Aaaah.
That big sigh of relief was the result of Frank McCourt leaving Dodger Stadium. Now I can relax and go to a Dodger game. It’s just in time since the season opens Thursday. We got Magic. What else do we need?
As I said before, I have been a Dodger fan since 1949. My favorite team was – still is – the Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1950s.My worst moment come in 1951 when Bobby Thomson hit his famous 9th inning home run to beat the Dodgers. Then I enjoyed two of the greatest Dodger years – 1952 and 1953 (105 wins - the most ever). As catcher Roy Campanella (the MVP of 1951, 1953 and 1955) went, so did the Dodgers. My dream came true in 1955 when Johnny Podres and the Bums beat the dreaded New York Yankees 2-0. (I pleaded illness and stayed home from school to hear the game on the radio.) We won the pennant again in 1956 - barely – and then moved - much to my chagrin - to Los Angeles in 1958.
I was a freshman at the University of Colorado in ’59 when the Dodgers – termed the worst World Series-team in history – won the championship. (No wonder Chicago Cub fans, who have not seen a winner since 1909, are not enamored with L.A., the team winning its second year in town.)
` The 1960s were great for two reasons – Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale – as the Dynamic Duo led the team to three pennants and two World Series. Koufax also pitched no-hitters -- the last a perfect game – in four straight seasons, the only pitcher to ever do so.
The 1970s were famous for the legendary infield of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey being together eight years, three pennants and the arrival of manager Tommy Lasorda. Bill Singer pitched a no-hitter in 1970, while 1974 also featured Steve Garvey winning the MVP and pitcher Mike Marshall the Cy Young Award
` The 1980s were memorable in spite of being so mediocre. The team won the pennant and the World Series in 1981 and 1988. Jerry Reuss had a no-hitter in 1980.
The great Fernando Valenzuela set the National League on its ear in 1981, and Orel Hershiser did likewise in 1988, having one of the greatest years a pitcher ever had. He won the CY Young Award and was MVP of the National League Championship Series and the World Series.
The 1990s were memorable but for most of the wrong reasons. First, the Dodgers incredibly had four no-hitters – Fernando Valenzuela (1990), Ramon Martinez (1994), Hideo Nomo (1996) and Kevin Brown (1997). Now for the dark side. In 1992, the Dodgers lost the most games in their history – 99; Pedro Martinez (who went on to win three Cy Young Awards) was traded in 1992; and Mike Piazza, the best-hitting catcher in baseball history, was traded in 1998. And the Dodgers were sold – sadly - to the Fox Group led by Rupert Murdoch.
Could anything worse happen after that? It did.. Frank McCourt bought the Dodgers in 2004 and led them to the sewer. Thank God for Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp.
That brings us to 2012 and a new era; I don’t expect miracles. The Dodgers have won plenty in the past; championships are gravy. What I would like is team who leaves its heart on the field and a hot dog and parking that cost under 5 bucks.
`Don Lechman is a former reporter, critic and editor for the Daily Breeze. He is author of an upcoming book, Greatest Los Angeles Dodger Pitchers (The History Press).
That big sigh of relief was the result of Frank McCourt leaving Dodger Stadium. Now I can relax and go to a Dodger game. It’s just in time since the season opens Thursday. We got Magic. What else do we need?
As I said before, I have been a Dodger fan since 1949. My favorite team was – still is – the Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1950s.My worst moment come in 1951 when Bobby Thomson hit his famous 9th inning home run to beat the Dodgers. Then I enjoyed two of the greatest Dodger years – 1952 and 1953 (105 wins - the most ever). As catcher Roy Campanella (the MVP of 1951, 1953 and 1955) went, so did the Dodgers. My dream came true in 1955 when Johnny Podres and the Bums beat the dreaded New York Yankees 2-0. (I pleaded illness and stayed home from school to hear the game on the radio.) We won the pennant again in 1956 - barely – and then moved - much to my chagrin - to Los Angeles in 1958.
I was a freshman at the University of Colorado in ’59 when the Dodgers – termed the worst World Series-team in history – won the championship. (No wonder Chicago Cub fans, who have not seen a winner since 1909, are not enamored with L.A., the team winning its second year in town.)
` The 1960s were great for two reasons – Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale – as the Dynamic Duo led the team to three pennants and two World Series. Koufax also pitched no-hitters -- the last a perfect game – in four straight seasons, the only pitcher to ever do so.
The 1970s were famous for the legendary infield of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey being together eight years, three pennants and the arrival of manager Tommy Lasorda. Bill Singer pitched a no-hitter in 1970, while 1974 also featured Steve Garvey winning the MVP and pitcher Mike Marshall the Cy Young Award
` The 1980s were memorable in spite of being so mediocre. The team won the pennant and the World Series in 1981 and 1988. Jerry Reuss had a no-hitter in 1980.
The great Fernando Valenzuela set the National League on its ear in 1981, and Orel Hershiser did likewise in 1988, having one of the greatest years a pitcher ever had. He won the CY Young Award and was MVP of the National League Championship Series and the World Series.
The 1990s were memorable but for most of the wrong reasons. First, the Dodgers incredibly had four no-hitters – Fernando Valenzuela (1990), Ramon Martinez (1994), Hideo Nomo (1996) and Kevin Brown (1997). Now for the dark side. In 1992, the Dodgers lost the most games in their history – 99; Pedro Martinez (who went on to win three Cy Young Awards) was traded in 1992; and Mike Piazza, the best-hitting catcher in baseball history, was traded in 1998. And the Dodgers were sold – sadly - to the Fox Group led by Rupert Murdoch.
Could anything worse happen after that? It did.. Frank McCourt bought the Dodgers in 2004 and led them to the sewer. Thank God for Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp.
That brings us to 2012 and a new era; I don’t expect miracles. The Dodgers have won plenty in the past; championships are gravy. What I would like is team who leaves its heart on the field and a hot dog and parking that cost under 5 bucks.
`Don Lechman is a former reporter, critic and editor for the Daily Breeze. He is author of an upcoming book, Greatest Los Angeles Dodger Pitchers (The History Press).
