Farewell to Dodgertown

With the Dodgers making their final appearance in a Grapefruit League game today on the road, it only seems fitting to make a farewell to Dodgertown today.

After making Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida, their spring training home for the past 60 years, the Dodgers have played their final game in Holman Stadium. In fitting fashion, thanks to the China trip, Tommy Lasorda was the manager for the final game. Unfortunately, the Dodgers weren't able to pull out a victory [despite uber-rare 9 inning stints for both Andre Ethier and Rafael Furcal - who both requested to stay in the game to try and get Tommy and the Dodgers the win] but it does little to take away the warm and fuzzies that many hold to their heart over that stadium and complex.

Tommy said it best in a pre-game address to the sold-out crowd. "You're going to make me cry, huh? I can't find the words to express my feeling for all of you people. We are going to leave, but we will have the memories forever. God bless you."

For longtime Dodgers fans, everyone has their own special memory of Dodgertown to recall. Whether it's that fateful day each spring when after months of waiting, you heard the sound of Vin Scully's voice wishing you a terrific day "wherever you may be" from Holman Stadium. Whether it's the crazy stories that have trickled out of those old army barracks through the years [the Strongman practical joke, the Green Phantom, among others.] Maybe it's 1988 when the Dodgers' new Free Agent acquisition got pissed off and stormed off the practice field when Jesse Orosco played a prank on him.
Or for others, it's the stories of Dodgers legends Sandy Koufax stopping in to camp to give a few words of advice to young pitchers or Maury Willis teaching bunting at "Maury's Pit."

Whatever it is, there is almost always something about Dodgertown that will bring a smile to a fan's face. I've never seen another spring training complex like it and for a now-31 year old, my fondest memories of Dodgertown come from the 5 days I spent there in the spring of 1989.

Memories like chasing down Kirk Gibson just before he stepped into a batting cage, getting his autograph, and [I've always told the story] getting the flu from him as he wiped his nose before handing back my pen.

Memories like chasing down an unknown Dodger legend with a baseball to get signed... only to discover it was Al Downing. Hey, at least he's famous for something, right?

Memories like Tommy Lasorda throwing batting practice and giving running commentary while doing so. "Where do you wanna live? I wanna live at 6-4-3 DP Lane!"

Memories like sitting in Vero Beach's only movie theatre watching Rain Man and hearing Vin Scully's trademark voice laughing at the Fernando joke and getting chills up and down my spine.

Memories that'll last a lifetime.


Little Blue in Dodgertown