Dodger Stadium At 45 1962-2007

[DodgerDrei]

Wow, it's hard to believe that Dodger Stadium will be in it's 45th year of existence. It is currently the 4th, or 3rd, if you dont count post-1976 Yankee Stadium , oldest stadium in existence in the Majors. You may even put DS up there in the " Classic " text. Many great moments have happened here, and of course we all have our own personal favs as well, my recent ones being Russel Martins walk off back in August in the bottom of the 10th to sweep a 3 game series against the Jints, and Steve Finley's walk-off Grand Slam to clinch the 2004 NL West against, you guessed it, the hated ones...( noticing a pattern here ? ) Well, what are some of your personal favorite moments at DS over the years ?

[Williamsburg2599]

I wasn't there, but the Dodgers Back-to-Back-to-Back-to-Back HRs this year with the Nomar walk-off to win it was amazing. That was one of the most excited crowds (and team) I've ever seen:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_c0XZZsKpY and then the walk-off:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsuMcN9dCl4&mode=related&search= I really like how they played the same song after the first, forth, and walk-off Homers.

[Elvis]

I wasn't there, but the Dodgers Back-to-Back-to-Back-to-Back HRs this year with the Nomar walk-off to win it was amazing. That was one of the most excited crowds (and team) I've ever seen:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_c0XZZsKpY and then the walk-off:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsuMcN9dCl4&mode=related&search= I really like how they played the same song after the first, forth, and walk-off Homers.

My favorite part of that first clip was Russell Martin's daddy high-fiving the fans around him after his kid hit his homer! :)

[PeteU]

Wow, it's hard to believe that Dodger Stadium will be in it's 45th year of existence. It is currently the 4th, or 3rd, if you dont count post-1976 Yankee Stadium , oldest stadium in existence in the Majors. You may even put DS up there in the " Classic " text. Many great moments have happened here, and of course we all have our own personal favs as well, my recent ones being Russel Martins walk off back in August in the bottom of the 10th to sweep a 3 game series against the Jints, and Steve Finley's walk-off Grand Slam to clinch the 2004 NL West against, you guessed it, the hated ones...( noticing a pattern here ? ) Well, what are some of your personal favorite moments at DS over the years ?

Wouldn't Gibson's homerun off of Eckersley in Game One of the 1988 WS automatically be number one? I would think that naturally.

[DodgerDrei]

Wouldn't Gibson's homerun off of Eckersley in Game One of the 1988 WS automatically be number one? I would think that naturally.

I actually meant to refer to games in which fans were actually at. However, if any of you were there on that magical October night of '88, even if you were the one driving the car with the visible red tailights behind the RF Pavillion, (LOL), please share your experience with us. BTW, Gibson's shot ranks as the number 1 all-time LA Sports moment .

[PeteU]

I actually meant to refer to games in which fans were actually at. However, if any of you were there on that magical October night of '88, even if you were the one driving the car with the visible red tailights behind the RF Pavillion, (LOL), please share your experience with us. BTW, Gibson's shot ranks as the number 1 all-time LA Sports moment .

Not that lucky, sorry. But I'd love to check out Chavez Ravine someday.

[Williamsburg2599]

I actually meant to refer to games in which fans were actually at. However, if any of you were there on that magical October night of '88, even if you were the one driving the car with the visible red tailights behind the RF Pavillion, (LOL), please share your experience with us. BTW, Gibson's shot ranks as the number 1 all-time LA Sports moment .
Maybe number 1 all-time Dodger's moment.

[Williamsburg2599]

My favorite part of that first clip was Russell Martin's daddy high-fiving the fans around him after his kid hit his homer! :)
My favorite was around 0:54-1:02 when they show all the fans going crazy in the bleachers, not to mention that Vin Scully could make a Bar Mitzvah sound intense.:D

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

My favorite moment was back in 1995, when I attended my second Dodger game ever.

The Dodgers were hosting the Padres, when former Dodger great, Fernando Valenzuela, took the mound. He got a standing ovation from the crowd.

