Tag: baseball

No. 97: Joe Beimel

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This is the latest post for an ongoing media project — SoCal Sports History 101: The Prime Numbers from 00 to 99 that Uniformly, Uniquely and Unapologetically Reveal The Narrative of Our Region’s Athletic Heritage.  Pick a number and highlight an athlete — person, place or thing — most obviously connected to it by fame and fortune, someone who isn’t so obvious, and then take a deeper dive into the most interesting story tied to it. It’s a combination of star power, achievement, longevity, notoriety, and, above all, what makes that athlete so Southern California. Quirkiness and notoriety factor in. And it should open itself to more discussion and debate — which is what sports is best at doing.

The most obvious choices for No. 97:

= Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers
= Jeremy Roenick, Los Angeles Kings
= Joe Beimel, Los Angeles Dodgers

The most interesting story for No. 97:
Joe Beimel, Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher (2006 to 2008)
Southern California map pinpoints:
Los Angeles (Dodger Stadium bullpen), Torrance

What a relief it was in 2008 — Joe Beimel bamboozled the burgeoning business of baseball bobbleheads and brought it upon himself to rebrand his name, image and likeness to his liking.

Boom …

As something of a left-over in a world of left-handed middle relievers, Beimel had found a place in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen during the 2006 and ’07 season primarily as the guy who could be called upon to bind up NL West rival Barry Bonds when he came to the plate in a key situation. With that, Beimel somehow converted an under-the-radar, cool surfer vibe into ceramic folk-lore status.

His faithful followers actually forced the Dodgers to make good on a promotional campaign promise and create a bobble replica of him — free, for those who bought a ticket to a promoted game. That’s what the people wanted. Allegedly.

With all due respect, did everyone respect the process by which this happened, and can still live with its consequences?

Nod yes if you are in the affirmative.

The context

Once upon a time, a kitschy paper-mache souvenir that represented the game’s innocence in the 1960s began showing up. It often had a generic cherub face with a disturbing grin that kids could put on their shelves and be haunted by as its head bounced up and down on coils, brandishing the team’s colors and uniform.

By the late 1990s, the nostalgic craze for baseball of yesteryear was ignited when the San Francisco Giants tested out a Willie Mays bobble figurine, and 35,000 were given away in a 1999 game.

The Dodgers, of course, couldn’t watch the giant promotional opportunity pass them by.

By 2001, the Dodgers ramped up their first offerings as a fan giveaway — Tommy Lasorda, Kirk Gibson and Fernando Valenzuela were the first three created. Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully quipped the Gibson bobblehead looked more like actor Stacy Keach.

From there, the Dodgers and their China-made bobbleheads came as a steady flow. When they expanded to four giveaways in 2007, fans were allowed to pick one to create through an Internet vote. Catcher Russell Martin was the first “winner.”

In spring training of 2008, the team announced plans for bobblehead nights recognizing incoming manager Joe Torre and All-Star pitcher Takashi Saito. Now there were two spots up for grabs for the voters. The likely candidates were Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. Maybe Nomar Garciaparra or newly acquired Andruw Jones. Clayton Kershaw was just a 20-year-old unproven rookie. Manny Ramirez wouldn’t barge into the spotlight until months later.

Beimel, a 6-foot-3, scruffy long-haired guy from Pennsylvania came into town a couple years earlier with baggy pants to go with a baggy uniform. Given No. 97, it was, at the time, the highest number ever used by a Dodger going back to the 1930s. Beimel said 97 represented the birth year of his son Drew, his first child.

Continue reading “No. 97: Joe Beimel” →

No. 3: Scott Weiland

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This is the latest post for an ongoing media project — SoCal Sports History 101: The Prime Numbers from 00 to 99 that Uniformly, Uniquely and Unapologetically Reveal The Narrative of Our Region’s Athletic Heritage.  Pick a number and highlight an athlete — person, place or thing — most obviously connected to it by fame and fortune, someone who isn’t so obvious, and then take a deeper dive into the most interesting story tied to it. It’s a combination of star power, achievement, longevity, notoriety, and, above all, what makes that athlete so Southern California. Quirkiness and notoriety factor in. And it should open itself to more discussion and debate — which is what sports is best at doing.

