Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA – Home of the Dodgers

Baseball is back! The first games are being played today, and my Angels and the Rockies open on Friday night. The Rockies’ opponent this season is the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Thus I decided to share a post about the actual team located in Los Angeles. Living in Southern California for many years, we have been to many games at Dodgers Stadium.  I think one of the highlights was when I was at Dodgers Stadium when Ramón Martínez pitched a no-hitter on July 14, 1995.  It is still the only no-hitter I’ve seen in person. It was quite exciting. Now for some history about the Dodgers organization.

Dodger Stadium

Dodger Stadium, aka Chavez Ravine, is the home field of the Los Angeles Dodgers,  Opened 55 years ago on April 10, 1962, it was constructed in less than three years at a cost of $23 million, financed by private sources. It is currently the oldest ballpark in MLB west of the Mississippi River, and third-oldest overall, after Fenway Park in Boston (1912) and Wrigley Field in Chicago (1914), and is the largest MLB stadium by seat capacity.

Through the years, Dodger Stadium has seen legendary moments, such as Sandy Koufax’s perfect game in 1965, the rise of Fernandomania in 1981, Kirk Gibson’s walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, the 1980 All-Star Game, the 1984 Olympic Games baseball competition, the 2009 World Baseball Classic Final and events such as a Mass conducted by Pope John Paul II.

Originally in Brooklyn, President Walter O’Malley lobbied for a new stadium to be built for his Brooklyn club, but when a deal could not be reached, the Dodgers made the unprecedented move to California. While Dodger Stadium was being built, the Dodgers played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum through 1961, before the true Opening Day- April 10, 1962

Dodger Stadium has seen improvements in the past from the addition of suites to new scoreboards and a renovation of the field level. Now in its 52nd season, Dodger Stadium is undergoing its most ambitious improvements to date including both visible changes and behind-the-scenes upgrades to the aging infrastructure.

Dodger Stadium continues to be a major part of the history and tradition of the Dodgers. It is the home of one of baseball’s most storied franchises, a destination for a worldwide fan base, and a monument for a bustling, multicultural city. For 51 years, Dodger Stadium has been a home for a team and a community.

Dodgers

The Dodgers have been known by many names, including the Brooklyn Dodgers, Trolley Dodgers, Daffiness Dodgers, Atlantics, Grays, Grooms, Bridegrooms, Superbas, Robins, Brooklyn Base Ball Club, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Regardless of the name, here are some of the highlights o their history.

• First baseball team to win championships in different leagues in consecutive years (1889–1890)
• First television broadcast (1939)
• First use of batting helmets (1941)
• First MLB team to have numbers on the front of their uniforms (1952)
• First West Coast team (1958) – along with the San Francisco Giants
• First MLB team to allow a female sports journalist into a locker room (Anita Martini, 1974)
• Largest home-opener attendance: 78,672 (1958) (since broken by the Colorado Rockies in 1993)
• Largest single-game attendance: 93,103 (1959) and 115,300 (2008) *World Record
• First MLB team to open an office in Asia (1998)
• The longest MLB record for home start going 13–0 (2009)
• North American record for the buying of a sports team ($2 billion, 2012)
• First MLB team to employ a female lead trainer (Sue Falsone, 2012)

Through the years there have been quite a few amazing players and personalities in the Dodgers organization. I couldn’t start any place better than the historical breaking of the color line with the signing of Jackie Robinson. On April 15, 1947, 28-year-old Jackie Robinson made his Major League Baseball debut with the Dodgers, against the Boston Braves, in front of more than 25,000 spectators at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York. Here are a few other notable Dodgers players and personalities:

• Sandy Koufax
• Fernando Valenzuela
• Hideo Nomo
• Don Sutton
•  Tom Lasorda
• Vince Scully

The Dodgers have also retired quite a few player numbers throughout the year. They include

• 1  Pee Wee Reese
• 2  Tommy Lasorda
• 4  Duke Snider
• 19 Jim Gilliam
• 20 Don Sutton
• 24 Walter Alston
• 32 Sandy Koufax
• 34 Fernando Valenzuela
• 39 Roy Campanella
• 53 Don Drysdale
• 42 Jackie Robinson (Retired through all of MLB)

Hope you enjoyed learning a little about the Dodgers and Dodgers Stadium. If you would like more information or want to buy tickets, here is a link to their website. Enjoy the baseball season.

