Well, it is playoff time. Today is also the anniversary of Bobby Thompson’s “Shot heard round the world.” A little overkill there. The only place it was really heard was in New York and Brooklyn. A dagger right through the heart of every Dodger fan. And total elation in Coogan’s Bluff.
One of the photos of that event that always stuck with me was one of Jackie Robinson. While the rest of his teammates headed for the Dodger clubhouse in center field at the Polo Grounds, Jackie is watching Thompson round the bases, making sure he touches everyone.
I was too young, (3) to watch that one. The video shot that day is pretty cool, Thompson rounding the bases literally on air, Durocher trying to congratulate him only to be tackled before he could by one of his coaches, and of course, Russ Hodges screaming into the mike, “The Giants win the pennant,” several times.
My first real memory of a game was game 7 of the 55 series. My uncle was watching it on a 11-inch round screen TV. Couldn’t see much and the quality was awful. But I did see Amoros’s catch and the Dodgers celebrating on the mound when the last out was recorded. Still did not understand the game all that much but it looked like a lot of fun.
I started playing a little myself the next year when I was 8. I was not very good. Then in 1958, the city of Los Angeles got a major league baseball team. Myself, I had a new home as I was now a ward of the county. But the reward from that was we got to go to baseball games at the coliseum for free. I had been to one game at old Wrigley Field in 1956 and one at Gilmore Field in 1957. Both times with my uncle.
But the real baseball memories started in 1958. We were way down the right field line in what was in those days, the knothole section. They do not have that anymore, and that is a shame. For under privileged kids, it was a treat. Something they could not get all the time. We had the same kind of arrangement at some of the movie theaters in Pasadena, which was the major city we were closest to.
I do not remember the opponent, but I do know they lost. That was also the year I began to seriously collect baseball cards. I had a few I had bought in 56 and 57. The only Dodgers I had, were a 57 Furillo, a 57 Campanella and a 56 Don Newcombe. The first 1958 Dodger I got was Dick Gray.
In 1959 the memories became the best part of my life. Being in foster care or living in a home run by the county has its challenges. So, baseball was my escape. I played every chance I got, softball at school, me and friends at the local little league field playing pickup baseball.
The first World Series win in Los Angeles was special. Partly because they tied for the NL pennant and had to win a 2-game playoff with the Milwaukee Braves. It was also special because it gave a glimpse of the new Dodgers coming from the farm, and a poignant farewell to the Boys of Summer. It was fitting that Carl Furillo got the game winning hit in extra innings and Gil Hodges scored the winning run.
The Go-Go White Sox were the opponent in the series. They had speed and some power, Ted Kluszewski. After stomping the Dodgers 11-0 in game one, the pitchers took some control. The Dodgers won game 2, 4-3 behind Podres. Neal and Essegian homered. Essegian’s was a PH blast. Sherry got the save.
Back in LA, with record attendance for a World Series game all three games, they won game 3, 3-1 behind Drysdale, with Sherry getting save #2. Game 4 was another close one, 5-4. The Dodgers scored 4 in the third, but the Sox came back with 4 in the top of the 7th. Gil Hodges blasted a homer in the bottom of the 8th, and Sherry got the win. Koufax and Bob Shaw had a pitcher’s duel in game 5 with the Sox one game from elimination. Shaw prevailed and Koufax’s first ever decision in a World Series was a loss. 1-0.
Back to Comiskey Park, and the Dodgers did not waste any time, they jumped on Early Wynn, working on two days’ rest, and scored 2 in the 3rd and 6 in the 4th to put the game on ice. Podres gave up 3 in the bottom of the 4th and was chased. Kluszewski hit his 3rd homer of the series. Sherry would get the win and Essegian set a World Series record with his second PH homer. Snider and Moon also homered. LA had its first Championship. Sherry, with 2 wins and 2 saves was the series MVP.
