Dodgers Stories: Who was the First Person to Make You a Dodger Fan?
We asked Dodger fans a simple question “who was the first person to make you a Dodger fan”. Whether it was family or players themselves, our Twitter and email inbox was blown up with amazing answers!
My grandfather and my mother. My grandfather lived in north hollywood when the dodgers, who he was already a fan of, moved to los angeles. He loved Koufax.
He made my mom a die hard fan who then loved Ron Cey.
They made me die hard with watching the '88 WS as a 5yo kid. pic.twitter.com/O6O0bN0Rf3
— _ryan ???? (@ryanatanner) March 17, 2020
My Dad. He took us to games all the time. When it was $12.00 for field level seats. We bleed blue. pic.twitter.com/iPoBSvftH9
— ?Liv A Little? (@Liv_A_Littlebit) March 17, 2020
$12!! incredible. (Editor’s note: I remember them days.) This next user on Twitter had one of the coolest stories on how she became a fan.
My grandpa did! He played in the 1947 World Series on the Brooklyn Dodgers. He’s known for his famous “catch.” So I grew up always hearing about that and all his other baseball endeavors. Being a Dodger fan is just in my blood???????? pic.twitter.com/hSiygM9aKj
— Nicollette Marie? (@itsnikkiiiibby) March 17, 2020
Terrell below is one of the best ways to become a fan as well…
Hearing Vince Scully call a game as a five year old boy. He made it seem as I was right there at the game. Plus his story telling was magical
— Terrell (@T_Champ_J2885) March 17, 2020
Really miss hearing Vinny.
We didn’t only get Twitter entries, we also got a ton of great email submissions! Here are a few of the best.
Lauren L.
My grandpa! My first memory of watching Dodgers baseball was with him, I was about 5/6 years old and sat right in front of his big chair. He taught me the game, the important of each player but mostly he gave me my love for Dodger baseball. It’s been 23 years and I still go over to my grandparents house I sit on the floor in front of his big chair and we watch the game together.
James G.
Watching the game with my dad on TV back when it was on FS1 and KCAL9 before spectrum. Also going to games watching Shawn Green, Jeff Weaver, Adrian Beltre, Eric Gagne, Paul La Duca in the early 2000s.
Christopher C.
In short, my Dad. I grew up in Orem, Utah and people always ask how I became such a big fan of the Dodgers. That goes back to when my Dad was growing up. For a short while when he was a young boy he and his family lived in the San Fransisco area. While living there my Uncle, who was only one year older, became a fan of the Giants. My Dad, being the competitive person he was, decided if his older brother was going to like the Giants then he was going to root for the Dodgers. So that’s what he did and he then passed that on to me!
Some of the most epic games I’ve been to in my lifetime have been when Matt Kemp, he was my favorite player at the time, hit a walk off home run in the 10th inning of the game against the Nationals in 2012 ruining Bryce Harper’s major league debut. I was also at Corey Seager’s 3 home run game against the Braves in 2016. Last year I traveled to LA with my 2 brothers, one of which followed Mike Piazza to the Mets becoming a Mets fan, for the game against the Mets last year when Alex Verdugo walked it off in the 9th after trailing by 5 going into the bottom of the 7th. The best part was, I warned my brother after Bellinger flew out in the 7th that if he got up again that game that the Dodgers were going to win!
Tom M.
As a young boy growing up in Philadelphia in the 1970s, I grew up idolizing Mike Schmidt. One sunny Saturday afternoon, I finally got to attend my first game and was looking forward to meeting Mike. Finally, there he was walking back to the dugout after pregame infield! I was ready with pen and ball in hand, along with my wide-eyed toothless grin. He walked right past me not even looking but simply said “not now kid. No time”. I was devastated. My young heart was ripped from my chest. Tears rolled down my face. I just wanted to go home and never come back (this was my first game ever!)