That was something that gave me goose bums.

[DodgerDrei]

DODGER STADIUM FUN FACTS

1963- Dodgers sweep Yanks in WS at Dodger Stadium. Sandy Koufax is series MVP, and this would be the only time the Blue would clinch a WS title on their home field.

Only 13 games have been rained out in DS 45 years.

The seating capacity, despite recent renovations, has remained at 56,000 since it's opening in 1962.

At 45 years, Dodger Stadium is the 4th oldest active stadium in the Majors behind only Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Yankee Stadium.

Is one of only 2 active Major League stadiums to host both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, the other being Shea Stadium

Dodger Stadium was the first stadium to install a full-color replay screen, dubbed DiamondVision, during the 1980 All-Star Game.

Dodger Stadium would be the first sports venue I would set foot in, on my 8th birthday, 1982. My mom took me with some " loser " she was dating at the time, and she ended up marrying him 4 months later. The good times at the Stadium continue....

OK Fans, any other fun facts for the list, and keep 'em coming.

[DodgerDrei]

My favorite moment was back in 1995, when I attended my second Dodger game ever.

The Dodgers were hosting the Padres, when former Dodger great, Fernando Valenzuela, took the mound. He got a standing ovation from the crowd.

That was something that gave me goose bums.

I remember seeing Fernando pitch the first time I saw a game at DS. My 8th birthday, August 1982, against the Braves. Both teams were battling it out for the NL West ( when the Braves and Reds were in the West ). Today, Fernando Valenzuela is the commentator on the Dodgers Spanigh radio broadcasts alongside Jaime Jarrin, a very well-known figure as well throughout LA's Hispanic Community.

[exposhistory]

Was anyone at the Dennis Martinez perfect game?

El Presidente! ... El Perfecto!

And 2 night earlier Mark Gardner had taken a no-hitter in the 10th only to lose the game.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

DODGER STADIUM FUN FACTS

1963- Dodgers sweep Yanks in WS at Dodger Stadium.


How can that be someone's favorite moment??? :D

[Elvis]

I remember seeing Fernando pitch the first time I saw a game at DS. My 8th birthday, August 1982, against the Braves. Both teams were battling it out for the NL West ( when the Braves and Reds were in the West ). Today, Fernando Valenzuela is the commentator on the Dodgers Spanigh radio broadcasts alongside Jaime Jarrin, a very well-known figure as well throughout LA's Hispanic Community.

Fernando will always be a folk hero to Angelinos, and it's been great to have him back with the Dodgers.

Jaime Jarrin is also a HoFer, meaning the Dodgers are the only team in history to have 2 HoF broadcasters working together.

[Hardball]

Only watched the Gibson shot on TV, although I did see Fernando pitch six or seven times. My best “Dodger Moment”?

1977 Baby. http://www.ronstadt-linda.com/banner.htm


More thrills to come soon courtesy of my boy Nomar.

[EbtsFldGuy]

As a BROOKLYN Dodger fan (yes, some of us are still around), it was with mixed feelings that I first visited Dodger Stadium last November.

I went there to get a sense of closure with my Brooks having left 49 years ago. I was also prepared to feel some resentment.

Actually, I did not. Rather, I'm impressed with the place. It is handsome, with a fine view, and closer to downtown LA than I thought.

Also, being 2 years older than Shea, it is in much better condition.

So, alas while our beloved Ebbets Field is no more (except in our happy memories), the Dodgers have a fine home.

[Doug Miller]

I really like Dodger Stadium. I went there 2 seasons back (I live in Seattle). I was really impressed with the fans there -- they are there to watch a ballgame (unlike San Francisco).

The pregame is great -- both games I was at there was a player signing autographs up until gametime next to the dugout. It was the most organized line I'd ever seen; no one "cut", no one pushed, everyone just waited patiently in a line about 50 people long. (Does this happen every game?!) I know the first game I was down the 1st base line, I sat and watched Milton Bradley sign for a good 15 minutes, thinking to myself "Eh, he'll be gone any minute." for 15 minutes. The next day, it was Jose Lima. I watched him sign for 10 minutes when I decided, hell, I'll stand in line. Talked to him, got my picture with him (you'd think we're old friends from the picture).