The years would roll by. The heartbreak of losing to the Giants in 62, watching Wills set the stolen base mark, passing Ty Cobb. Watching Sandy Koufax mature into the best pitcher of his era. And he and Drysdale becoming the 1-2 punch that put fear into the opposition.
Very pleasing was the sweep of the Yankees in 1963. Koufax setting the record for most strikeouts in a World Series game in game one. He passed Carl Erskine’s mark by one, striking out 15 Yankees. He then won game four in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium, 2-1. Only allowing a homer to Mickey Mantle. Whitey Ford got the loss, and Frank Howard hit a homer into the loge level.
They would win again in 1965. I was in my senior year of high school, so it was one I did not get to see the games but listened to them on my transistor radio. A big change was coming in my life, but I did not know about it. By December of that year, I had quit high school and joined the Army. Viet Nam was just beginning, and baseball took a back seat to real life.
But I still followed the game as best I could. I would get the Sporting News every week, they actually had it delivered to the barracks, and read all the box scores. It was about the only way I could follow since there were few games televised except the game of the week and the Dodgers were not on all the time.
I did watch a couple of the games of the 1966 Series, but losing is not fun and they did not play well. In 67 I was in Korea. We got some games on AFRN radio, but not enough to really keep track of how they were doing. I would get the baseball magazines at the beginning of the year, and follow through the Sporting News, but they were usually two weeks old when we got them.
When I came home in 1968, it was much easier to keep up. I also went to some of the minor league games being played in El Paso by their AA Texas League teams. But those were not great years for the Dodgers. Drysdale retired in 1969, and to tell the truth, I hardly knew any of the players on the roster except for Ron Fairly.
He was traded in the deal that brought Maury Wills back to the Dodgers. So that was nice to see. But the team was still mediocre but getting new talent every year. I missed the 70-71-and 72 seasons because I was in Germany. No TV games at all, I just listened occasionally to AFRN.
Once I was out of the Army and back home in California, it was fun to be able to follow the Dodgers every day. I got out right about World Series time when they were playing the A’s, Best memories of that series were provided by Joe Ferguson. First, he hit a HR and Lasorda called it from the third base coaches box. Then he cut in front of Jimmy Wynn on a fly ball out with a runner on third and threw him out at home. That’s it. They lost in 5.
The 70’s rolled along, they got to the Series in Tommy’s first two seasons and lost both times to the Yankees. One of my favorite Dodgers passed away during the 1978 season, Jim Gilliam, and the team dedicated the 78 series to him.
They did not play well in 79, then in 1980, they lost a heartbreaking one game playoff to the Astros after having to win the final three games at Dodger Stadium just to tie them for the West title. I spent that day in the hospital, having a operation to help me lose weight. I would need another in 1992.
Then came 81 and the strike. I was angry because I figured I would not get my chance to do the Anthem, but they settled in time, and I got to do it. Then they beat the Expos and went to the World Series. Beating the Yankees was the icing on the cake. The sad part was that the team with the best record that year, the Reds, did not make the playoffs.
More success, they won some division titles, but could not seem to advance in the playoffs. Tommy making a huge mistake pitching to Jack Clark. But they were fun to watch, and we got to hear some classic rants from Tommy.
They signed Gibson to a three-year deal prior to the 88 season. His meltdown in spring was classic. But it lit a fire under a team that usually took things rather casually. Hershiser had the season of a lifetime, Gibby was the MVP, and they won the west. We all remember what happened after. Some forget it was Mike Scioscia’s clutch 2 run homer off of Dwight Gooden in the 9th inning of game four that kept them from being down 3 games to 1. Then Gibby won it with a homer in the top of the 12th with two outs off of Roger McDowell.
It was a really magical year. Thirty-two years would pass before we got that feeling again, and even then, we were robbed of a celebration. After that season, they would come close and fall short. We did have five Rookies of the Year consecutively in the 90’s. Karros, Piazza, Nomo, Mondesi and Hollandsworth. Big D passed away in Montreal during a road trip in 1993.
