Dodger Stadium

Dodger Stadium

Dodger stadium is the third oldest MLB stadium behind only Wrigley and Fenway and remains one of the few that hasn't fallen to corporate naming. We understand from a friend that the Dodgers have 30,000 season ticket holders! Wow, no wonder they do not let you wander around the stadium. The great weather of Los Angeles is responsible for the stadium's 50 plus years with only 17 rainouts. The stadium sits on a hill with great views of downtown LA from the retired numbers deck. The grounds are immaculate and parking lots with no tailgating surround the stadium.

Dodger stadium was built for $23 million and was paid for by owner O'Malley and his partners making it only the 2^nd ball park to be entirely privately funded in the 20^th century. Yankee stadium (1923)was the first and AT&T park (2000) the only other.

Baseball had been played professionally in Brooklyn, New York since 1849. The original name of the team was the Brooklyn Baseball Club. Though the original team had played at Washington park, it was at Eastern Park where the nickname “Trolley Dodgers” came about because fans had to cross over a maze of trolley lines to reach the field. Although the Brooklyn club continued to be called a variety of names, the Dodgers slowly gained in popularity and eventually stuck.

The Dodgers also played at Ebbets Field. The first game in baseball history to be televised was played there on April 26, 1930 between the Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds. They also played a 19 inning scoreless tie there.

In 1958 a significant turning point in history occurred when the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants both decided to leave the New York area and head west. The fierce rivalry between the teams even continues today. When we were in San Francisco, we got Madison Bumgarner Bobbleheads. They were in our back seat in plain view. When we got to Dodger stadium, Jack decided he needed to find a new home for them, fearing the vitriol of fans could turn into a broken window! Probably an unfair fear, but now they sit happily buried in our trunk.

Winning became normal for the Dodgers after moving west. Dodger stadium transformed the team's attitude and playing produced pennants and world championships at a rate only behind the New York Yankees. The Dodgers have hosted 9 World Series since moving to LA and has won five of them.

When Dodger stadium first opened the foul poles were installed completely in foul territory instead of lined up with the foul lines and the league had to grant a special dispensation until they could be moved. Another error was forgetting to install drinking fountains for the fans. Thankfully, they have them now as the cost of beer is a little steep to quench our thirst!

Sandy Koufax retired in what seemed like the prime of his career. Five years after retiring he became the youngest man to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame at age 36, yet no statue of him stands outside Dodger Stadium.

Jack talked to a police officer before the game for a long time about our trip and Unbound. He suggested that when we enter the stadium that we go to fan services and get a pass to visit another level of the stadium as they do not permit you to wander around. We tried twice but they told us they changed the policy this year. For the first time we were stuck and sat in our original seats the whole game. That will teach us!