My parents somehow convinced me to stay and we waited for the visiting team to come out for BP. I simply wanted to leave. I knew nothing about this other team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. I did not even know where ”Los Angeles” was. All I can remember, while standing down the first baseline, is that this handsome man with a big smile and the largest forearms I had even seen saw that I was distraught and came over. He asked what was wrong and my father explained what just had happened.
Of course, that man was Steve Garvey. He was so kind and gentle to me. I really can’t recall exactly what he said but it literally, changed my life forever. He was very nice. He Signed several autographs, then asked some blond guy with a mustache, who walked funny to come over (obviously, Ron Cey!). They made a big fuss over me and jokingly said next time they come to town that they wanted to see me wearing blue. This would NOT be any problem for me! Back then, with only 2 divisions (East n west), teams made 2 trips to Philadelphia.
To top off of this life-changing interaction, Several weeks later, I received in the mail an autographed picture from Steve. Hence, my life long love affair with the Los Angeles Dodgers was born. Since then, I have cried many times for this team, as a young boy and even as grown man. The bond is that strong and it is forever.
Quin M.
Well like a lot of people, it was Vin Scully. As a boy in Phoenix (really Giants territory) I found the Dodger games on my AM/FM radio one summer and for years later I listen to Vin do his thing along with Jerry Doggett. My father taught me the ins and outs of football (LA Ram fan until they left LA) and basketball (Laker and Suns fan, go figure), but Vin taught me all about baseball. He was and is the best teacher and ambassador for baseball and for that I am eternally grateful. Baseball is the best of games, bar none. Thank you.
Final Thoughts
What better way to walk it off with another great Vin Scully story.
Don’t let the conversation end! How did you become a fan of the Dodgers?
NEXT: 18 Best Regular Season Games to Watch
My neighborhood (NY) was split between the Yankees, Giants & Dodgers.
Easy choice for me was the Dodgers because they had Jackie Robinson.
The 50’s were great for exciting baseball & the Dodgers had a great pre game show on TV called “Happy Feltons Knothole Gang”.
Dodger players interacted with kids , great for young ball players to meet & learn from their idols.
I’m not really sure. What I remember was that, growing up in Giants country in the 70s, my grandfather was a huge orange and black fan. Heck, he tried to make me a Giants fan even taking me to numerous games at Candlestick but they never really clicked for me. Then, along came Garvey and the Dodgers. I have been a proud Garv… er, Dodger fan since then (heck, I even switched allegiances briefly to the Padres when Garvey got traded but came right back after he retired and have never looked back!). Through hell and high water, good times and bad (’10, ’12, ’14), I have become rabid during baseball season. Seriously, what the heck am I going to do this year?!?! ?
In 1951, I was turning the dial on our radio and came to a baseball game. I had never listened to a game before, but I decided I would. The Dodgers were playing the Cincinnati Reds and they just beat the crap out of the Reds. I instantly fell in love with the Dodgers. I was 12 years old and the names, Newcombe, Robinson, Hodges, Cox, Pafko, Campanello and to think, they had a “Preacher” on their team and a”Duke” and of coarse “The Colonel”!!! Those three, of course were Roe, Snider and Reese! What a team! I grew up in rural South Carolina and people were amazed that I would pull for the team that had the first black man on their team. My answer was, if he is good enough to play major league ball, what’s the problem? Of course, I cried like a baby when Bobby Thompson hit the “shot heard around the world” and found out later that they were stealing signs to beat us. So it took cheating for the giants to beat us in “51 and the astros in ’17. My favorite player was Gil Hodges, the greatest pitcher was Sandy Koufax. The greatest manager was Walt Alston ( 24) years with one year contracts. And of course, Vin Scully! In today’s sports, you have at least 3 people analyzing and setting up the game and then you have at least 2 people in the booth bringing you play by play and a 3rd person roaming for social moments. Vin Scully sat alone and did the whole game. What a master he was. I’ll be 81 in May and I can’t wait to see the Dodgers take the field again. From what I’ve seen from Price, so far, I believe he and a shored up bullpen will make the difference this year. Hopefully Mookie will contribute a lot, but I believe we got a “special” gift with Price. Let’s pray we can get through this virus and get on to Dodger “Ball”!!!