The team was sold by the O’Malley family just prior to the 1998 season to Ruppert Murdoch and FOX. They traded the teams most popular player, Mike Piazza away. Fans were livid. Lasorda had to retire due to heart issues. Bill Russell took over during the season in 96. He was gone by the middle of 1998, replaced by Glenn Hoffman. Fred Claire left as GM in June of 98, still upset he was not consulted in the Piazza deal. Lasorda was the interim GM from June until September. In July he made a trade many Dodger fans consider one of the worst, when he sent Paul Konerko and Dennys Reyes to the Reds for Jeff Shaw.
The next year, Davey Johnson was the new manager, and Kevin Malone took over as the GM. Both lasted two seasons. Jim Tracy became the manager in 2001. FOX sold the team to Frank McCourt in 2004. That just happened to coincide with their first NL West Championship in 8 years. They clinched the title on the next to the last day of the season on the strength of a walk-off grand slam by Steve Finley.
They would make the playoffs in three of the next five years, coming closest to making it to the series in 2008 and 09. 2008 was the year of Manny Mania. Dreadlock wigs were everywhere. Manny brought a huge lift to the excitement level at Dodger Stadium. But they lost in the NLCS to Philadelphia twice.
McCourt spent beyond his means and with a messy divorce, he was finally forced to sell the team. Which to most Dodger fans was a godsend. MLB had taken the team over, and on March 27th, 2012, he sold the Dodgers to the Guggenheim Group for 2 billion. McCourt still has some interests in the land around the ballpark and is partially compensated for the parking around the stadium as ownership pays 14 million a year rent. Ned Colletti was the GM for most of this time. He was forced to make some creative player moves.
Guggenheim officially took control of the team on May 1st, 2012. It did not take long for new ownership’s grip to be felt. In August, they had Colletti make “The Trade.” Adrian Gonzales, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto plus cash, came to LA. James Loney, Ivan De Jesus Jr. Allan Webster, Rubby DeLa Rosa and Jerry Sands went to Boston. It was Don Mattingly’s second season as manager. Joe Torre had left after three seasons.
That team finished second. But changes were coming that would shake up the Dodger franchise for the next decade. In 2013, the Dodgers began a run of 8 consecutive NL West titles. In the first four of those, they would lose in the NLDS twice, and the NLCS twice. Mattingly left after the 2014 season when Colletti was replaced by Andrew Freidman, who hired Farhan Zaidi as his GM.
They started getting contributions from players from their farm system and made some astute trades and free agent signings. Some fans, yours truly included, were not too enamored with a couple of those deals and were pretty vocal about it. But in hindsight, he knew what he was doing, and that has been shown to be true.
They made the World Series in 17 and 18, losing both times, but 17 is still a bitter pill to swallow, especially after the cheating was discovered. But we had two more ROY’s, Bellinger and Seager. We had a pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, who is considered a lock for the Hall of Fame. He and Beckett both three no-hitters in 2014.
It seemed like every season some exciting new young player would arrive. Yasiel Puig in 2013. The Wild Horse was a very exciting player to watch. It is a shame that he never really lived up to all the potential he showed in 13.
Justin Turner was a free agent signing who made a huge impact on the team both on the field and in the clubhouse after he signed in 2014. But there were plenty of exciting moments. Juan Uribe’s 2-run homer in the 8th inning of game 4 of the 2013 NLDS that beat the Braves.
Kike Hernandez’s 3 homer game in game 6 of the 2017 NLCS. Cody Bellinger’s diving grab against the Brewers in the NLCS in 2018. Every season was filled with excitement from a team that consistently played solid baseball. 2018 was also exciting since they needed a 163rd game to win the division.
2019 ended up being a total disappointment. Dave Roberts, in his fifth year as Dodger manager, took a lot of heat for his decisions in the NLDS against the Nationals. When 2020 rolled around, the excitement for the new season was high. They had traded for one of the best players in the majors, Mookie Betts. The team looked pretty good as spring training started, and then all of a sudden, everything stopped. The pandemic hit and the entire country was turned upside down.
