Decades of Dodgers: Conversations With and About the Men in Blue

DEDICATION

In memory of Gary Condie, a huge fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He tirelessly served his family, his community, his church, and his God. He is undoubtedly watching over those he loves along with an occasional Dodgers game. God be with you, Gary, until we meet again!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to extend a special thanks to Diana O’Connor for her many contributions in helping to prepare this book for publication and Larry Gunnell for proofreading the manuscript. Both are highly accomplished in their respective fields and spent many hours on this project, providing their much-needed expertise. Thanks so much, Diana and Larry, for your input and encouragement!

INTRODUCTION

The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the most popular franchises in Major League Baseball history beginning their legacy back in Brooklyn, New York in the mid-1880s, adopting the Dodger moniker for good in 1932. Despite winning 7 National League titles starting in 1941, the club was able to win its first and only World Series in 1955 before moving to the west coast 3 years later. Since their relocation to Los Angeles, the Blue Crew has won the NL title 11 times, emerging as world champions during 5 of those seasons. The following are transcriptions of interviews conducted by the author with many past and present Dodger players and personnel. Also included are interviews with other members of the media and celebrities, casting light upon the Dodgers and their rich history.

Due to the spontaneous and conversational nature of these interviews, some of the filler words such as like, you know, I mean, okay, actually, and others have been removed or minimized to avoid detracting from the content of the interview. As conversation and speech patterns differ widely from writing style and structure, commas and other punctuation have been used to present in writing, as accurately as possible, what was spoken by the subjects. Also, please keep in mind that a number of individuals included in this book speak English as a second language, and many come from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. These factors influence how they speak but are not necessarily a reflection on their intelligence or other qualities as a human being. Hopefully, you will be able to recognize what exceptional individuals they are, not only on the playing field but in life, in general, by what they are saying, and not necessarily by how they say it. I felt that by minimizing grammatical corrections to their speech, it would better allow the reader to know and even appreciate the subject even more. I hope you will enjoy the following interviews.

FOREWORD

Every boxscore reflects a moment in time when the baseball universe stops for a scheduled nine innings. The only permanent mark left from the game are the statistics. But there are mysteries behind the orderly columns of numbers—aches and pains, levels of fluctuating confidence, emotions and chemistry found within the confines of a clubhouse.

This collection of interviews conducted by Dale Parsons gives fans a chance to drop in on familiar names at various points in their career. Relive the early days of first-year closer Eric Gagne in 2002 when the Game Over craze was gaining momentum and would lead to a major league record streak of converting 84 consecutive save opportunities through 2004. Or the early impressions of back-to-back National League Rookies of the Year Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger.

None of the active players had a crystal ball to put their respective careers in perspective, so their feelings are in the moment. Other voices include alumni, broadcasters, managers, and celebrities. The random chronology of the interviews and the question-and-answer format provides a verbal buffet of stories and insight from different eras in franchise history.

Dodger Stadium opened in 1962 and eventually became the third-oldest MLB ballpark, entertaining generations of fans as the building underwent a series of improvements to remain an ideal sports and entertainment destination. Thanks to Dale Parsons and his audio recorder, the voices of past seasons and pennant races come alive in the dugout, the press box, and the batting cage.

Enjoy the ride down Dodger memory lane!

