After being interrupted last season because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Los Angeles Dodgers brought back their tradition of players, coaches and staff members dressing up for the team’s flight to the last stop of the seasons’ final road trip.
The tradition historically had been reserved for rookies, but in 2019 the Dodgers expanded it to include all players. Like two years ago, some banded to dress up together, and costumes ranged from movie characters to Dodgers trainer Yosuke “Possum” Nakajima going as Max Scherzer.
Meanwhile, the real Scherzer dressed with fellow starters Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urias to form their version of bikers from “Sons of Anarchy.”
Mookie Betts and Gavin Lux dressed as characters from the famed “White Men Can’t Jump” movie, while Justin Turner (Jeff Bezos) and AJ Pollock were prepared for a joint mission to the moon. Turner and Pollock previously dressed as football players from USC and Notre Dame, respectively.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 24, 2021
Goose. pic.twitter.com/pAXiNKFJby
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 24, 2021
Your starting rotation could never. pic.twitter.com/bL2hNa16BZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 24, 2021
Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts dressed up together.https://t.co/GZXgqWwk1Z pic.twitter.com/8kbb1jO0xO
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) September 24, 2021
This is Joseph Kelly. pic.twitter.com/ZJpCw32Qhz
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 24, 2021
Drip too hard, don’t stand too close. pic.twitter.com/vBVXKc6FhD
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 24, 2021
BASEketball vibes. pic.twitter.com/cULYiJyofL
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 24, 2021
Joe Kelly took matters one step further by going in a full-blown costume complete with a mask as The Grinch. Will Smith fittingly dressed as his Hollywood actor namesake and in a Bel-Air Academy jersey.
Dodgers costume contest
The Dodgers presumably held a vote for the best costumes while en route from Denver to Phoenix. The honor went to Tony Gonsolin and Ross Stripling in 2019, who combined to dress as Forrest Gump and Lieutenant Dan.
Players casted their votes for the best costumes during the chartered flight to San Francisco. Gonsolin and Stripling were the winners.
The top five that year was rounded out by Thomas Albert (assistant athletic trainer) placing second as the Joker, Dustin May (Pennywise) at No. 3, SportsNet LA producer Mike Levy finished fourth with a spot-on Ken Rosenthal costume, and Jaime Jarrín was fifth as Mike Brito.
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