FROM THE DUGOUT STEPS

[Old School]

1981
On Opening Day, Fernando Valenzuela, making his first major league start in place of scheduled starter Jerry Reuss, blanks Houston on five hits at Dodger Stadium, 2-0. During the strike-shortened season, the 20 year-old rookie from Mexico will lead the league in game starts (25), complete games (11), and shutouts (8).

 

[Old School]

1962
In front of 52,564 fans, Reds infielder Eddie Kasko doubles off of Johnny Podres in the first ever at-bat at Dodger Stadium, and Duke Snider's single in the bottom of the second accounts for the home team's first hit. After playing their first four seasons at the LA Memorial Coliseum, the team drops a 6-3 decision to the Reds in the debut of the new $22 million ballpark in Chavez Ravine, financed with a low two-percent interest loan from the Union Oil Company in exchange for exclusive rights to advertise within the stadium.


1000 Vin Scully Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Attendance: 3,857,500 (1st of 15) 2018

 

[Old School]

1976
After being granted his free agency in a landmark case which will forever change baseball, Andy Messersmith becomes one of the first major leaguers to use his new status to sign with a team of his choice. The former Dodger right-hander comes to terms with the Braves and will post a 16-15 record during his two-year tenure for his new club.

Year	Age	Tm	Salary	SrvTm	Sources	Notes/Other Sources
1969	23	California Angels	$15,000	?	3/7/70 TSN
1970	24	California Angels	$30,000	?	3/7/70 TSN
1972	26	California Angels	$65,000	?	Noll/Fort/Hylan database
1973	27	Los Angeles Dodgers	$70,000	?	3/31/73 TSN
1974	28	Los Angeles Dodgers	$90,000	?	Marvin Miller autobiog., p. 241
1977	31	Atlanta Braves	$333,333	?	1977 TSN Guide	3 yrs./$1M; incl. $400K signing bonus
1978	32	Atlanta Braves	$333,333	?	1977 TSN Guide	3 yrs./$1M; incl. $400K signing bonus
1979	33	Atlanta Braves	$333,333	?	1977 TSN Guide	3 yrs./$1M; incl. $400K signing bonus

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[Old School]

1962
After being rained out the previous night and with some players getting stuck in an elevator, the Mets make their National League debut in St. Louis, losing to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, 11-4. The defeat will be the first of a record-setting 120 losses the New York expansion team will suffer this season.

 

[Old School]

David Schoenfield
ESPN Senior Writer

The Astros cooled off the red-hot Mariners, sweeping three games in Seattle and reminding them who the real boss is in the AL West. Gerrit Cole matched Justin Verlander's line from Saturday with 11 strikeouts in six innings and Astros pitchers combined for 39 strikeouts in the three games.

 

[Old School]

David Schoenfield
ESPN Senior Writer


German Marquez doesn't quite get the second no-hitter in Rockies history, but he does finish with a one-hitter, the team's first complete game in nearly two years and a Game Score of 94 that is second-highest in Rockies history behind only Jon Gray's 95 (when he struck out 16) in 2016.

Rockies and Marlins are 4-12 in this early start of Spring...

 

[Old School]

1947 A year before President Truman desegregated the military, Jackie Robinson debuts for the Dodgers, becoming the first black player to participate in a major league game this century. In front of 25,623 Ebbets Field fans, the 28 year-old first baseman is hitless in three at-bats but scores a run in the 5-3 Opening Day victory over the Braves.

 

[Old School]

1997 With President Clinton and Rachel Robinson in attendance at the Shea Stadium ceremony, Commissioner Bud Selig announces Jackie Robinson's No. 42 will be retired throughout Major League Baseball, an unprecedented tribute to the player who broke the color barrier fifty years ago on this date. There are presently 13 active players still wearing the number who will be allowed to keep it including Mariano Rivera, who in 2013 will become the last player to don digits.

 

[Old School]

2004 Major league baseball begins the tradition of Jackie Robinson Day, an annual celebration commemorating the day in 1947 when the Dodger infielder broke the color line. At big league venues across the country, ceremonies are being held to honor the ground-breaking historical event, including baseball commissioner Bud Selig and Jackie's widow Rachel Robinson attending the festivities at Shea Stadium.


2005 The Dodgers, to commemorate the 58th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game in the big leagues, wear replicas of the old road uniforms worn by the 1947 team which played in Brooklyn. Right-hander Derek Lowe throws a three-hitter, blanking the Padres in San Diego, 4-0.


2007 To honor Jackie Robinson, some players on each team, including Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter and Braves' outfielder Andruw Jones, wear the Dodger immortal's uniform No. 42 on the 60th anniversary of his historic breaking the color barrier in baseball. In the Cardinals and Brewers contest at Busch Stadium, every player and coach on both teams dons Jackie's revered number.


Jackie Robinson/Quotes


A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.


I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.


Baseball is like a poker game. Nobody wants to quit when he's losing; nobody wants you to quit when you're ahead.

 

[Old School]

1997
The Cubs set the record for worst start in National League history when they extend their losing streak to 12 games with a 4-0 loss to Colorado at Wrigley Field. Chicago surpasses the overall Senior Circuit mark of 0-11 established in 1884 by the Detroit Wolverines.