As a 6-year old kid growing up in NorCal (Giants country), and wanting to be a pitcher, I naturally gravitated to the Dodgers due to Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. The rest is history…
When I was 5 or 6 in the mid-50’s my dad sat me down to watch newsreel footage of Jackie. The way he ran the bases, that and he were the most exciting things I’d ever seen. Plus growing up in pretty much all-white Winnipeg, it was the first time I’d seen a person of colour. I was enthralled by the whole scenario and have been a Dodgers fan ever since. Dad passed when I was 10 and this is one of the few memories I have of him, so even now every time I watch or think of the Dodgers, he comes to mind.
Growing up in Ohio in the early 90s espn had only available mlb broadcast in my area. The Dodgers were always on the 10pm start with Berman live at the hotel California.
Memories of Jackie, Duke, the Reading Rifle, Pewee, Camp, Koufax, Drysdale, Cox, stay entranced thanks to Red Barber’s color broadcasts. Dad would bring home the daily afternoon newspaper, The Sun, after work and before bed time I knew all the Dodger’s updated batting averages and won and loss records compared to the key Yankee and NY Giants players. Still a Dodger fan though no longer in Ebbitts Field.
My parents divorced in ’78 when I was 2 years old. I didn’t see my dad much after that. One day, when I was around 5 or 6 years old, he picked me up by surprise around my birthday and took me to my first Dodger game. I learned two things that day: 1. I lived 15 minutes from Dodger Stadium, 2. That my Dad loved me. We played the Pirates, and lost. I remember that. But I will forever love my Dad for making me a Dodger fan. Now with my own family, we Bleed Blue! Go Dodgers!
1960’s Dodger team, Fell in love with Sandy Koufax in 1966 series, love baseball forever.have seen Dodger teams at other national stadiums, my bucket list is to go to Chavez ravine someday soon.
The one and only Great Duke Snider!
Growing up in the 1950’s in Phoenix (population 102,000 per the 1950 census, BTW), I had been a young Yankees baseball fan because every Saturday morning, the Game of the Week (Dizzy Dean and Peewee Reese) was broadcast on one of the four TV channels in Phoenix (I think CBS, but could be wrong).
Then in the late 50’s (1958?), a local radio station (KOY or maybe KXAN?) began broadcasting the Dodger games in Phoenix every day/night, and I began doing my grade school homework while listening to those games.
Anybody know when the Dodger games were first broadcast in Phoenix and on what radio station?
Pee Wee Reese. As a twelve year old kid, my brother and I were part of a church youth group that had an outing to the LA Coliseum in May of 1958. We were going to watch the new kids on the block – the Brooklyn Dodgers, as they were stilled called. Dodgers vs Pirates, Sandy Koufax (young promising and sometimes wild) vs Ron Kline. The Dodgers were down in the bottom of the ninth, Reese up to bat in the bottom of the ninth. He knocks in the winning runs with an extra base hit (today called walk -off). In that jubilant celebration, I fell in love with the Dodgers. Never fell out of love.
Pee Wee Reese. My brother and I were part of a church youth group that took in a game in May of 1958 in the Coliseum. The new kids on the block were still called the Brooklyn Dodgers. Reese knocks in the winning run with an extra base hit, now called a walk-off. In that jubilant celebration, it was then I fell in love with our new team. Never fell out.
My Grandmother got me hooked on the Dodgers. She did the same with my Dad so it was a easy choice. Grandparents both came to California in the great depression and brought the Dodgers with them. Grandma hated the DAMN Yankees and anything to do with them. Her favorite player was Roy Campanella, and she despised the Giants as well. Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s 90 miles North of Frisco, we were surrounded by anyone who was winning at the time fans.The Giants of the 70’s were absolutely horrible and it was always fun at school razzing some friends. Most friends were ashamed of the Giants and I never even knew they were Giants fans until around 2010. I’m sure most of you know exactly what I’m saying : )…I remember the Dodgers losing to the A’s in 75 I believe in the series, and 78 and 79 were extremely hard on me. But sweet revenge on the Yankees and again the A’s in the 80’s were satisfying beyond words.. I miss watching baseball with my Grandma, and try and take Dad to a Dodgers game every year, sure hope this will be one of them.. GO DODGERS!!!!!!!!