Both games I saw at DS were awesome fan experiences. It's on my list of places to go again.

Doug

[Elvis]

Fernando, following his legendary rookie season of 1981.



-

[Elvis]

Miracle Monday - Sept. 18, 2006.

[Elvis]

Only watched the Gibson shot on TV, although I did see Fernando pitch six or seven times. My best “Dodger Moment”?

1977 Baby. http://www.ronstadt-linda.com/banner.htm


More thrills to come soon courtesy of my boy Nomar.

Here you go.

[Elvis]

9-9-65

Sandy's perfecto.

[Elvis]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/Marckymarc71/100_0158aaaa.jpg

======================

[Elvis]

This should look familiar to EFG. :)



-

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/Marckymarc71/100_0160aShowcase.jpg

[Elvis]

Another bit of Dodger Stadium history...


http://insiderracingnews.com/Image/76Ball.jpg

[DodgerDrei]

Was anyone at the Dennis Martinez perfect game?

El Presidente! ... El Perfecto!

And 2 night earlier Mark Gardner had taken a no-hitter in the 10th only to lose the game.

The rule has changed since. If a pitcher throws 9 innings of no-hit ball, no matter the outcome in extra-innings, he is still credited with a no-hitter. Thanks for visiting, hopefully baseball will return to Montreal some day. The Dodgers have roots there as well, Jackie Robinson played for the Montreal Royals, the Brooklyn Dodgers farm club. :waving

[DodgerDrei]

How can that be someone's favorite moment??? :D

Onw look at the dreaded pinstripes and their glory says it all...As for the Expos, it was in '81, when I was 7, when my uncles got me into baseball, and I remeber what Expos fans call " Blue Monday " all very well. Rick Monday is now part of the Dodger broadcast team, since 1993, alongside Charlie Steiner on the radio side. It's too bad good old Bud could not find a way to keep baseball in Montreal. After all, his Brewers aren't exactly tearing down the gates either.

[DodgerDrei]

Another bit of Dodger Stadium history...


http://insiderracingnews.com/Image/76Ball.jpg

Do you have a pic of the old 76 Union logo from the 60's. Yeah, I remember when that 76 ad was the only ad in Chavez Ravine alongside the old auxiliary scoreboards down the 1st and 3rd baselines. Oh yeah, any more DS pics would be appreciated as well. Thanks.

DD

[Elvis]

Do you have a pic of the old 76 Union logo from the 60's.

DD

http://www.savethe76ball.com/tags/union-76-ball

[Elvis]

1962 -------------------------------


http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/RichTomDodgerStadium1962shopped.jpg

[Bishop2100]

...when you hear Vin Scully laughing about something that he's never (or rarely) seen before. That's one of the things that makes the B2B2B2B home runs so great. After the last one, he starts chuckling with an unforgettable "Can you believe this?!" laugh.

[Elvis]

--------=----------

[Elvis]

Papa...........

[Elvis]

1965 World Series

[Elvis]

###################

[Elvis]

]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

[Redondos]

DODGER STADIUM FUN FACTS

1963- Dodgers sweep Yanks in WS at Dodger Stadium. Sandy Koufax is series MVP, and this would be the only time the Blue would clinch a WS title on their home field.

Only 13 games have been rained out in DS 45 years.

The seating capacity, despite recent renovations, has remained at 56,000 since it's opening in 1962.

At 45 years, Dodger Stadium is the 4th oldest active stadium in the Majors behind only Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Yankee Stadium.

Is one of only 2 active Major League stadiums to host both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, the other being Shea Stadium

Dodger Stadium was the first stadium to install a full-color replay screen, dubbed DiamondVision, during the 1980 All-Star Game.

