Saturday marked the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in major league baseball. The Dodgers paid tribute to Jackie’s legacy by unveiling a new bronze statue that will be on permanent display in the stadium’s left field pavilion.
Many baseball fans know Jackie’s story—after making his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, he quickly established himself as one of the best players in the game. He was praised for his poise, integrity, and work ethic as he integrated baseball. He’s often credited for paving the way for minorities to play professionally in other sports leagues.
The actual statue is quite impressive and shows a rookie Jackie Robinson stealing home plate—a pose that perfectly captures his hustle and competitive spirit. I’m honestly surprised it took this long for Jackie to get a statue at Dodger stadium—even Shaq got a statue at Staples Center before Jackie!—but glad that the new Dodger ownership and specifically Mark Walter recognized that this was something that needed to be done and invested the money to do it.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA Today Sports
The unveiling ceremony featured Jackie’s family—his wife Rachel is almost 95 years old and looks amazing—as well as Dodger royalty Sandy Koufax, Don Newcombe,Tommy Lasorda, and Vin Scully.
Vin, who was a young announcer when Jackie played, recalled the time Robinson had challenged him to a race on ice skates and told the audience of a darker story from Jackie’s playing days when he once received a serious death threat. Scully intimated that on the day the incident was supposed to take place, the locker room was extremely intense and quiet. The silence was finally broken by left fielder Gene Hermanski, who suggested that all the players wear number 42 so the would-be assassin wouldn’t know which one was Jackie Robinson.
“Now that seemed funny at the day,” said Scully. “In 2004, Gene Hermanski’s words in 1950 came to fruition. We’ll all wear number 42…And all across the country, in every major league ballpark, every player will be wearing 42.”
Engraved on Jackie’s statue is one of his famous quotes: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” Jackie’s courage helped open the doors for so many people and created social change. His family continues to help others with the Jackie Robinson Foundation which provides college scholarships to young minorities.
Yesterday was so much more than just being a Yankees fan....or even just a baseball fan. Yesterday was a reminder that there is a human element in baseball. The exciting post season chase at this time of year means nothing without the love and compassion that go with it. Some of us get to watch, listen or play for many years while some of us are taken far too early. I was reminded of that yesterday.
Vin Scully is the voice of baseball and there is no other way to put it. In 67 years he brought baseball into our lives. He was the voice of our parents and grandparents, our hopes and dreams. So as I watched and listened to the last home game Scully would ever call at Dodger stadium on Sunday it hit me.....this was the end of an era. No one else will ever be a Vin Scully. He is something that just can't be replicated.
We have all seen some amazing games as sports fans, but Scully has seen things some of us never will. My grandfather died when I was very young, but I remember stories about the love he had for the then Brooklyn Dodgers. Scully has been announcing for the Dodgers since 1950 so he has seen the Dodgers evolve over the years. He saw Jackie Robinson break into baseball and watch the game transition from the tension we had years ago to where we are today. Between his days in Brooklyn and Los Angeles he has called about 9,000 baseball games. He's called 20 no-hitters, three perfect games and 12 All-Star games. Simply put he is a legend.
Scully will say goodbye to baseball ironically the same way he fell in love with the game....watching the Giants. The world fell in love with baseball as they tuned into their transistor radios to listen to Scully call a game. He is the voice that no one else can ever replicate. He will be missed in that booth next year and for Dodgers fans, games will never be the same.
While some of us get to walk away from the game on our own terms after long careers with life long memories some of us are not so lucky. The baseball world is also mourning the loss of Jose Fernandez, another baseball icon. This is a reminder of how short life is and how everyone has to go out everyday and give their all because tomorrow is never guaranteed to us. There isn't always another game tomorrow. Tragically early Sunday morning, Jose Fernandez lost his life in a boating accident.
We have been following Fernandez here at BYB for a long time now. We have always admired him because with his young talent....who wouldn't? But after hearing the news this morning I was brought back to reality that he was more than just a great young arm who had a very promising career ahead of him. MLB Network spoke with other players who also had fond memories of him. As I listened to David Ortiz talk about how much joy and energy and how he was always smiling. He really appreciated the opportunity to come here from Cuba and play the game he loved. It made me realize that he really touched a lot of people not only for his amazing gift, but for his spirit. Freddie Freeman shared his own stories of Fernandez saying just how approachable he was. He was always talking to everyone not only on the bench but players from other teams on the field. He brought a compassionate side into the game. He was a people person.
