 7 Game with a quality effort in his 2nd outing. In his 3.0 IP, he surrendered 4 runs on 3 hits, including a 2-run HR. He issued 2 walks to go with his 5 Ks. A walk, WP and single gave the Rawhide another run against Heubeck in the 2nd.
Christian Romero relieved Heubeck and was sailing in the 4th and 5th with 6 up and 6 down. But in the 6th, Romero gave up a pair of singles and a walk, but also 2 Ks. He was in a position to get out of the inning without any runs. But Christian walked the next batter for another run, and was relieved by Livan Reinoso. An HBP and double, and all three inherited runs scored.
Gabe Emmett pitched a scoreless/hitless 9th.
The Quakes outhit the Rawhide 8-6, but could only generate 2 runs.
Thayron Liranzo had a solo HR (2), and Jesus Galiz singled home Kyle Nevin who doubled earlier in the 8th inning.
- Thayron Liranzo – 3-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 double (1), 1 HR (2)
- Kyle Nevin – 2-3, 2 BB, 1 R, 2 doubles (3)
Box Score
My story mimics yours Bear.
I can still recall that magical feeling of walking through the tunnel at the Coliseum for the first time and seeing major league baseball players on the field. I was hooked.
Those were some really long home runs. And there were a lot of them.
Born and raised in Venice, California. Dodger for life.
I think Steve Sax also went directly to LA from AA ball. Yes, bring up Pages.
Note for Bear:
Of Kelenic’s 15 hits this season, nine have been for extra bases, which has led to a slash line of .366/.422/.780 (1.202 OPS). Among qualified hitters, his slugging percentage ranks second in MLB and his 233 wRC+ (league average is 100) ranks third. He entered the night with a 61.5% hard-hit rate (anything 95 mph or higher) that led the Mariners and ranked ninth in MLB.
It’s early.
Lets see if he is hitting like that a month from now. His first exposure to MLB pitching was not that great. Sax hit .349 at San Antonio, AA Texas League and was called up to LA and played 31 games hitting .277. He never went back to the minors.
Mark wants me to refer you to Mike Trout’s first season 😀
I was born and raised in Southern California and because my Dad was a Brooklyn Dodger fan I became one as well. I was into the 55 World Series.
1959. We moved from Missouri to West San Fernando Valley. My grandfather got tickets frequently. Mostly from celebrities so they were always box seats.
In 1983, at age 11.5, I played my first year of little league, and was on the White Sox.
So, naturally after our season was over, I said I’ll root for the Chicago White Sox (who had a good team in 83 with Greg Luzinski, Ron Kittle, and Harold Baines etc). A week or so later, someone in school told me “you know, we have a team here in LA called the Dodgers and they’re pretty good too.”
So, because it was easier to see the Dodger scores in the paper and listen to them on the radio, I said “ok, I’ll root for the Dodgers.” And luckily, we were good in 1983 as well, which made it easier.
40 years later, I have season tickets. Go figure.
I had the same experience with the Rams. At a time when coverage was mostly local and without the Internet it would have been hard to follow out-of-state teams.
I was told I was a fan in 1958. Don’t really remember much of the season, but friends told me I talked incessantly about that team. My first recollection was in the World Series of 1959. Larry Sherry became my first Dodger hero. My parents never took me to see a baseball game, but I had neighbors that semi-adopted me, and took me to Dodger games and USC football games. I met Jim Gilliam in 1961 at the Coliseum and he became my very first favorite Dodger and my first jersey. I do distinguish between WS hero and favorite. Junior is still a huge favorite for me.
In 1962, I was at the Broadway in Panorama City, and there were Dodgers signing autographs. As I recall they were Don Drysdale, Norm Larker, Johnny Podres, and Ken McMullen. I cannot remember fully as I went out and played with the baseball they signed.
I have gone to at least one WS game in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1988. No I did not go to the Kirk Gibson HR game with the other 1.5MM that were there (or so they claim).
Like all Dodger fans, my allowance went to transistor radio batteries and baseball cards.
Loved Gilliam. Still do. Met him myself after a game in 1960 Super nice person. Pisses me off they passed on making his bobblehead in 2018 to do a Machado.
Yep. That was a total load of crap. I wonder who made that decision? Had to be some yound PR person that did not understand the Dodgers history.
One thing is for certain, these are no your 2022 Dodgers. Inconsistent offense and mediocre, so far, pitching.
I was born in NY and moved out to LA when I was 3.
In 1954 (age 7) I went to Brooklyn to visit my favorite uncle and he took me to my first ballgame(s), a double header against the Pirates at Ebbets Field. For whatever reason I took a liking to Pee Wee Reese so my uncle sent me home with a Dodger pennant and a Pee Wee photo button, along with my first bat.
Spent the next few years going to lots of Hollywood Stars games at Gilmore Field and rooting long distance for the Dodgers. Of course I was thrilled when the team moved out here and couldn’t believe my luck that of all teams to move here it was the one I rooted for.
Haha that would be pretty cool, to have your fave team move to your city
1947? If so, me too. My team, Brooklyn came to me as well. I am so jealous you saw a game at Ebbets Field. Pee Wee was a great player to have as a favorite. I guess the chick in me liked the long ball and thus Duke.
I remember telling my Dad that the Dodgers would beat the Yankees in 1956 because they won the first two games. He reminded me that the Yankees won the first two games in 1955. I had totally forgotten that but do remember enjoying the 55 WS.
As a Kid I always loved waking up to the Gillette Blue Blade jingle announcing a WS game was about to start. More than happy to watch on a small screen black and white TV.
November 1946, actually.
I remember that Gillette jingle. I had the same reaction you did. Absolutely loved to hear those notes.
Somewhere in my childhood I got ahold of a little booklet that Gillette issued which had all the ballpark drawings and dimensions. Loved that book. Somehow I felt it was my direct connection to MLB.
Ah, the good ol’ days.
Became a Dodger fan in 1965 watching the WS. I loved Koufax and Drysdale. Also, they have the best uniforms. Uniforms make a big impression on an 8 year old.
Funny you guys bring up Ebbets Field.
In 1995 I was in NYC during college Xmas break. Drunk off my butt, I started thinking about the Brooklyn Dodgers, while standing on the Brooklyn Bridge.
So at 2am, I made my cousin drive us to Brooklyn so that I could go see Ebetts Field. We asked anyone on we saw on the street where Ebbets Field was. No one seemed to know what we were talking about.
Finally, I saw an older cop and said “sir, I’m from LA and a Dodger fan, and I really wanted to see Ebetts Field, can you tell me where it is?
.
He looked at me funny, and said “son, they tore down Ebbets Field years ago!”
Drunk on your butt, 2 o’clock in the morning in Flatbush looking for a ballpark that was demolished 35 years earlier.
Not one of your brightest moments there Bobby.
I envy all those here that got to go to Ebbets Field and see the Boys of Summer.
I have sat in a seat from Ebbets Field however. Ran into a seat restorer in New Jersey that had seats from Ebbets. Those seats were little and uncomfortable. LOL