 

[Old School]

1929

The Yankees will become the second team to wear numbers on uniforms when rain postpones their Opening Day game, giving the Indians the distinction of being the first to don the digits. New York's numbers are assigned based on the order in the lineup, thus Earle Combs wore #1, Mark Koenig #2, Babe Ruth #3, Lou Gehrig #4, Bob Meusel #5, Tony Lazzeri #6, Leo Durocher #7, Johnny Grabowski #8, Benny Bengough #9, and Bill Dickey #10 (#'s 8-10 are all catchers).

 

[Old School]

1958
At the Los Angeles Coliseum in front of a National League record crowd of 78,672, the Dodgers play their first game in the City of Angels. Carl Erskine gets the win, besting Al Worthington and the Giants, 6-5.

 

[Old School]

It was hard to say which was more impressive, the Dodger lineup or the lineup of Hollywood stars gracing the stands. The Dodger starters were Jim Gilliam, LF, Pee Wee Reese, SS, Duke Snider, CF, Carl Furillo, RF, Gil Hodges, 1B, Charlie Neal, 2B, Dick Gray, 3B, John Roseboro, C and Carl Erskine, P. Celebrities Jimmy Stewart, Danny Kaye, Edward G. Robinson, Billy Wilder, Bing Crosby, Lana Turner, Ray Bolger, Jeff Chandler, Gregory Peck, Alfred Hitchcock, Lauren Bacall, Chuck Connors, Burt Lancaster, Jack Lemmon, Nat King Cole, Danny Thomas, Dinah Shore, Buddy Rogers, Ralph Edwards, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Groucho Marx, Gene Autry, producer Mervyn Leroy and ?Toastmaster General? George Jessel were all socializing amongst the other paying customers for Opening Day. Dodger ticket prices established by O?Malley: 75 cents for a children?s ticket and box seats ranging from $1.50 to a maximum of $3.50. Those family-friendly ticket prices would remain unchanged by O?Malley for 18 years.

https://www.walteromalley.com/en/features/first-la-game/Page-1

 

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I remember, I was there!

I remember, I was there!

1981
On Opening Day, Fernando Valenzuela, making his first major league start in place of scheduled starter Jerry Reuss, blanks Houston on five hits at Dodger Stadium, 2-0. During the strike-shortened season, the 20 year-old rookie from Mexico will lead the league in game starts (25), complete games (11), and shutouts (8).

I was in spring training with the Dodgers in 1981 my roommate was Candy Maldonado another big leaguer you may have heard of. We took the 40 minute bus ride from Fort Pierce to Vero beach every day for spring training, got to spend time with Sandy Koufax Who was the Dodgers pitching coach at the time. No one knew Fernando was going to be that good. I batted one time against him and hit a ground ball to second base for an out. I was out of baseball a month later and he went on to be a star. What great memories I did have though of these days !
ARROW

 

[Old School]

1938
Throwing the first of his twelve career one-hitters, 19 year-old Indians right-hander Bob Feller beats the Browns on Opening Day, 9-0. The only St. Louis hit in the League Park contest is a sixth-inning bunt laid down by backstop Bill Sullivan, who is called safe by rookie ump Ed Rommell on a very close play at first base.

 

[Old School]

1973
Four months after his death, Roberto Clemente, in a special election, is inducted into the Hall of Fame. On New Year's Eve, the Pirates outfielder was tragically killed when a cargo plane crashes during a relief effort to bring supplies to victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake.

 

[Old School]

1961
The Twins, formerly known as the Washington Senators before moving to Minnesota, play their first home game, losing to the 'new' expansion Washington Senators, 5-3 in front of a crowd of 24,606 at Metropolitan Stadium. The club's move to the North Star State will attract 1,256,723 fans, third best in the American League, and far better than their last season in the nation's capital, where the team drew only 743,404 fans, the worst gate in the league.

Zoilo Versalles :00hour

Bobby Allison :00hour

Harmon Killebrew :00hour

Earl Battey :00hour

 

[Old School]

1967
For the first time since LA opened their stadium in Chavez Ravine in 1962, the team is rained out at home. The postponement of their scheduled game against St. Louis ends a streak of 737 consecutive contests at Dodger Stadium without a washout.

It Never Rains in Southern California
Albert Hammond


Got on board a westbound seven forty-seven
Didn't think before deciding what to do
Oh, that talk of opportunities, TV breaks and movies
Rang true, sure rang true
Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California, but girl, don't they warn ya?
It pours, man, it pours
Out of work, I'm out of my head
Out of self respect, I'm out of bread
I'm underloved, I'm underfed, I want to go home
It never rains in California, but girl, don't they warn ya?
It pours, man, it pours
Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it?
Had offers?

 

[Old School]

1947 The Phillies players, inspired by their Alabama-born racist skipper Ben Chapman, repeatedly shout racial epitaphs, throw beanballs, and intentionally spike Brooklyn's rookie first baseman, the first African-American to play major league baseball in the 20th century. The incident is so severe that Philadelphia's that infielder Jeep Handley will later publicly apologize, and baseball commissioner Happy Chandler will chastise team's manager for his bigoted leadership.

 

[Old School]

David Schoenfield
ESPN Senior Writer


Finally, some momentum for the Red Sox: They beat the Rays 4-3 in 11 innings to sweep three games from the Rays to win their first series of 2019. Let's just say there's a big difference between being 5 games back or 11 games back. And now they return to Fenway for an 11-game homestand.