While the Marlins did not play yesterday other teams hung a Fernandez jersey in their dugout. I was touched to see Yoenis Cespedes hang a Mets jersey in the dugout with Fernandez written on the back of it.
As I listened to more stories from people working within the organization it hit me even harder. This was a 24-yea old young man who was about to be a father. I heard stories about how how amazed Fernandez was when he first came to the United States about automatic hand dryers and water faucets in a public bathroom. He had a real appreciation for the little things in life and took nothing for granted. It is a spirit like his that will be missed in such a great game. Like many have already expressed, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and the organization.
So yes, we lost two baseball greats yesterday. Baseball is more than just a game, Scully reminded us that it is the little pleasures in life like baseball that bring more life to our stories. Fernandez reminded us that life is precious and to enjoy what we have and never take it for granted. Baseball is just a game with many different outcomes, but there is always a deeper story then just a stupid game.
Fellow BYB writer Dan Lucia will have a powerful piece about more of this, specifically Jose Fernandez tomorrow. It's been chosen as tomorrow's BYB feature. Please be sure to check it out.
--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer & Editor Follow me on Twitter:@NYPrincessJ
Monday night we saw our young Nathan Eovaldi win the game but lose an opportunity for a no-no and Yankee skipper Joe Girardi blames one legal defensive move for the botched no-hitter: the controversial shift. "I just think the field was built this way for a reason, with two on one side and two on the other," Girardi said according to ESPN.
In his post-game comments, Girardi said that if the players were in their regular fielding spots, that ball does not get through to the outfield. Announcer David Cone said the same thing and added that "Jeter made that play when I pitched the perfect game." Because Jeter was in position. Because the shift is ridiculous. And if Girardi was commissioner he would ban the defensive move much like the three second rule in basketball. "Guard your man, guard your spot. If I were commissioner, they (shifts) would be illegal," stated Girardi in Andrew Marchand's ESPN.com post Tuesday evening.
So, here's my question. Just because it is a legal move, why use it? Because it's available? Honestly, that doesn't make any sense. Just because you can bunt, you don't always do it. Just because you can wear wrist bands, or leg guards, or a tee shirt under your jersey, doesn't mean you will. I don't get it.
According to the LA Times and legendary broadcaster Vin Scully, the shift is not a new concept. In fact it dates back to the 1800s and resurfaced in the 1920s and later in the days of Ted Williams, where managers tried to keep Williams from always getting clutch hits. "The strategy might not be new, but the frequency with which it is now deployed is off the charts. The number of shifts has nearly doubled every year since 2011, from 2,357 to 13,298 last year, according to Baseball Info Solutions. And there has been another spike this (2015) season, to 10,262 by the All-Star break."
Whether or not to use the shift is based on statistical data and manager's strategic intuition. Girardi says as long as it remains legal in baseball, he is going to use it when it makes sense. And what if you are wrong? Like Monday night against the Rangers. Can't a guy pull the ball? I mean that's a strategy too and guys use that power play all of the time.
So to shift or not to shift? It works sometimes and good hitters will admit that the shift takes away a hit from them here and there, which can be frustrating. I defer to Girardi and the shape of the field. It is built that way for a reason. No shift for me!
My colleague and I were talking over lunch this week; we weren't really talking about anything of any real substance, but he said something that stayed with me throughout the day. "Eventually you can see well with just candle light." I laughed at first, but then I thought about it. Eventually, you adjust to your surroundings, giving you the opportunity to see things and do things you never thought possible. In the case of candlelight, the pupils of your eyes eventually open, letting in more light for you to be able to see. Sure, it takes a little time, but with some patience, you will be able to see. True, honest and wise words from someone who appreciates the physical capacity of our bodies.
Later in the evening of the same day, I was watching the Yankees on the YES Network and Michael Kay was talking about how statistics say that when a team is playing poorly before heading into the post season, it doesn't mean that the team won't go far. In reality, it's the opposite; many teams who finish the season strong, don't go deep into the post season. But just as Michael Kay let those words escape his tongue, he quoted the great baseball play by play analyst Vin Scully. "Statistics are used much like a drunk uses a lamppost; for support, not illumination." Huh... I never thought of that. This means to me that truthfully, anything can happen; if it's meant to happen. Like the New York State Lottery touts, "You never know."