Dodger Stadium would be the first sports venue I would set foot in, on my 8th birthday, 1982. My mom took me with some " loser " she was dating at the time, and she ended up marrying him 4 months later. The good times at the Stadium continue....

OK Fans, any other fun facts for the list, and keep 'em coming.

First no-hit game in Dodger Stadium did NOT involve the Dodgers.

Los Angeles Angels rookie Bo Belinsky held the Orioles hitless in a 2-0 win on May, 5 1962. It is also the first MLB no-hitter ever in LA history.

Nearly 2 months later (June 30) on the same field, Sandy Koufax no-hits the pitiful, expansion NY Mets lineup, 5-0.

[hartman74]

June 29th 1990 was a day in which 2 pitchers threw no hitters on the same day. The pitchers involved were a current Dodger and an ex Dodger.

Dave Stewart former Dodger playing for Oakland A's no hit the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 in Toronto. I was at the game.

A few hours later at Dodger Stadium pitcher Fernando Valenzuela no hits the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 6-0

It was the first time in the 20th century that two pitchers threw no hitters on the same day.

[riverfrontier]

The first time I was at Dodger Stadium I was a child. The last time I was at Dodger Stadium I was a man-child. It's been great every time, but even more enjoyable seeing the Dodgers lose every game. The stadium itself was great, but the visiting teams were just a bit better. Bill Buckner played left field for the Dodgers the first time, Jim Eisenreich the last. Insert your own punch-line.

[seeingredagain]

My favorite was around 0:54-1:02 when they show all the fans going crazy in the bleachers, not to mention that Vin Scully could make a Bar Mitzvah sound intense.

That is probably one of the funniest (and truthful) things I have ever heard.

[TJH1923]

I came across this photo from either the '77 or '78 WS.

[DodgerDrei]

I wanted to thank those of you, Elvis in particular, who have posted any DS pics they have. Elvis, I particularly like the one of the kids with the old DS info board in LF where DiamondVision is ( Are you one of those two kids in the pic ?) If any of you have any other personal DS pics you l would like to post, please do so. It would be great to see others pics as well.

As for great moments @ DS, here's another one, in June 30, 1985, on a Sunday afternoon game against the Braves, Pedro Guerrero smacks his 15th home run in the month of June, breaking the then NL mark for home runs hit in a month that was held by Mike Schmidt. The Dodgers would go on to win the NL West in 1985, winning their 3rd division title in 5 years. The Dodgers would win another NL West title in 1988, bringing them 4 in the 80's, the most by any team in that decade.

[DodgerDrei]

June 29th 1990 was a day in which 2 pitchers threw no hitters on the same day. The pitchers involved were a current Dodger and an ex Dodger.

Dave Stewart former Dodger playing for Oakland A's no hit the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 in Toronto. I was at the game.

A few hours later at Dodger Stadium pitcher Fernando Valenzuela no hits the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 6-0

It was the first time in the 20th century that two pitchers threw no hitters on the same day.

The last out that was recorded in Fernie's no-no, former Dodger Pedro Guerrero, in his 34th birthday, grounded into a game ending double play. 1990 would be Fernando's last season wearing the Dodger Blue

[redbuck]

I'm more of a Giants fan myself but certainly can appreciate the longevity of one of the great ballparks. Great shots Elvis.

[stlfan]

I have only been to L.A. once and unfortunately the Dodgers were out of town. I wanted to see a game there. I am a Cardinals fan (being from STL) so I have favorite moments from the other side, mostly recent ones. No particular order. These are all of course from watching on TV.

- Fernando Tatis hits 2 grand slams in the same inning. (I can't remember what year it was but it was in the last 5-8 years I believe.) Nobody had ever done this before nor has yet to do this again in MLB.

- Jack Clark's home run in the 1985 NLCS that basically propels them to the World Series.

- The Cardinals clinch the 2004 NLDS. I loved how classy they ended the series by the Dodgers and Cardinals doing a "good game" hand slap with eachother just like little leaguers. Rumor is that Larry Walker instigated this. He is a big hockey fan and hockey players do this after games. I always love seeing the Cards play the Dodgers. A very classy organization.