It took a while for a plan to be formulated for playing the season, but they finally got back of the field for a 60-game season starting in July. All games against your own division, to reduce travel, no fans in the ballpark. They used cutouts to simulate fans being there, and fan noise was piped into the stadium. For some players, they decided to opt out of playing, David Price, the left-handed starter acquired with Betts did just that.
Other players seemed to be genuinely affected by the off time between the shutdown of spring training and he relatively short build up to starting at the end of July. They also decided that the playoffs would be played at neutral sites. No home field advantage.
Bellinger, Muncy, and a few others saw their production plummet. Seager and Turner hit over .300, Betts hit .292 and young catcher, Will Smith hit .289. AJ Pollock slugged 16 homers to tie Betts for the team lead. And despite hitting .239 and .190 respectively, Bellinger and Muncy both had 12 homers. Betts biggest day came against the Padres on August 13th when he had a 4-4 night with 3 homers and 5 batted in during an 11-2 Dodger romp.
Several big moments happened in the playoffs. The first was Will Smith’s 5 hit game, still a Dodger playoff record, in game 3 of the NLDS, a Dodger sweep, against the Padres. In the NLCS, there would be several more. Muncy’s grand slam capping a 11 run first inning in game 3 of the NLCS and help keep the Dodgers from going down 3-0.
Down 3 games to 1, the Dodgers had to win 3 straight games to make it to the Series. They were down 2-0 in game five, and then came back to score 7 and win 7-3. Corey Seager hit two big homers. But the big blow was Will Smith’s three run shot in the 6th with the Dodgers trailing, 2-1, off of reliever……..Will Smith.
They got back-to-back homers from Seager and Turner and an RBI single off of Max Freid to take a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game 6. Buehler and the bullpen made it stand up and allowed 1 run in a 3-1 win. A great catch by Betts off of a drive by Freeman kept the Braves from scoring more.
Game 7 was a nail biter. Once again, they were trailing by 2. Smith drove in 2 to tie it in the bottom of the third. The Braves got it right back in the top of the 4th, and only a base running blunder by Marcel Ozuna kept them from scoring more. Mookie made another great catch against the wall to also save a run. Kike Hernandez tied the game with a pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the 6th. Bellinger then hit the game winning homer in the bottom of the 7th with two outs off of Chris Martin. Urias shut the Braves out over the last three innings, and it was on to the World Series.
These last few years have been very exciting. We have seen our share of ups and downs, elation and disappointment. Now we go into a series with a team that most of us felt had no business winning the division. Let alone 100 games. And we face a familiar foe, the Diamondbacks. How will it end? No one knows. But no matter what, I am sure there will be some very memorable moments.
Many of those memories would not have been heard at all if not for the voice of the Dodgers, Vin Scully. I grew up listening to Vin do the games. First from the coliseum, and then Dodger Stadium. Scully could paint a picture of the game unlike any other announcer in the game. He was an icon and a legend. There was a time that I took broadcast courses. I wanted to be a play-by-play guy. And although I was told by my instructors that I had a very good voice for radio and broadcasting, I realized that I just wasn’t comfortable reading dialog like you would have to when doing commercials.
Up until the day he finally retired, Vin was my go-to guy for Dodger baseball. I rarely cared who his back-up or co-announcer was because Vin was always in the booth alone. And the story’s kept coming. A-Gone wasn’t A-Gone, he was the Dodgers Butter and Egg man. I know, Vin said so. He could make you feel like you were right there in the stadium even if you were not. He was the best memory of all. And now, It’s time for Dodger baseball.
I have seen and read a lot of negativity about this team over the last couple of days. Many fans just do not have much faith that they will defeat the Diamondbacks. This team is loaded with battle tested players, unlike the D-Backs. Yes, the pitching staff has a bunch of young untested pitchers, but they also have some really solid veteran leadership down there too. None of us know what the outcome will be, but you can bet that the memory of last years debacle is going to light the fire under this team to not let that happen again. Dick Butkus passed away. RIP
When I see and hear so much negativity, I feel even more confident about this team, because the stupidest fans are the loudest!