I know this week has been about Yogisms with the passing of the great Yogi Berra, and I won't be able to get through an article about quotes and words of wisdom without quoting our great number eight. "You can observe a lot by watching." I couldn't agree more. As an administrator at a School of Education, we tell our pre-service candidates to just watch what kids do in the classroom and take notes. Then we ask them to share their observations. You can learn a lot by just quietly watching. Derek Jeter believes that. He wrote an amazing tribute to Yogi calling him a quiet observer. TED Talk speaker and New York Times Best Selling Author, Bryan Stevenson believes that... he observed some of the most remarkable people in action including the great Rosa Parks. Focusing on your own professional learning through the lens of expertise of others is one of the best ways to grow.
My words of wisdom to you: pay attention to the small things around you; the glimmers of sunshine, the gestures of authenticity and signs of hope. And even if this post season isn't our finest, believe in the future of the Yankees, because as Chicago Cubs' fans boast, "There's always next year."
I really enjoy the BYB posts introducing the staff writers who contribute to the site each week. It’s yet another great way Casey has illustrated how Bleeding Yankee Blue is really a team in every sense of the word. From the Skipper on down to this reformed Irish hoodlum, BYB has baseball, heart and a real sense of community and family.
Recently you were introduced to staff writer Alexis Garcia, read MEET THE BYB FAMILY: INTERVIEW WITH ALEXIS GARCIA for that. One of the questions posed to the Los Angeles native and University of Texas alum (By the way a couple trips to the Series during her time there. Impressive to say the least.) was how could she convince me to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a chance.
Here's that exchange:
BYB: Mike O'Hara, a fellow BYB writer hates the Dodgers. Can you convince him to give them a shot?
Alexis Garcia: Mike, I would say hating the Dodgers is about
95% of being a Dodgers fan! Some of my best memories of going to games
was jeering that bum Kevin Brown while
stuffing Dodger dogs in my face. We have the money, we have the talent,
we have the best weather in the country, and yet we still manage to
choke in the off-season. We develop some of the best talent in the
league only to trade it away for players past their prime. It is this
frustration of constant under-performance that unites all of us Dodgers
fans! Also, we have Vin Scully.
It’s been fairly well documented that I am in no way, shape or form a Dodger fan. I have said, and will go on saying, that I’d rather hear the cheers on Yawkey Way and all over Bean Town than to see them happy at Chavez Ravine. Crazy? Not to me. It’s a long story, but I will explain so that you can understand why I “dislike” the Dodgers so much…I swear it’s not just an East Coast vs. West Coast thing.
First of all, the Dodgers hurt my feelings. That sounds childish, doesn’t it? Well, that stands to reason. I was merely a small child when the club that left Brooklyn beat my Yankees in the World Series. I sat on the floor of my folks’ bedroom and cried.
The Yankees weren’t a baseball team to me, they were superheroes. They couldn’t lose…could they? How did Reggie let me down? Who was this Penguin guy?
And could someone please get Lasorda off my TV screen ASAP! I carried that anger with me for years. It kind of subsided during time in grade school. I started to resent the Mets more…actually I resented my friends who jumped ship and started wearing Strawberry jerseys because the Yanks weren’t exactly the toast of the town any longer. I also NEVER allowed them to live it down when they wanted to come back to the Bronx in the mid 1990s.
Now, you’d think that I’d forget why I disliked LA so much over time, but as my Grandfather would say, “Only 2 creatures walking this planet that never forget. An elephant and an Irishman.” He was 100% correct. My feelings for the Dodgers were just hibernating. They would wake with vigor after I graduated college.
I’m an actor. I moved to Los Angeles, as so many in “The Biz” do, with my game face on. LA does have great weather. It is a trip to go to the market and notice that you are in the checkout line behind Jennifer Aniston, and it’s as if she is just any other person…though incredibly beautiful and pretty nice to boot.