~Mark Langill, Los Angeles Dodgers Team Historian

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Foreword

Contents

Players

Dusty Baker - 2004

Austin Barnes - 2015

Adrian Beltre - 2003

Cody Bellinger - 2017

Chad Billingsley - 2007

Casey Blake - 2009

Kevin Brown - 2003

Jonathan Broxton - 2009

Brett Butler - 2005

Ron Cey - 2011

Carl Crawford - 2013

Tommy Davis - 2007

Willie Davis - 2006

JD Drew - 2005

AJ Ellis - 2014

Andre Ethier - 2008

Ron Fairly - 2004

Rafael Furcal - 2006

Eric Gagne - 2002

Nomar Garciaparra - 2009

Steve Garvey - 2003

Adrian Gonzalez - 2016

Dee Gordon - 2012

Yasmani Grandal - 2016

Mudcat Grant - 2005

Shawn Green - 2002

Jerry Hairston Jr. - 2016

Mickey Hatcher - 2004

Kike Hernandez - 2017

Orel Hershiser - 1998

Frank Howard - 1998

JP Howell - 2016

Cesar Izturis - 2002

Kenley Jansen - 2016

Sweet Lou Johnson - 2002

Brian Jordan - 2002

Eric Karros - 1998/2002

Matt Kemp - 2008

Clayton Kershaw - 2008

Jim Lefebvre - 2002

Paul Lo Duca - 2002

James Loney - 2007

Davey Lopes - 2003

Derek Lowe - 2005

Russell Martin - 2009

Rick Monday - 2002

Raul Mondesi - 2002

Manny Mota - 2002

Don Newcombe - 2002

Hideo Nomo - 2002

Buck O’Neil - 1997

Russ Ortiz - 2005

Claude Osteen - 2009

Joc Pederson - 2016

Brad Penny - 2004

Mike Piazza - 2006

Juan Pierre - 2007

Hanley Ramirez - 2012

Manny Ramirez - 2008

Corey Seager - 2017

Gary Sheffield - 2003

Ross Stripling - 2017

Don Sutton - 2006

Chris Taylor - 2017

Jeff Torborg - 2002

Justin Turner - 2016

Chase Utley - 2016

Fernando Valenzuela - 2005

Jeff Weaver - 2009

Maury Wills - 2003

Randy Wolf - 2009

Managers

Tommy Lasorda - 2002/2004

Grady Little - 2006

Don Mattingly - 2016

Dave Roberts - 2016

Joe Torre - 2008

Jim Tracy - 2002

Announcers and Sportscasters

Dick Enberg - 2012

Jim Hill - 2002

Vic The Brick Jacobs - 2002

Jaime Jarrin - 2012

Kevin Kennedy - 2016

Steve Lyons - 2016

Jon Miller - 2007

Stu Nahan - 2002

Ron Santo - 2007

Vin Scully - 1998

Charley Steiner - 2008

Celebrities

Susan Anton - 2002

Frankie Avalon - 2010

Rick Fox - 2002

George Lopez - 2010

Alyssa Milano - 2010

Index

PLAYERS

You can’t imagine what it’s like to be on a championship team that beats the vaunted New York Yankees, the world champions for years and years and years, and then you’re on the championship team. And you’re there. You’re seeing it happen, and you’re a part of it. What a release it was, and what a great exciting time it was for our Brooklyn Dodger fans in Brooklyn. What a parade we had, and what a party we had. Believe me, I’ll never forget it.

~Don Newcombe

That day, I lugged the heavy bats around for Hodges, and Snider, and Furillo, and Campanella, and Robinson who were the great Boys of Summer. And then, that night, I dreamed about being a Dodger, and 12 years later, I signed with the then Los Angeles Dodgers and then became one. So my dreams came true. I do a lot of lecturing, and when I talk to parents, I tell them Let your children dream. You know, don’t suppress their dreams because dreams do come true."

~Steve Garvey

Like I always say, my first uniform I wore when I was 7 or 8 years old—my grandmother, she gave me a Dodger uniform, and I’m just happy to be here. Man, let me tell you something. In my career, nobody received me the way they did, and it’s awesome. Like I say, I’m just happy to be here. I just wanna come and play hard and show people the way I play and that’s it.

~Manny Ramirez

Dusty Baker - 2004

Dusty Baker spent 8 of his 19 big league seasons as a Los Angeles Dodger winning a World Series in 1981. In 1977, he smacked a career-high 30 home runs and went on to become a 2-time All-Star as a player and has been Manager of the Year 3 times. He has enjoyed 20+ seasons as a big league skipper at the helm of the Giants, Cubs, Reds, and Nationals.

DP: Well, I know you spent a lot of your high school years and you spent a lot of time up in Northern California. You went to Del Campo High School, but Riversiders still claim you as their own. Tell us about your ties with Riverside.

DB: Well, I was born in Riverside, and my mom was born in Indio, down in the Inland Empire, and that’s where my roots are. I came up with the Bonds family and knew all the Bonds’, and Riverside was where I fell in love with sports, fell in love with different games. We had some of the best recreational programs around, and a lot of my partners in my life now are still guys that I went to elementary and junior high and one year of high school with down at Riverside Poly. So yeah, my heart is definitely in Riverside because that’s where everything started.