Here is my WAG at the 26-Man Roster:
1. Austin Barnes
2. Will Smith
3. Freddie Freeman
4. Kike Hernandez
5. Max Muncy
6. Miguel Rojas
7. Chris Taylor
8. Kolten Wong
9. Mookie Betts
10. Jason Heyward
11. James Outman
12. David Peralta
13. JD Martinez
14. Ryan Brasier
15. Bazuka Graterol
16. Michael Grove
17. Joe Kelly
18. Clayton Kershaw
19. Lance Lynn
20. Shelby Miller
21. Bobby Miller
22. Ryan Pepiot
23. Evan Phillips
24. Emmet Sheeham
25. Ryan Yarbrough
26. Amed Rosario or Alex Vesia – Will they use a LHP in Vesia or Rosario? I am guessing Vesia, but they could go with 12 pitchers and add Amed. Carroll and Marte are the only LH Hitters who concern me.
A tough call, but I would go Vesia > Rosario. A bold move would be add both Rosario/Vesia, ..leave off Lynn.
They lost McCarthy to injury. If Moreno is placed on concussion protocol, that weakens their defense at catcher. Should be an interesting first game with Kersh on the mound. They can take it to them early and jump all over Kelly who has Dodger Stadium numbers worse than Manaie of the Padres and the Dodgers own that guy. You might be right, but having only one lefty reliever is risky.
The Dodgers overall recent playoff history breeds fan’s skepticism, but LA will beat Arizona in 5 games, and our home field advantage plays a deciding factor.
Not overconfident but its the next series that will be the test.
Joke?
2020 – 3-0 over San Diego
2021 – 3-2 over San Francisco
2022 – 1-3 loss to San Diego
I said OVERALL playoff history, ..falling short of winning the WS, …not just DS history.
Thanks for the history, great stuff! My memory of the ‘51 tragedy: I was in high school, a rabid Dodger fan since the ‘47 series. In the 9th inning with the Dodgers comfortably ahead, listening to the game, my school bus was leaving and I had to catch it. Before we could leave, my best friend, a gnat fan, came running out in glee to tell me what happened. I was crushed!
I pretty much felt the same way as I listened to the 9th inning of game three in 1962. I really blamed Alston for leaving Ed Roebuck in.
Finley’s Grand Slam was certainly memorable. But as I remember it was less than 2 outs, so even if that ball caught on warning track, the game would be over since score was tied. But homer certainly a noted piece of history
True, there was one out. But a walk off granny? That was just cool.
My favorite part of that at-bat is if you look at the Gamecast strike zone the first pitch was dead center. Finley looked at it and stepped back back. Next pitch was same location and gone.
The NFL lost a legend yesterday with the passing of Dick Butkus. Even though I was too young to see him play I have seen many highlights and stories on various media outlets over the years. Easily one of the top 5 defensive players ever. RIP Mr. Butkus never be another like you.
Maybe Wong doesn’t make it, but with two RHP starting the first two games for Arizona, I think it makes sense.
I don’t think it would be Wong to play Wong.
Sorry for silly post
Rosario for speed alone. We got enough left handed bats.
We actually don’t. If we go with our normal lineup against RHP that leaves no lefty on the bench to pinch hit.
So we dont start all LH.
We dont need Wong. Rather have Rosario….
Rosario should be a lock.
Maybe Wong makes it over a pitcher?
Agree, it’s only logical.
how ironic, Butkus passes and the bears win for the first time i almost a season!
I forgot what a W feels like! It’s been 347 days!!
I sure haven’t read much negativity at least not here anyway but I don’t read other blogs or twitter and such and hope my being nervous doesn’t constitute negativity. Hell I’m always nervous on edge of seat with every pitch come playoffs, could be said I want to win to much and hate losing after all it’s just a game. Sometimes I wish it felt like only just a game but then winning wouldn’t be so awesome and deliciously sweet
Other blogs and certainly by some of the pundits who cover baseball. They all place a lot of faith in the D-Backs supposed tenacity.