She was very friendly when I placed the rubber divider on the conveyor belt so that her rice cakes and humus didn’t get mixed in with my Guinness, cold cuts, Guldens Mustard and Beefsteak Rye bread. Los Angeles is pretty much as you’d expect to be honest. The people are sort of different. They march to the beat of their own drum. I met a lot of great folks out there. When I got work it was a great time, but it also is a lonely town. Now that shouldn’t reflect on the Dodgers…but I allowed it to. That is not fair and I know it now.
I went to see my first Dodger game the weekend I moved out West. The Boys in Blue hosted the Pirates. I got to see that the Ravine is a great ballpark. It was before so of the recent renovations. The bullpens are still the worst in the league, but there aren’t any bad seats. You can get a great look at the game no matter where you sit.
Dodger Dogs? That is an ENTIRELY separate chapter in this story. My conclusion is LA fans KNOW that the Farmer John product is awful, but refuse to give in to that knowledge. LA does have a “little brother” complex about New York’s hot dog and Pizza Empire. FACT. Here’s a hint Dodger Concession Director. Have Pink’s supply the dogs. They ain’t Nathan’s, but it’d be a step in the right direction.
The pebble that began the avalanche of the return of my DODGER DISLIKE was the fans…there were so few 'actual' fans. I won’t say that there aren’t true blue Dodger fans. There are. They are knowledgeable, invested and all and all pretty friendly. The problem is they are outnumbered in a big way in their own ballpark. Fact. Often it’s by fans of the visiting club. The Mets, Cubs, Sox, Yanks, Phils and Giants all have transplants in the City of Angels and they show up. There is also the “To Be Seen” crowd. They don’t care who is playing; they just want to be at the party. You know the type. Every club has them, but LA REALLY has them. They show up in the 4th and leave in the 7th. They play with the beach balls.
They are on their cellphones. They have dinner reservations at Beso. They think Mike Piazza is still behind the plate. They quote “Naked Gun”…a lot! “Enrico Palazzo! He saved the queen!” Yep, that’s a good one. It’s almost as if MLB should talk to the NFL and ask, “Hey, why don’t you guys have a franchise here?” Fair? I don’t know. But it is what it is.
The last factor in my less than favorable feelings toward all things Dodgers is the “Tough Guy” factor. I saw it every time I went to the stadium and I went a good deal. There are those at the game who are just looking for a problem. It’s not about baseball, although they will be decked out in Dodger Blue. It’s about starting trouble in the stands or in the parking lot. The Dodgers have been absolutely horrendous addressing this issue.
The Bryan Stow incident just shed a bit of light on what happens more often than not at Chavez Ravine. I got to see it first hand at an inter-league match up years ago. I was at the game with some friends from back East. We saw the Yanks take it on the chin and made our way to the car. Almost instantly we hear the jeers. Hey, that’s what you get. I completely understand that. We do it in the Bronx. But these jeers got personal fast. Them they got increasingly angry. My one buddy is a bit of a hothead and I could tell he wasn’t going to stay quiet too long. We found ourselves in outside and noticed that a handful of these Dodger fans had followed us spewing their over the top jabs the whole way. Now two of my friends were US Marines at the time, and in this particular staring contest the other side blinked first. We were lucky. The situation didn’t become a problem…but it could have.
Who needs that garbage? If you want to find a fight go to a roadhouse bar and knock yourself out. It’s a baseball game. We go to have a good time and watch the American Pastime. Period. Yeah, there is some good-natured ribbing and no one wants to see his or her teams lose, but it’s not a turf war. It’s not and should never be personal. The sad fact is that in almost every trip I made to Dodger Stadium, I saw all of the above. It has made me close the book on the Los Angeles club. I don’t like them. I won’t ever like them.
I want Donnie back. I love Vin Scully and respect the actual Dodger fan that suffers through the nonsense I saw. They can’t be happy with that stuff. I don’t like “I Love LA”. I don’t consider LA a sports town. The Lakers stink now…where is everybody? And again, this is not an East Coast, West Coast thing. I’ve been to the Bay Area. I’ve seen games in the Great Northwest. I’ve loved every single trip to San Diego.
The Anaheim Angeles of Los Angeles, near the 5, close to Disney, South of Knott’s Berry, down the street from that strip mall…no, the other strip mall. They are not my favorite either... I don't care for the Rally Monkeys and Thunder Sticks... trust me. But it wasn’t nearly as bad at LA.