DP: When you spent some of your glory years here in Los Angeles, going to the World Series 3 times and coming out with a World Series win in 1981, I guess a lot of your friends were there to root you on, weren’t they?

DB: Oh yeah. They still come out. We go to San Diego. My partners come out, or if we ever play in Anaheim like we did in the World Series in 2002, a lot of the guys still come out. So I still know who I grew up with. It’s still the people that I love and admire. Some of them have passed and most of ‘em are still here. So I’m just glad that I can say I was born and raised in Riverside.

DP: Bobby Bonds was such an impressive athlete, but his whole family was just tremendous, incredible. You were, I guess, about 3 years back of Bobby Bonds. Did you kind of look up to them? They were such great athletes.

DB: No, not kind of, I definitely looked up to them. Mrs. Bonds took care of me while my mom was finishing school, and I went everywhere Bobby went. I carried Bobby’s bag. My dad was Bobby’s little league coach. I knew Rosie, Robert, David, all of ‘em. So, Pat, she was Pat Howard, now she’s Bonds. She’s been Pat Bonds for a long time. Yeah, I looked up to Bobby. I played all 4 sports in high school because I wanted to be like Bobby Bonds. Yeah, he was the greatest prep school athlete I’ve ever known, one of the greatest athletes of all time, and one of the great men that I was fortunate enough to know since I was a kid.

DP: And was it nice to also work very closely with his son Barry?

DB: Oh yeah. You’re getting older and you see from one generation to the next. Barry’s one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and he’s a chip off the old block from his dad. I just hate what Barry’s going through now, I mean, it really saddens me. But I know that he’ll survive that and he’ll get through it.

DP: You cut your major league teeth in Atlanta, played with one of the greatest, maybe arguably the greatest player of all time,  a position player,  Henry Aaron.  Your memories of  Henry Aaron, why he was so great.

DB: Well, Hank was probably the smartest baseball player I’ve ever been around and one of the most humble and smartest men I’ve ever been around. He studied. He always was in the game. He knew what was gonna happen before. He had tremendous forethought and concentration. And the thing about him is he taught me, as much as anything, how to play in pain and think away pain. So perhaps he had probably the strongest mind of any person I’ve been around. He and my father probably. And again, it’s a tremendous honor for me to be in his company for as long as I was and a tremendous honor for me, to be a man that I can call my friend right now.

DP: Henry Aaron also came up when there was still a lot of prejudice in the country. So not only did he face other obstacles, but he had those obstacles to face, as well, didn’t he?

DB: Yeah he did. Tremendous obstacles. He used to let me read some of the stuff and actually prepared me now for some of the things that I received because I receive it now myself. So a lot of times I would think, What would Hank do? And Hank used to tell me he would think what his hero would do—Jackie Robinson would do in this situation. So again, a lot of times you go through different things in your life. You have no clue as to why you’re going through ‘em, but hey, when you go through ‘em, it makes you stronger.

DP: With the great Dodger-Giant rivalries, can you still enjoy coming here? Now, of course, you’re with the Cubs, but being here at Dodger Stadium, where you had such great memories as a player.

DB: Oh yeah. I enjoy coming here. I can smell the clean fresh air last 2 nights ago when we got off the plane. Now I said, This smells like California. This smells like home, especially after it had just rained and everything was so clear. You could see the mountains. You could see every light when we were coming in, and you just go back in your life and just think about, as a little kid, coming to the Coliseum and Dodger Stadium and then end up playing here. Now, I’m ending up managing here, so it’s a tremendous evolution and cycle that I’ve been through, and it’s great to be in the middle of it.

Austin Barnes - 2015

Austin Barnes is a nephew of former big leaguer Mike Gallego who grew up in Riverside, CA a big fan of the Dodgers and other local teams. He played his collegiate ball at Arizona State and was an 8th round pick of the Florida Marlins in the 2011 draft. 4 years later, he was traded to the Dodgers, debuting with the Blue Crew in 2015. The 5-10 catcher/2nd baseman garnered substantial playtime in 2017 and batted .289 with 15 doubles, 8 home runs and 38 RBI’s in a little over 200 official at-bats. He earned a starting spot for the playoffs and had 4 hits in 8 at-bats, including a double and homer in the 3 game divisional series sweep over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

DP: Well Austin, I know you grew up more in Angel country. Were you much of a Dodger fan growing up? Who did you follow?