My guess is that the Dodgers keep Rosario for times they want to platoon against a lefty pitcher or as a pinch-runner. I also suspect they keep Ferguson – Roberts has continued to run him out there in fairly high leverage situations, and he will want at least one lefty for late innings and it won’t be Yarbrough. (He will be a bulk guy.)
The Dodgers will only need so many bulk guys in a 5 game series so my guess is that either Sheehan or Grove gets left off of the roster – I’m guessing Grove is gone in the NLDS.
I like Rosario better than Wong, most likely need his speed especially if goes into extras and right hand starters be long gone by time need either one of them and Rosario be a nice pinch hitter option if facing a tough LHRP. Although I should research Dbacks pen to really have a good opinion
Awesome recollections Bear. Your early memories got me thinking about my early baseball memories. I absolutely have always been around the game. My dad played shortstop in baseball and was simultaneously pitching fast pitch softball. And he was good. He pitched softball against the legendary Eddie Feigner before Eddie started the King and His Court and was pitching 9 man, “town-team” softball. We lived by the softball park where there were 3 games every night of the week. When my dad wasn’t playing baseball or softball, which wasn’t often, I hung around the ballpark and was the batboy for any team needing one. Between games, I would run around the bases, sliding into every bag. I’d come home filthy, and my mom would strip me outside and haul me to the bathtub. I couldn’t get enough starting at age 5 or 6. We didn’t see many MLB TV games in those days. The Saturday Game of the Week was about it. They had a free movie at the local theater on Saturday mornings. After the show, I’d ride my bike home as fast as I could to watch the afternoon baseball Game of the Week. Lots of Yankees.
Bear, your recollections of listening to Vin and having the pictures of events created in your mind are very close to me. I didn’t have Vin. My first clear memory of listening to a famous World Series moment on my transistor radio was Bill Mazeroski’s walk off homer off Ralph Terry in 1960. The scene was etched in my mind despite not actually not seeing the video. It was magic and I was hooked. I was 9 and already a good Little Leaguer. We played “over-the-line every day of the summer.
My love for the game has never waned but there was something very special about the childhood memories created in my mind from a transistor radio.
Thanks for your story and recollections , Bear.
Glad to share Phil. The Pirates had a broadcaster by the name of Bob Prince. He was a Pittsburgh institution. He was known as Gunner. Reason unknown, some thought it was because of his staccato delivery. But he had a ton of what came to be known as Gunnerisms. If the Pirates were down by two, he would say we need a bloop and a blast. Also on Pirate home run calls to left field he would say, get upstairs there Aunt Minnie and open the window. A reference to a house that used to sit behind the left field fence. He also popularized the famous Green Weenie, that was used to hex the opposition during the 1966 pennant race between the Dodgers, Pirates and Giants. Thousands were sold, but no one thought to trademark them.
I was in the 9th grade and I cut school to watch game 7 and saw maz’s walk off. It was so worth it.
Also I loved playing over the line
You could play with just 4 players
So much fun.
If we had only 2 outfielder, Bob, it was always half field and you’d pitch to your own team left handed batters got pitched to from the third base line. All the bats were of course wood. They were all broken and held together with little nails maybe glue and electrical tape. We never had a bat that wasn’t broken. We could all run and we could all catch fly balls, sometime in spectacular fashion. Just like the guys we saw once in a while on TV.
Started playing over the line when I was about 9. It was a blast. We also had a game we played called three flies’ up. The batter would hit fungo’s and if you caught three fly balls, you got to hit next.
My eyes still get watery thinking about Vin and how much I truly miss him.
I know the feeling. Many nights when I was living in Highland Park at that home for kids, I would sneak the transistor radio under my pillow until the house parents were asleep. Then I would put in the earphone and listen to Vin and Jerry. That is how I listened when Koufax struck out 18 Giants. Grew up with the man in my ear.
