The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) and Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC) partnered for the eighth annual Dodgers All-Access at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.
The 2022 Dodgers All-Access featured SportsNet LA host John Hartung and analyst Orel Hershiser as emcees, and a panel with general manager Brandon Gomes along with vice president of player performance Brandon McDaniel, and another panel featuring Walker Buehler, Fernando Valenzuela and Jaime Jarrín.
Mickey Hatcher, Steve Yeager, Bill Russell, Manny Mota, Ron Roenicke, Charlie Hough and Rick Dempsey were among the former Dodgers who were on hand, along with broadcaster Charley Steiner.
“Dodgers All-Access is, of course, absolutely rooted in fun, but it’s also about helping those who need our support the most,” LADF chief operating officer Chaitali Gala Mehta said.
“Because of supporters like each and every one of you, we are so excited that we are able to make quantifiable differences in the communities that often live in the shadows. So while you indulge in this exclusive access to Dodger Stadium, we hope that you can feel the incredible energy and excitement tonight.”
The event featured booths set up around the warning track that allowed fans to meet and take photos with some of the former players and Kevin Pillar, and there were also photo opportunities in the dugouts and with three of their World Series trophies.
Along with photos, fans were also able to participate in a silent auction with signed memorabilia, hit in the Dodgers and visitor batting cages and throw in both bullpens to find their pitch velocities, with the fastest throw of the day clocked at 79 mph. Both of those setups also had the former players giving coaching advice to the fans.
Additionally, there were tasting booths around the warning track with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and each attendee was given a gift bag that included a Dodgers bobblehead and other memorabilia.
The All-Access event took place while the Dodgers were playing the Colorado Rockies, so the game was also broadcasted to the DodgerVision boards.
After all that, fans were treated to a dinner which took place at tables that were set up on the infield dirt. Some of the food choices included Dodger Dogs, salads, street corn, macaroni and cheese, watermelon, muffins, and cookies decorated like baseballs.
The night was capped off with both panels and a video message from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts answering questions from fans. One question asked Roberts who he would start in Game 7 of a World Series if his rotation consisted of Sandy Koufax, Clayton Kershaw, Don Newcombe, Orel Hershiser and Valenzuela.
“You’re going to get me in trouble on this one,” Roberts joked. “I can’t speak to Don Newcombe, the late Don Newcombe who is a friend of mine, because I didn’t see him, and I know the numbers that are remarkable.
“Fernando certainly is unbelievable. It’s hard to bet against Clayton Kershaw. I think for me, with these names right here, I would take Sandy Koufax.
“So usually I give a political answer and I won’t give an answer. And it’s kind of like they’re all my kids and I love them all the same, but I would take Sandy Koufax.”
Hershiser missed Valenzuela’s no-hitter while teammates
While panelists discussed baseball, Hartung asked his final question to get to know the guests outside of sport by inquiring on what their first concerts were.
“Yeah, unfortunately, it was the Backstreet Boys,” Buehler answered as the crowd burst into laughter.
While Buehler’s drew a lot of laughs, it was Hershiser who’s answer turned into the story of how he missed Valenzuela’s no-hitter.
“First concert ever? I was at the Janet Jackson concert the day [Valenzuela] threw his no-hitter,” Hershiser said before Hartung asked him to tell that story.
“I was rehabbing my shoulder like Walker is rehabbing now, and it was driving me crazy to come to the ballpark, be with my teammates, and you feel like you’re not part of the team.
“And Tommy (Lasorda) could see that it was wearing on me and he said, ‘Take a day off from staying for the game,’ and I’m like ‘Fernando’s pitching’ and he goes, ‘Yeah, we’ll be fine. He’s pitching.’ And I go, ‘You’re right, we’ll be fine.’
“So he let me go home early and I went to the Janet Jackson concert. I come out of the concert and find out he’s thrown the no-hitter.
“So the next day I got up and I’ve got the L.A. Times and he’s the cover of the L.A. Times, and he’s my buddy. So I went and bought six L.A. Times, had them all framed at the frame shop and brought them in as a gift and said, ‘Sorry buddy, I missed I missed your no-hitter.'”
After Hershiser shared his story, Valenzuela added that he doesn’t like concerts and Jarrín said his first was a Julio Iglesias concert.
“That was really great. It was really great,” Jarrín said. “And we became good friends later on, and I enjoyed that very much.”
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