The truth is I’ve liked some Dodger players in my lifetime. Gibby, Butler,The Bulldog and Piazza were guys I enjoyed seeing play. No, it’s more about that first team to hurt my feelings. It’s about the Hollywood fans and the tough guys. They aren’t what baseball is about and any chance that I’d give the Dodgers a chance rolled away with the credits. Sorry, Alexis. It’s just one guy’s opinion.
Go Yankees!
** One of my Favorite Bands – Please note I do NOT want anything bad to happen to anyone in Los Angeles. I love my friends there. This song just has Los Angeles in the title I like Bad Religion a lot. **
I really “dislike” just about everything about the Los Angeles Dodgers. I apologize for how I feel, and it’s not something I will change my mind about. It might stem from seeing the likes of Ron Cey, Davey Lopes and Steve Garvey beating my beloved Bronx Bombers in the World Series as a child. I sat on my parents’ bedroom floor with tears in my eyes asking my Dad, “How could Reggie lose?” and then telling everyone I thought Tommy Lasorda was a jerk.
It might be that my grandmother, who lived in Bay Ridge, loved the Dodgers and was heartbroken when they skipped town…she became a Mets’ fan…that bothered me too. I guess it could also be just their name. Much like the LA Lakers, I feel strongly that the Dodgers should have INSTANTLY changed their name with their relocation! The Lakes were in MINNESOTA, and the trains they once “Dodged” were in the streets on Brooklyn. LA simply seems to be okay with borrowing other cities’…well, everything really. Ever been out in La La Land and seen the insane number of “NEW YORK STYLE” pizza places? LA should just be LA. It’s got nice weather…and…
I guess the real reason I have grown to loathe the Dodgers more than that rival club up in New England is rooted with the time I lived in Los Angeles. I went to a lot of games at Chavez Ravine while I was a Southern California resident. It’s a good ballpark, but (most) of the fans just ruin it. Make no mistake there are solid, true blue Los Angeles Dodger fans. They love their club and I absolutely respect that. The sad truth is that that group is vastly out numbered by beach ball chasing clowns, the late arriving/early departing crowd and others seeking anything but a nice day at the yard. It would turn my stomach to see how much the majority of the ravine didn’t care all that much about the game.
I’d force down a Farmer John Dodger Dog (The worst hot dog in the Bigs) and root for whatever club was occupying the visitors’ dugout. When they play Randy Newman’s “I Love LA” after the final out was recorded I’d long to be back in New York…and wish that Mr. Newman had picked the afternoon in penned his tribute to Los Angeles to write a song about Phoenix or Cedar Rapids.
Now if you are reading this and are a native of Los Angeles and a die-hard Dodger fan take heart. No matter how I feel or what I say you still hold one thing over all other Major League clubs and their fans…you have Vin Scully.
The iconic voice of the Dodgers recently announced that he would be returning to the booth for yet another season. I was elated to hear that news. I am a giant fan of Mr. Scully. His voice is Baseball. If Bob Sheppard was likened to “The Voice of God” then it’s my contention that when you hear Vin Scully’s voice you are hearing the soothing tones of Baseball’s Patron Saint. I can’t deny it; the Dodgers have the best of the best calling their games for radio and TV. Mr. Scully goes with Baseball the way Ice Tea goes with Lemonade. It’s smooth, crisp and always refreshing. He has a timeless way of calling each moment of the game, and no matter whom you root for you want to hear Vin call out your favorite players names. He is without question one of the constants in this sport and a touchstone for the generations. Now if we could only deal Suzyn Waldman and a boatload of cash to LA for Vin…
I don’t think I am overstepping any line by saying that all Yankee fans wish Mr. Vin Scully the very best for the season to come, and thank him for being not only the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the voice of Baseball…
Mr. Scully was born in the Bronx and attended Fordham University by the way…I had to take one more dig at LA, but it’s all done in good fun. They have a true legend out there. No doubt about it.
** Against my better judgment…but this one is for Vin…**
--Mike O'Hara, MLB Fan Cave Host, Season 1
Twitter: @mikeyoh21 "Paulie was always my favorite player."