- I gotta pick Gibson's home run against the A's as my favorite though. The whole moment just somes up what baseball is all about and how anything can happen.

[soberdennis]

It is almost incredible that it is now the fourth oldest park in baseball, soon to be #3 in 2009.
What I have always liked about Dodger Stadium is that th Dodgers built it and still own it. When the O'Malleys sold the team it was included in the package. What used to be commonplace now is just 1.

[sflnyc]

Don't know if anybody has mentioned this before in other threads, but there is a website dedicated to Walter O'Malley, with many absolutely gorgeous pictures of the stadium.

http://www.walteromalley.com

Of note, is that I didn't know before coming across the O'Malley site year or so ago, that the home plate area was inside the base of a hill and that you entered the stadium from that side at the top deck and worked your way down. Here from the 1960's are the Union 76 picture (as requested) and one of the stadium viewed from behind home plate.

[Seattle1]

You may even put DS up there in the " Classic " text.

Not yet, maybe in another 20-25 years, imho.

[PeteU]

I do think Dodger Stadium has the staying power of a Wrigley or a Fenway and will likely be viewed as a "classic" of its own era. If Kaufmann Stadium survives, it too will be viewed as a classic down the road (that is, if it survives). Not many ballparks from that era in baseball can claim that.

Even if a Three Rivers or a Riverfront hadn't been replaced, I still doubt it would have been viewed as a "classic" ballpark decades later. I could be wrong though, but I doubt it.

[Seattle1]

I do think Dodger Stadium has the staying power of a Wrigley or a Fenway and will likely be viewed as a "classic" of its own era. If Kaufmann Stadium survives, it too will be viewed as a classic down the road (that is, if it survives). Not many ballparks from that era in baseball can claim that.

Even if a Three Rivers or a Riverfront hadn't been replaced, I still doubt it would have been viewed as a "classic" ballpark decades later. I could be wrong though, but I doubt it.

I agree with everything you just said.

My only "beef" with Dodger Stadium and Kaufman Stadium is that they are sort of out in the middle of nowhere. I really like stadiums that are located in a downtown urban environment with with lots of shops and restaraunts around. And with a good view of the city skyline from the stadium. Other than that, those two are great!

I've been to Dodger Stadium once and had a good time. I still need to go to Kaufman Stadium someday.

[Elvis]

My only "beef" with Dodger Stadium and Kaufman Stadium is that they are sort of out in the middle of nowhere.

http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/dodger70.jpg






...And [no] good view of the city skyline from the stadium.

http://www.maddogmaurerphotography.com/~photos/tn/4138_1024.ts1160238611000.jpg

[PeteU]

http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/dodger70.jpg







http://www.maddogmaurerphotography.com/~photos/tn/4138_1024.ts1160238611000.jpg

To be fair to Seattle1, Dodger Stadium--while located close to downtown Los Angeles (and offering a view of the city from the parking lot)--isn't an integral part of downtown as is, say, Coors or Camden. Of course, if they reversed the direction of the stadium to give a view of downtown, you would then lose the great view of the hills. So it's six one way, a half dozen the other. Either way, it's a nice setting for a park.

[KCGHOST]

I have always thought that the model O'Malley setup of building the stadium yourself was the right way to do things, but I guess with cities willing to build a team a stadium and then give the team all the revenue from it kind of makes that model obsolete. Interesting that the four oldest stadiums are or were all owned by the team.

[Seattle1]

To be fair to Seattle1, Dodger Stadium--while located close to downtown Los Angeles (and offering a view of the city from the parking lot)--isn't an integral part of downtown as is, say, Coors or Camden.

Yes I was really thinking of places like Fenway, Camden, Wrigley, PNC, Safeco. There is a brewery/restaraunt right across the street from Safeco.

That said, you can't go wrong if you're the Los Angeles Dodgers and you're playing in Dodger Stadium.