ITS TIME FOR DODGER PLAYOFF BASEBALL!!!!!!!
Yes, it is, rosters announced today sometime before game time. My bet? Ferguson does not make the roster, and somewhere down the line he is going to be very vocal about not making it.
YUK. Game 1 start 9.30PM here on East Coast
Us EC Dodger fans gonna have to put our big boy pants on and root our boys on into to the wee hours! Got to watch it live! Whole lot of nappin goin on this month!
You think you got it tough…..
Yeah, England is a little further east than North Carolina or New Jersey. Just think when the season opens next year they will be in Korea. Playing the Padres, who by the way are keeping Preller and Melvin. Showalter wants the Angels job.
DODGERS PRESS RELEASE
DODGERS TO TAKE ON DIAMONDBACKS IN NLDS BEGINNING TOMORROW, OCTOBER 7
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers will host the Arizona Diamondbacks in Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-five National League Division Series (NLDS) presented by Booking.com, beginning tomorrow, October 7 at 6:20 p.m. The series will then move to Arizona for Game 3 and an if necessary Game 4. Should the series advance to a winner-take-all Game 5, it will take place on Saturday, October 14 back at Chavez Ravine. Tickets remain available for all three games at Dodgers.com/postseason. Fans are also encouraged to check the Postseason ticket inventory available on the Dodgers’ trusted secondary market partner, SeatGeek.
The Dodgers were 8-5 against the Snakes this season, with Los Angeles taking the last five meetings, including a three-game sweep at home and a two-game sweep at Chase Field. This is the second postseason matchup between these division rivals, with the Blue Crew sweeping the D-Backs in their first meeting in 2017.
Former Dodgers first baseman, 1992 Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger and current broadcaster Eric Karros throwing out the first pitch prior to Game 1 of the NLDS for the second year in a row. Gospel singer Keith Williams Jr. returns to follow up his Opening Day performance and sing the National Anthem while two F-35 jets from The Black Knights of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar perform a flyover. After an off day on Sunday, the teams will face off again for Game 2 on Monday night at 6:07 p.m. PT. Grammy nominee Lupita Infante will sing the National Anthem prior to the game and five-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, two-time Silver Slugger, and current Dodger broadcaster Adrián González will toss the ceremonial first pitch for Game 2. Both games will feature pregame performances throughout the park from different DJs and musical groups.
This Postseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) will conduct its 50/50 raffle at every home game. LADF’s Homebase in Centerfield Plaza has “Buy It Now” autographed memorabilia and branded merchandise including $10 t-shirts and bobbleheads. Fans can also purchase a personalized ribbon board message at Dodgers.com/ribbonboards. LADF is celebrating “10 Years Reimagined” and encouraging fans to visit Dodgers.com/10Years to help them reach their goal of raising $100 million over ten years. In return, donors will receive exciting benefits for each giving level.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early with auto gates opening at 3:50 p.m. for Game 1 and 3:37 p.m. for Game 2.
The full list of entertainment and game information is listed below:
Saturday, October 7, 6:27 p.m. vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Ceremonial First Pitch: Eric Karros
Anthem: Keith Williams Jr.
Centerfield Plaza will host a performance from the band Wylde Bunch
Other Stadium entertainment will include:
o Left field pavilion will host DJ Roueche
o Reserve level will host DJ Hects
o Top Deck will host DJ Raymond Andrew
o Flyover conducted by The Black Knights of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
o Our Nation’s Colors will be presented by the Second Battalion, Twenty-third Marines Color Guard
Monday, October 9, 6:07 p.m. vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Ceremonial First Pitch: Adrián González
Anthem: Lupita Infante
Centerfield Plaza will host a performance from DJ Bad and DJ N.I.C.
Other Stadium entertainment will include:
o Left Field Pavilion will host DJ Gusto Funk
o Reserve level will host DJ NickyBoi
o Top Deck will host DJ Bobbito the Chef
Uh oh Karros again?
