The first professional baseball game I ever saw was at Dodger Stadium.
Just Dad and me in—I think—1976. But the memory is vague. Might’ve been 1975.
Steve Garvey was playing First.
But he did that in L.A. for a very long time.
I think I was in T-Ball.
Dad listened to Vin Scully calling games.
We brought a handheld AM/FM radio so we could listen to the most distinctive voice in baseball call the plays.
No better voice in baseball. Maybe just Susan Sarandon narrating Bull Durham.
We had peanuts and a hot dog.
First base side. Pretty high up. I think we sat on a blanket.
Dad was so happy. Not stressed. He included me. He let Vin Sculley talk.
Alhambra is 10 miles from Dodger Stadium. We went in the VW bug.
I don’t think Mom came with us. I don’t know why we had tickets. It’s just the one game.
I don’t think I saw another pro baseball game until the 80s: San Diego.
We also saw one Lakers game when we lived in L.A. and before we became expatriates.
Dad took me to see Star Wars at the Chinese Theater the afternoon of the first day.
He somehow knew each one would be special. And they are.
I love those L.A. memories.
San Diegans hate L.A.
“A nice place to visit.”
Such rude people. Such horrible traffic. The smog.
But I’m a San Diegan who loves Los Angeles unironically, unreservedly.
Perhaps I’m an expatriate Angeleno born in San Diego.
When I worked for Slacker the company had season tickets. I’d see a game every year. Since I’ve been with Kelly we go every year when the Padres play her Cubbies.
I haven’t seen another game at Dodger Stadium since then.
The second time I saw Steve Garvey play he was a Padre, a decade later. In a World Series game.
I’m so happy for The Dodgers today in Game 1. Sure I wish it were the Padres.
But it’s okay.
I love L.A.
