The Los Angeles Dodgers

I attended my first Dodger game at the age of 7...I think; maybe when
I was 8? But it seems to me that I have been a Dodger fan ever since
I can remember. My paternal grandmother has been a Dodger fan since
she was a child in Utah; my dad was also a fan, as various other members
of my immediate & extended family have been. So it stands to reason
I should/would become one as well. Ya might say "It's in my blood."

More importantly, the represent my home town: Los Angeles.

The idea of even playing baseball didn't occur to me until I was ten years old, and my 5th Grade class began playing softball. Wasn't easy adapting to it at first; though already familiar with the concept of putting a ball in play and then running the bases (as we did via sockball & kickball), the idea of lugging a bat to home plate, using it to swing at--and hopefully hit--a ball much smaller than a handball or soccer ball, then having the presence o'mind to drop the bat and leave it at the plate as I ran to first base...it seemed all too overwhelming. Even as an adult, I'm no rocket scientist or brain surgeon; so at that young, tender age, ya might see how difficult it could be for a kid like me to adapt.

But eventually, I did. Well...actually, I had to; by the time I reached Jr. High, no one was playing sockball or kickball anymore. It was all softball by that point (at least in regards to a base-running sport); so it became obvious that if I wanted to keep up--and not fail P.E.--then I'd have to adapt yet again. And so it went: my Jr. High years being forgettable, but high school--on the other hand--being a lot better. By 10th Grade, I was almost 6-feet tall, had played the game quite a bit and was much better at it. No, I never "made the team" for my high school; but that was due to a lack of interest in representing (any) school more than failing to qualify. I got enough playing time in P.E., on the weekends with friends, etc. I even joined a team at work for the first few years on the job. And I still try to get out onto the field to play in games that occasionally take place amongst friends and familiar crowds whenever possible.

And through all these years, I have remained a Dodger fan.

I was an avid watcher when Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell & Ron Cey were in the prime of their run as the longest-standing infield for any team in MLB history. I caught the Dodgers' 1981 World Series triumph on T.V. with all the joy of a 12-year-old kid, for the first time, seeing his team win it all. I witnessed "Fernando Mania," Steve Sax as Rookie o'The Year, Dusty Baker & Pedro Guererro hitting tons of home runs in the '80s. I was fortunate enough to attend a game in '88 where Orel Hershiser pitched a shut-out (beating the Reds, 5-0) en route to him breaking Don Drysdale's consecutive scoreless innings streak for any pitcher at 59...helping to lead L.A. into the playoffs, eventually winning the 1988 World Series--a very significant thing for me since it was the year I'd graduated from high school.

The 1990s provided many positive notes for the Dodgers, with no-hitters pitched by Ramon Martinez & Hideo Nomo; and the Dodgers having The Rookie o'The Year--for five consecutive seasons--thanks to Karros, Piazza, Mondesi, Nomo & Hollandsworth. However, many negatives plagued my baseball team in that decade, including the 1994 MLB strike that ended said season early; sale o'the fanchise by Peter O'Malley to the FOX News Corporation; big/bad trades that lost us guys like Mike Piazza; and teams that did well enough in 1995 & '96 to reach the playoffs...but could not even score one victory, thus leading to them being swept both times by the Reds, of all teams.

The '94 Strike lost baseball a lot of fans; but I didn't give up on it. While big names and headline players are what draw audiences to ballgames, it is the sport itself which shall continue to draw people like me...who is a fan of baseball. I paid witness via National Television when the record for most home runs in a season was broken by St. Louis' Mark McGwire in 1998; saw expansion teams--Florida, then Arizona--win the World Series within 4-5 years of their inceptions; and rejoiced at seeing The Angels finally win their first World Championship in that club's 40+ year history...which was extra sweet since it came at the expense of those Faggots To The North, the San Francisco Giants. Fuck you, Barry Bonds.

These days, I still watch the Dodgers on T.V. And each season, I try to get tickets to some home games...usually those which have free giveaways and extras--like fireworks shows afterwards. I'll always get the cheapest seats: usually out in the pavilions (so as to maybe catch balls during batting practice), or up in the top deck (which is ideal for Fireworks Night).

After 20 years worth of being a fan and attending games at Dodger Stadium now & then, I finally caught my first baseball in May 2001. Since then I've gotten several more, which seems kind of odd after not getting any for so long. I'm not complaining.

For my fellow baseball fans: The Los Angeles Dodgers MLB Web Site!