Dodgers Stadium Visitor Information

Address:

1000 Vin Scully Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Phone:

866-363-4377

Tours:

90 Minute Tour

• A trip down to the field at Dodger Stadium
• A visit to the newly renovated centerfield plaza and pavilions
• An exclusive look at the 2020 World Series trophy and a visit to the Dugout Club, our VIP restaurant and lounge located behind home plate, home to our World Series trophies, Most Valuable Player (MVP), Cy Young, Silver Slugger, and Rookie of the Year awards
• Exclusive access to the Dodgers Dugout AR Experience brought to you by Spectrum

Tour Times:

The Dodger Stadium Tour will start every hour on the hour starting at 10:00 a.m. with the last tour starting at 1:00 p.m. on game days and 3:00 p.m. on non-game days. Stadium Tours begin at Top Deck near the Top of the Park Store. We ask that you please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour. Please check available tour dates and times by using the “Buy Tickets” links below.

Space is limited. Please purchase tour tickets in advance to guarantee your spot.

Tour Prices:

• Adults: $25
• Children (14 and under): $20
• Seniors (55+): $20
• Military Personnel: $20
• Children age 3 and under do not require tickets

Book a private or group tour of Dodger Stadium and experience the vibrant history of the Dodgers with your own personal tour guide. Groups of 20 or more qualify for a group discount. Reservations are required and must be made at least two (2) weeks in advance. Subject to availability.

Pregame Tour

Experience an exclusive tour of Dodger Stadium before the start of the game! This tour, which runs for approximately 45 minutes, may include visits to:

• Club Level Memorabilia Hall highlighting the story of Dodger baseball
• A visit to the newly renovated centerfield plaza and pavilions
• Exclusive access to the Dodgers Dugout AR Experience brought to you by Spectrum
• Early access to watch Dodger batting practice and/or warm-up exercises

The Pregame Tour will start on the hour 3 hours prior to the first pitch (for example, for a game-time of 7:10 p.m. the Pregame Tour will start at 4:00 p.m.). Pregame Tours begin at the Main Lobby near Lot D. We ask that you please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour. Please check available tour dates and times by using the “Buy Tickets” links below.

Space is limited. Please purchase tour tickets in advance to guarantee your spot.

Pregame Tour Prices:

• $40 per person

Directions:

From the 101 Freeway:
Exit Alvarado, go north, then turn right on Sunset. Go approximately one mile and turn left on Elysian Park Avenue. You will run into Dodger Stadium.

From the 110 Freeway:
Take the Dodger Stadium exit and go straight off the off-ramp. You will run into Dodger Stadium.

From the 5 Freeway (South):
Exit Stadium Way, then turn left and follow the baseball signs until you enter Dodger Stadium off of Academy Road.

From the 5 Freeway (North):
Exit Stadium Way and turn left on Riverside Drive. Turn left onto Stadium Way and follow the baseball signs until you enter Dodger Stadium off of Academy Road.

From Los Angeles International Airport (LAX):
Take the 105 Freeway (east) to the 110 Freeway (north). Take the Dodger Stadium exit and go straight off the off-ramp. You will run into Dodger Stadium.

From Burbank Airport:
Get on the 5 Freeway (South). Exit Stadium Way, then turn left and follow the baseball signs until you enter Dodger Stadium off of Academy Road.

Parking:

General Parking: General parking passes cost $20 per vehicle for automobiles and motorcycles. For those that do not purchase in advance, parking will cost $25 once gates open (2 hours prior to game time). Gates will not accommodate Cash parking.

Exterior Parking: For only $5 fans can purchase exterior parking in Lots 13 and 14. These first-come, first-serve lots are located offsite on Stadium Way – between Vin Scully Avenue and the 110 Freeway – and allow for easy entrance and exit. Please note that there is an uphill walk to the stadium from these lots, of approximately 10 to 15 minutes. A free shuttle is available for fans with disabilities by calling Fan Services at (323) 224-2611. These are first-come, first-serve lots, space is limited.