AB: I grew up as a Dodger fan. My whole family is more Dodgers. They liked all those LA teams, the Lakers, the Dodgers, all that.

DP: I think you were drafted by the Marlins, but you somehow made it to the LA Dodgers. Was the family pretty excited to find that out?

AB: Yeah, everybody was excited. Everybody, like I say, grew up Dodger fans, raised Dodger fans pretty much. So it was an exciting time for my family.

DP: Who were your favorite players growing up?

AB: I liked ‘em all. The time I was watching the Dodgers there was Karros and Raul Mondesi and all those guys were there. I liked them all the way, though, till Manny was there, and that was a good time too.

DP: I think I heard you grew up playing mostly infield, shortstop and then you transitioned to catcher. It’s really worked out well. How do you like being behind the plate now?

AB: I love it. It’s a different aspect of the game. It’s a different side than the infield, definitely mentally, and it’s good. I really enjoy being back there and having that control of the game.

DP: Well, and I think it’s helped give you more opportunities. Obviously, you were able to go to an outstanding baseball school Arizona State. Let’s look at your memories, Arizona State, one of the great programs in the west.

AB: I had a great time there. It was one of the best decisions I made to go there. We were a pretty close-knit group, and I got to play a couple World Series and won a couple Pac titles. So it was a fun time. It was a time I’ll never forget.

DP: And once you get a chance to visit some of the different cities in Major League Baseball, you’re gonna be able to talk to guys like Dustin Pedroia and Eric Sogard, and there’s Mike Leake.

AB: Yeah, there’s a lot of Devils, Sun Devils out there, so I run into a few every now and then.

DP: How about Andre Ethier? Have you guys been able to talk shop a bit both being Sun Devils?

AB: Yeah, he’s a big ASU guy. He grew up in Arizona, so we definitely talk. We have Rick Monday, too, who was an ASU guy over here. So it’s good to see fellow Sun Devils.

DP: One of the benefits you have being behind the plate in Los Angeles is you have the opportunity to catch two of the best pitchers in baseball, Clayton Kershaw and Zach Greinke. Let’s first take a look at Kershaw, your observations of Kershaw as a teammate now.

AB: Yeah, they’re both great. Now you understand why they’re so successful here. The way they go about their business and everything. It’s pretty impressive.

DP: And take a look at Zach Greinke, kind of quiet with the media, but as a teammate, what have you observed about his personality?

AB: It’s the same thing with Greinke. How they go about their business is pretty impressive. You can take away from watching them and how they do things.

DP: And maybe one last question—this LA Dodger team, some great position players, you’ve got Jimmy Rollins who plays the position you used to play, Chase Utley, a second baseman, an outstanding second baseman. What is it about these players, you think, that has made them the great players they are today?

AB: First, they’re pretty good guys. Anytime you have any questions, they’re more than willing to help you out with anything. So probably that, probably their willingness to do whatever it takes to be successful.

DP: And when you’re around these guys, is there a part of you that kind of looks around and gets pretty excited like, Hey, I’m on the same field as Chase Utley?

AB: Yeah, sure. I watched these guys when I was in college. Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins played in a World Series, won it. I grew up watching a lot of these guys, so it’s pretty cool.

DP: At the same time, though, you’ve earned the right to be out here, at least during September and, who knows, in the years to come. You’re a Major League Baseball player too. You’re peers with them.

AB: Yeah, it’s awesome. You grow up playing baseball, and you want to be in this position. And to finally be here, it’s something to take in, and it’s an exciting accomplishment.

