I never got to watch Willie Davis in person, but he’s part of Dodgers history, so I was sorry to hear of his passing. 

Here’s a great link to a story about him from the SF Chronicle.  The SF Chronicle writer grew up in L.A. and has some great stories on watching him play.  I wish I could have watched him myself.  Rest in Peace Mr. Cool.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/09/SPMF1CDBJD.DTL

Wore my Dodger hat to get my Toyota worked on this weekend (No, not the recall, but a different factory issue). The guy at the dealership looked at the hat and said, “You don’t see a lot of those up here…Did you grow up down in Southern California?”

I explained that I grew up Southern California up in the mountains near Big Bear. He said he grew up near Van Nuys and that he used to be a huge Dodger fan. Apparently his Grandfather used to own a concrete company down there and that they had season tickets right near the field. He told the story of how Orel Hershiser was his all time favorite growing up and how he still has a signed ball with Orel’s signature, Tommy Lasorda’s, and all the guys from the early 80’s.  (I love hearing stories like this!)

I asked him why he “used” to be a Dodger fan? He said he fell out of it once he moved up here and got really into hockey. Apparently now he’s an avid Sharks fan who has season tickets.

Cool guy…just too bad he doesn’t follow as much any more.   Who knew that it isn’t just the Giants turning Dodger fans away.  I guess I should send him some tickets this year to a Dodgers/Giants game to try and re-kindle the passion.

I did though tell him about my favorite website…www.sfdodgerfan.com

Raising two kids in Giants territory means that I am going to have to work very hard to convince them how much better the Dodgers are than the Giants. The better part really isn’t that hard…it’s the over exposure to the Giants that could still win out in the end.

Last week, my 3.5 yr old son gave me hope that all my wearing of Dodger gear at the house, may be slowly reaching his sub-conscious.

I came home from work and told him that we had a special project to do in the garage (Drain the water heater). He loves anything in the garage or with a hose, so he was thrilled from the start. We went up stairs to change my work clothes and he immediately went into my closet and said that he had a “special” shirt for me to wear during our job.  He pulled out my favorite Dodger Jersey.  I was kind of shocked and asked, you want Daddy to wear this?  He promptly said “yes.”  I was thrilled because I never need a good excuse to put on the blue.

Here’s where it got fun.  I pulled out a second jersey and asked if he wanted to wear it to match Daddy.  He said no, but only because it was too big.  I asked him if he wanted Daddy to get him his own Dodger jersey that was his size.  He promptly said “Yes.”  (Ahh the joy!)

Thrilled with my victory, I called my wife in and asked him again if he wanted his own Dodger jersey.  He again said yes.  Sceptical of brainwashing, this time she asked it, but with a little different twist and again he still answered yes.  (Victory Confirmed!)

I’ll take the little victories anytime I can. Now I just have to buy that jersey….

Used Dodger Bib

So I have a not so subtle plan. Living amidst all these Giants fans, I want to create as many new Dodger fans as possible. Therefore, I need to start young. Being that I have kids, I know you can dress them anyway you want and maybe, just maybe you can get blue to be their favorite color, and then hopefully they will like the Dodgers as they grow up.

It’s a stretch, but considering all you see in the stores is Giants and A’s stuff…I’ll take it.

I consider this picture a victory.  I have started giving all of my Giant fan friends who have babies Dodger bibs.  It is a “cute” way to give them something Dodger blue that they can’t really refuse.  It works quite well too because they kind of like getting it filthy dirty, while in turn I get their child to wear Dodger gear.

This picture is from a friend who once warned me that if I gave her son Dodger gear that she would throw it away.  (She actually said something far worse, but I can’t write it here.)  So, I gave her a bib and told her to at least use it, get it dirty and then take a picture of it.  Of course, I didn’t get her son actually “wearing” it, but at least it looks used.  Given that kids continue to make bibs dirty, I think there’s actually a pretty good chance that this bib will get re-washed and then re-used. 

My not so subtle plot is working….one child at a time.

Dodger Dog Package

I’ve come to realize that comments make the world go around in the blogging world.  Feedback gives you everything you need to keep writing, and it is truly what makes blogging fun.

Of all the posts I’ve written on this site, no one post continues to bring more comments than my one a few months ago  (Click Here) on looking for Dodger Dogs.  I want to give special credit to “bogwort 5″ for continuing my search for elusive Dodger Dogs.

Bottom line, they just don’t sell them except in L.A.  Here are a couple of transcripts from Bogwort 5 on his conversations with Hormel (Maker of Dodger Dogs) and with Smart & Final.  (Awesome research Bogwort 5)

Bogwort5 Jun 4th, 2009 at 4:05 pm