So here is what I suspect and hate about back-to-back TV games on the same channel, in this case TBS, but ESPN is famous for the same deal.
The Atlanta – Phillie game starts at at 3:07 EST
The Dodger – Az game starts at 6:20 EST
The math will tell you that they have allocated 3:13 for a playoff baseball game. So it’s practically a foregone conclusion that the Dodger game will have started before the 3:00 game is finished. It’s even worse if the game drags or there are extra innings. We get the dreaded yellow trailer alert that the game has started on the Food Network or some other place. I would record that channel but I never know where it is on the dial. I can’t tell you how many times I have missed the first 2 innings or more of the game I want to see.
Does anybody know where TBS will start the Dodger game while Atlanta – Phillies are finishing up? I never watch these games in real time so I can skip through the Ads. Plus I’m recording college football.But it will be imperative to tune in at 6:00, learn the score, and switch to the alternative channel to see the Dodgers.
Just put the friggin games 4 hours apart.
Yep, I just realized what you wrote will happen. How brain-dead are these networks to schedule these games too close together? I also wish to know what channel the Dodgers game will start in the likely event the Braves/Phillies game is still going.
No problem guys. With the new rules, the odds that the games run into each other are probably less than 10%. Very few games are lasting even 3 hours these days.
On the other hand, we do have a major problem. Derek Hall, CEO of the Dbacks has stated that if the Dodgers win the series and do it in Phoenix, they have the right to celebrate however and wherever they want, including the pool.
I think we’ve been cursed.
Derrick Hall (if he said that) is likely just reaching across the aisle to the team that made him who he is, the Dodgers. If you want to buy his house, it is for sale, as well!
https://www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/the-az-insider/8411-az-insider-diamondbacks-derrick-hall-selling-home.html
Nice home. Maybe the Dodgers should celebrate in his pool.
Hey Mark, you need a place to spend your winters. 2.8 mil should be like petty cash to you. Make an offer and you can invite all of us to spend spring training with you.
No, it’s not petty cash to me.
We are actually looking for a vacation home, but it’s way below that… probably in the $650K area.
We are not leveraged… nor will we ever be.
My parents lived in a trailer. I have never forgotten that.
Also, I love Winters!
Longest games in playoffs so far:
2:51, 2:58 and 3:36. None of these were extra inning. No delays for injuries.
To me that’s painfully close to the 3:13 window.
Just put the games on farther apart.
Better yet, stagger the networks so TBS doesn’t do 2 games in a row. It’s TBS – FS1 – TBS – FS1. On the same channel each game can run for hours and never have to switch channels.
Its bad enough the game starts at 9.30PM on east coast. I don’t think a 10.30PM start is in the cards. Although having different channels running at same time is a go
Thanks for the memories, Bear. I remember being surprised and thrilled by Scioscia’s HR. He was famous for blocking the plate, not for power.
The Dodgers sure struggled finding a good manager after Lasorda. Bill Russell was not the answer, but two of his teammates turned out to be terrific managers: Scioscia and Dusty Baker. I’m glad the Angels got Scioscia, and regret that the Dodgers never landed Dusty.
Roberts is certainly better than all the others in the post-Tommy era.
As for the playoff roster, there are a few difficult decisions with the playoff roster–and that’s a good thing. I will again point out that the 111-win Dodgers had a remarkably weak playoff bench, and that is one reason they turned into a 1-win team against the Padres. The present crew is much more versatile and more experienced.
Look at the list until Torre took over. Other than Jim Tracy, who managed from 2001-2005, none of them lasted more than 2 seasons. Little was there just two years. They bought him out so they could hire Torre. Even as talented a manager as Torre was, his teams were not that much above .500. Of course, he did get to manage Manny. I am not worried about this team. One reason, chemistry. These guys genuinely like each other and have the next man up mentality.
Guys: If TBS is unable to carry the start of the game, it will probably be shown on TNT (at least that is what has happened in the past). Both stations have the same ownership.