Cody Bellinger - 2017

Cody Bellinger is the son of former major leaguer Clay Bellinger. He bypassed a baseball scholarship to the University of Oregon when the Dodgers drafted him in the 4th round in 2013. Just 4 years later, the Chandler, Arizona native received his call-up to the bigs and proceeded to smack 39 home runs while driving in 97, earning National League Rookie of the Year honors. In 2018, Cody was named the NLCS Most Valuable Player as he helped lead the Men in Blue past the Milwaukee Brewers en route to a 2nd consecutive World Series appearance. The following year, he set a Dodgers record with 30 homers prior to the All-Star break and was honored as the National League’s starting right-fielder for the Midsummer Classic. He finished the campaign with 47 roundtrippers and received the 2019 National League Most Valuable Player Award along with a  Silver Slugger and Gold Glove.

DP: Well Cody, you’ve gotta be excited. You come up to this Dodger team, and they give you an opportunity to play. You’re swinging the bat, driving in runs and helping the team to win ballgames. How does it feel out there?

CB: Yeah, it feels good. I’ve said it before multiple times. The guys in the clubhouse make it easy on me, being young, and they make me feel comfortable. Yeah, it’s been a fun time, just trying to keep going.

DP: The Dodgers have one of the great young players in the game today, Cory Seager. Are you impressed? He’s about your age, kinda in that range, but so young, yet he was an All-Star last year. He’s very poised, just the way he carries himself, isn’t he?

CB: Mm-hmm. Yeah, he is. He’s just professional on and off the field, and it’s fun to watch him go about his business every day.

DP: And he had the benefit of actually being the Players Choice Award, also, for Rookie of the Year. Is it nice? I’m sure this is something you haven’t had the chance to experience. The players, of course, get praise and interest from the fans. But when your peers, players that you guys play against, vote you and rate your play very high, that’s pretty satisfying isn’t it, to have opposing players respect your game?

CB: Yeah, I think for sure. The amount of respect he gets, he gives a lot and is so deserving. Obviously, he’s one of the better players in the game right now.

DP: There’s a number of talented players that get drafted each year, some guys overlooked more than others. They come up and down the line. You were a fairly high pick, number 4 or a fourth rounder, but you’ve been able to make the adjustments pretty much at every level. What do you think it has been, because some of the players make one or two of the adjustments, but as they move up, it gets more difficult.

CB: Uh yeah, you just keep it going. Nowadays, you have so much information and video that if you’re off, you can see it. So I think, for me, it’s just watching a lot of video and just talking to the same hitting guys and staying focused, and just keep doing what I’ve been doing.

DP: And do you think a lot of it just has to do with confidence, knowing that it’s a matter of adjusting to each level and that you can play at this level?

CB: Yeah. For sure. I think everyone’s gonna have a different situation of when they are struggling, and it’s only a matter of time when it comes. You just gotta ride out the highs when you’re not struggling. And when you are struggling, you’ve gotta get out of it as fast as you can.

DP: You’re a second-generation major leaguer. Your father didn’t have a real long career but long enough. Didn’t he pick up like 3 World Series rings? How many World Series rings did he get?

CB: Yeah, 3.

DP: That’s pretty impressive. You gotta be at the right place at the right time.

CB: Yeah, it’s pretty crazy man. Back then, I didn’t realize how lucky I was to experience it with him, but it’s pretty special.

DP: And speaking of that, you were able to kinda hang with him. You were able to enjoy the experience. Did you get to meet a lot of the players on the Yankees like Jeter and Mariano Rivera?

CB: Yeah, for sure. Actually, I don’t remember as much as I wish I have. Looking back, I see pictures at Jeter’s house, at Pettitte’s house. Yeah, it’s pretty crazy.

DP: Have you been able to run across yet these players hanging around baseball that say, I remember when you were a little kid, or maybe you’re just too new on the scene? Have you met some of the old veteran players?

CB: Not necessarily on the Yankees. There’ve been a lot of guys that played with or against my dad that are coaching, so you know it makes them feel kinda old. But no, there’s been a lot of guys that say, Hey, I played with your dad, so it’s pretty cool.

DP: You opted to get your education in professional baseball, but I think your letter of intent was to go to the University of Oregon. What was it about the University of Oregon in Eugene that kinda attracted your attention?

CB: They got me young, early. They made a really good offer. I went out to visit with the family. I had a good chance of playing my freshman year, and that seemed for me and I committed there.

DP: And Cody, what do you like to do away from the baseball field? What are some of your hobbies?

