Dodger Blue

So, Frank McCourt is being forced to sell his cash cow, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Good riddance!

I don’t bleed Dodger Blue, but they’ve always been my favorite team. Maybe because of their long time association with Albuquerque where the minor league club has been a top level affiliate of the Dodgers for years – back when “we” were the Dukes and now that “we” are the Isotopes.



It was my first and only time at a World Series.

The Dodgers meet the Oakland A’s (and Mr. October, Reggie Jackson – solo home run top of the 2nd in the first game).

A lot of the Dodgers that year (roster below) were once Albuquerque Dukes. Here's their complete roster

Pitchers
• 21 Jim Brewer
• 44 Al Downing
• 49 Charlie Hough
• 40 Rex Hudson
• 25 Tommy John
• 28 Mike Marshall
• 47 Andy Messersmith
• 31 Doug Rau
• 36 Rick Rhoden
• 41 Greg Shanahan
• 50 Eddie Solomon
• 20 Don Sutton
• 38 Geoff Zahn
Catchers
• 13 Joe Ferguson
• 16 Gail Hopkins
• 9 Kevin Pasley
• 7 Steve Yeager
Infielders
• 1 Rick Auerbach
• 10 Ron Cey
• 14 Iván DeJesús
• 6 Steve Garvey
• 34 Lee Lacy
• 15 Davey Lopes
• 5 Ken McMullen
• 8 Jerry Royster
• 18 Bill Russell
Outfielders
• 2 Orlando Alvarez
• 22 Bill Buckner
• 27 Willie Crawford
• 43 John Hale
• 12 Von Joshua
• 46 Charlie Manuel
• 11 Manny Mota
• 17 Tom Paciorek
• 23 Jimmy Wynn
Manager
• 24 Walter Alston
Coaches
• 26 Red Adams
• 54 Monty Basgall
• 58 Mark Cresse
• 19 Jim Gilliam
• 52 Tommy Lasorda

I managed seats at that game through my friendship with Tom Bolack, a former Governor of New Mexico – and owner of the Albuquerque baseball franchise. He knew the O’Malley’s – the real owners of the Dodgers. (Governor Bolack also owned a travel agency and dumb ol’ me didn’t buy my plane ticket there.)

It was one of THOSE weekends … I hopped aboard TWA from Albuquerque to LAX on that Saturday morning in October (12th). Remember TWA? They served San Francisco from ABQ, too. I took a cab from LAX to Dodger Stadium, found my seats (about the 10th row up from 1st base) and proceeded to watch the game. Glorius, I thought as 58,000 other fans were there. Then the fellow sitting next to me said, I think I know you. (I was on TV then.) He introduced himself, Art Janpol – owner of the VW franchise in Albuquerque.

We watched Rollie Fingers win the game for Charley Finley’s Oakland team. The A’s went on to win the series in 5 games.

Since I was “big riggin’” that weekend, I took a cab back to LAX, hopped the next plane to Las Vegas, gambled the night away and got back home late Sunday – TWA used to serve LAS, too.

A weekend to remember.

Hopefully the new owners of the Dodgers will be able to create similar stories for future fans.

And a team that wins so Vin Scully can continue to create some of the greatest baseball broadcasts in history. Listen to him. He’s the greatest! And hopefully the new Dodgers will be too!