In 1951 I was 10 years old. I had fallen in love with baseball and when I got home from school I turned on the radio to get the scores every afternoon. I played first base in peewee baseball so I thought Gil Hodges was so cool. Any this particular afternoon I happened to hear a rebroadcast of Russ Hodges infamous call, “the Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant”.To say I was devastated was an understatement. My dislike of the Giants only intensified when they moved to Northern California even though I was born and raised in Nor Cal. My grandson is a Giants fan and I do my best to dissuade him,even going so far as to tell him there’s medication for his condition. To say I love the Dodgers is putting it mildly. I’m almost 79 years old and my fondest wish is to see at least one more World Championship in L.A. before I take my final breath. DODGERS FOREVER!!!!!!
My neighbor took me to my first Dodgers game in 1970, versus the Reds. Growing up five miles from the Stadium made it a natural to be a Dodgers’ fan. The whole neighborhood, and my school was full of nothing but Dodger fandom. Taking the RTD down Brooklyn Avenue to Sunset as a kid was standard for us as kids. I was blessed to see the beginning of “the Infield’ during the Pepsi Fan Club days.
It was 1963. My dad, his friend from work and I all went to see a doubleheader against the New York Mets. Sandy Koufax pitched a brilliant game one, striking out the side in the top of the ninth. With two outs in the ninth, there was a lazy fly ball to right field, which was dropped by Frank Howard. The Dodgers swept the doubleheader when in the bottom of the 14th inning, that same Frank Howard hit a fastball half way to Pasadena. I have been hooked ever since!
My mother who grew up on Long Island her sister was a Yankee fan she became a Brooklyn fan I was born on the Island in 1955 the only World Series we won there. I grew up with dreams of being Maury Will’s.
I went to a grammar school in downtown Los Angeles during the mid 1950s. My teachers were Maryknoll nuns. They had their headquarters in Brooklyn where they received their training and took their vows. Of course many of them became Dodger fans so that probably helped influence me. When I became aware of baseball at the age of 6, the Dodgers had just won their 1st World Series. The next season I started to follow them in the sports pages of the newspapers and started learning about their history. I was impressed by Jackie Robinson. Being of Asian descent, he gave me hope that one day maybe a Japanese player would one day wear Dodger blue. When the Dodgers were considering moving to Los Angeles, my hometown, I remember pressuring my parents to vote in favor of the land giveaway where Dodger Stadium stands today. I was too young to know that a lot of Latinos had to be forcibly evicted from Chavez Ravine. If I had known about this, maybe I wouldn’t have said anything to Mom and Dad in hindsight. Anyway, when they got here, I was totally thrilled. My first game that I attended was the Campanella benefit against the Yankees at the Coliseum. I also went to Game 4 in 1963, Ford vs. Koufax. Back then all you had to do to get a ticket was to fill out a form in the newspaper and send a ten dollar money order. I recall filling it out the day after the form was issued instead of the same day. As a result I was sent reserve level seats (the blue seats) and a partial refund instead of the field level (the yellow seats) that I requested. The late bird got half a worm anyway. It took a few decades but Hideo Nomo finally came to LA and showed me that he was worth the wait. I am now waiting for a Japanese American to make the roster. The Yankees have one but you will never ever see me rooting for them because of former owner Del Webb. Webb made a fortune building prison camps to incarcerate my parents and their generation during World War II. He used that money to buy the Yankees shortly after the war. I learned this much later in life but maybe that’s why I hated the Yanks so much when I was a kid.
Maury Wills. When I was a kid I played short and wore #30, but that was where the similarity ended. The way he could electrify a crowd when he got on base was tremendous.