CB: I like to golf. I think the normal thing is golf and fish. I don’t really do much. I just try to hang around and kick it with family as much as I can.

DP: And I take it you have a pretty good drive off the tee.

CB: Yeah, but other than that, the golf game’s horrible. [laughs]

DP: Putting’s difficult?

CB: Putting’s the worst.

Adrian Beltre - 2003

Adrian Beltre is a 4-time All-Star and 5-time Gold Glove winner who debuted in the majors with the Dodgers not long after his 19th birthday. In his 7th and final year with the Men in Blue in 2004, the Dominican native led the National League with 48 home runs. After 21 years in the major leagues, he retired with 3166 hits, 636 doubles and 477 round-trippers.

DP: Physically, are you feeling 100% after your recent health challenges?

AB: Yeah. I feel 100% and my body’s just the way I want it, and I’ve got nothing to worry about right now.

DP: Now, just after your 16th birthday, you played your first year of professional ball in the Dominican summer league and you batted over .300. What is the level of competition like down in the Dominican leagues?

AB: It’s pretty good, but when you’re young like that, you’re just trying to learn the fundamentals of the game, the stuff that they’re showing over there. It’s pretty much a league to progress, learn, and see if you’re able to come to the United States and play.

DP: A lot of the young talent, especially from the Latin American countries, play down there and have gone on to be very successful in the major leagues.

AB: Well yeah, because we love the game, and we’ve got a lot of things to play for. A lot of people don’t have a lot of money there, and they are trying to be successful in this sport and to make good money and help their family. Besides that, it’s not about the money. We just love the game. If you get paid for the sport that you like to play, it’s even better.

DP: As a young child, did you have goals of playing Major League Baseball? Is that something you always wanted to do and planned on doing?

AB: Yeah. Since I was a little kid, I only wanted to play baseball. I wanted to be a professional. It was one goal at a time. First of all, I just wanted to be professional. And after I was professional, I wanted to come to the states to play, and it happened. After I came to the states, I wanted to get to the big leagues. And when I got to the big leagues, I wanted to be consistent and be an everyday player.

DP: At just about every level you played in pro ball you were very successful, swung the bat very well. Have you always been one of the top players from your youth up?

AB: Yeah, pretty much. In the minor leagues, I always was one of the best prospects. That was the first 2 and a half years I spent in the minor leagues. I had pretty good years, so they considered me a prospect. So hopefully now, I can keep it up and try to learn and get better every day.

DP: Do you ever feel pressure when they place you perhaps on a pedestal and say, Okay, Adrian Beltre’s gonna be a great player. We’re expecting great things out of him, or do you just maintain your focus within you?

AB: Well, I just go out there and do my best, and whatever I get out of that, I’m gonna be happy. I cannot be worrying about what people think, about who I’m gonna be, how I’m gonna be, because I don’t really focus on that. Just be healthy and go out and play hard every day.

DP: Did you have any favorite players as a youth that were playing in the major leagues that maybe you wanted to emulate your game after?

AB: Not really, but then I was watching Pedro Guerrero. He played for the Dodgers. I had him on my team. He was one of the biggest guys there.

DP: Are you close to a lot of the Dominican players, especially those who are maybe close to your age like Miguel Tejada, perhaps Manny Ramirez, Raul Mondesi?

AB: Yeah, Mondesi—we are pretty good friends. We even played together here two years. Tejada—we know those guys because we played winter ball in the Dominican, so we know each other pretty well.

DP: Now, when you do reach your potential as a player, are you going to be the type of guy that’s going to hit 30-40 home runs, drive in a hundred runs per year?

AB: I would like to be, but I don’t know what’s gonna happen. Now, I just go out there. I hope I can hit 30 home runs and drive in a hundred RBI’s, but I cannot tell you right now I am gonna do it because I’ve never done it before. So hopefully, I can be one of those guys. But I’m pretty satisfied with the job that I have done lately, and hopefully, I can be healthy and I can put those kind of numbers.

DP: What have been some of your biggest challenges as a young and developing major league player?

AB: Well, just be an everyday player and protect my position. It’s tough to come to the big leagues and have a job when you come to the ballpark where you kinda know you’re gonna play every day. So I’m just trying