Dave Roberts Calls Dodgers Job “The Opportunity of A Lifetime”

Think of your dream job. What was it as a child that you’d hoped to one day take place? For me, it was starting point guard of the Los Angeles Lakers or starting centerfielder for the Dodgers. Unfortunately, growing to only 5’10” with the speed of molasses in the dead of winter stopped any part of that from happening.

For Dave Roberts, though, it seems his dream has come true.

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Roberts had this is to say, via a press release from the Dodgers.

“It’s hard for me to put into words what it means to be named manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Roberts said in a statement. “This is truly the opportunity of a lifetime. The Dodgers are the ground-breaking franchise of Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, Maury Wills, Fernando Valenzuela and Hideo Nomo.

“When I put on this uniform as a player, I understood the special responsibility to honor those that played before me as well as the amazing bond between the Dodgers and their fans. I feel that I have now come full circle in my career and there is plenty of unfinished business left in L.A.”

If you can read that and not get chills, I think you might have a serious problem.

From what I’ve heard, Roberts was incredibly popular during his time in the Dodgers organization. So, it comes as no surprise some players vouched for Roberts when they found out he was a finalist for the job.

Roberts is most famous for stealing that fateful base and getting the ball rolling for what became a historic comeback for the Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees. He came into this pursuit of the Dodgers’ managerial position a huge underdog. Just like that night in Boston, Roberts saw the opportunity, swiped something few thought he could and now has the job of his dreams.

It’s hard not to be thrilled for the Dodgers as an organization and him as a person.