The most obvious choices for No. 3:

= Carson Palmer: USC football
= Keyshawn Johnson: USC football
= Willie Davis: Los Angeles Dodgers
= Anthony Davis: Los Angeles Lakers
= Candace Parker: Los Angeles Sparks
= Chris Paul: Los Angeles Clippers

The not-so-obvious choices for No. 3:

= Josh Rosen: UCLA football
= Glenn Burke: Los Angeles Dodgers
= Steve Sax: Los Angeles Dodgers

The most interesting story for No. 3:
Scott Weiland: Edison High of Huntington Beach football quarterback (1982 to 1985)
Southern California map pinpoints:
Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Long Beach, Hollywood

The photo documents perhaps the only tangle circulated evidence that Scott Weiland played football — an aspiring quarterback trying to make his mark at Edison High School in Huntington Beach.

He kind of looked like a young Sean Salisbury — ready, willing and able to commandeer a team to success and fame. The hairstyle of the moment was helmet friendly.

Yet, the eventual lead voice and flamboyantly driving force in and out of Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver and Art of Anarchy, fired or otherwise bored with each venture, wouldn’t be on track to become the famous college football player as he once thought he’d like to be.

High school non-confidential: The teen years focused on self discovery, watching, listening, hatching experiments, hormones raging, expectations and lack of sleep leads to falling into groups of new fast friends and/or swallowed up by cliche cliques.

At a peak of his music fame in 2007, Weiland was asked in fan Q&A about his high school activities.

“What kind of self-respecting outcast were you?” he was asked.

He explained:

“One with a lot of cojones. I was never a jock, but I was an athlete, and I was good. (Edison High) had just won multiple state football titles; it was a hardcore football school. I had aspirations of going to Notre Dame, so I played quarterback. But also I was into music: I sang in the school choir; and the two worlds didn’t really hold hands skipping down the hallways. I got a lot of flak from the coach and the guys on the team. Then I formed a rock & roll band with my best friend, and at the start of the senior year, I decided that I was into music more.”

While there is the one football photo, there thousands more snapshots, videos and websites that celebrate Weiland’s legendary music work — nominated for six Grammys, winning two for Best Hard Rock Performance, selling 50 millions records and called a “voice of our generation” by Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corrigan.

Some critics might have thought his bands were “a shameless clone of such grunge leaders as Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Soundgarden.” But taken individually, Weiland was called “one of the towering figures in the history of rock” by Rolling Stone magazine.

Audiences and fans were captivated by a chaotic stage presence. He was a champion chameleon, amplified by a megaphone. All in all, he navigated the diversity of glam, and alt rock, and pop, and hair-metal ballads far better than he did toxic mix of drugs, alcohol and all else the came to consume him.

So when he died in 2015 of a drug overdose at the age 48, the question had to be asked: How will he be remembered?

We are left with shards of facts and quotes and guesses. And photos. Many provided by him.

Continue reading “No. 3: Scott Weiland” →

No. 34: Fernando Valenzuela

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This is the latest post for an ongoing media project — SoCal Sports History 101: The Prime Numbers from 00 to 99 that Uniformly, Uniquely and Unapologetically Reveal The Narrative of Our Region’s Athletic Heritage.  Pick a number and highlight an athlete — person, place or thing — most obviously connected to it by fame and fortune, someone who isn’t so obvious, and then take a deeper dive into the most interesting story tied to it. It’s a combination of star power, achievement, longevity, notoriety, and, above all, what makes that athlete so Southern California. Quirkiness and notoriety factor in. And it should open itself to more discussion and debate — which is what sports is best at doing.

The most obvious choices for No. 34:

= Fernando Valenzuela, Los Angeles Dodgers
= Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
= Bo Jackson, Los Angeles Raiders

The not-so-obvious choices for No. 34:

= David Greenwood, Verbum Dei High and UCLA basketball
= Nick Adenhart, Los Angeles Angels
= Paul Pierce, Inglewood High, Los Angeles Clippers
= Paul Cameron, UCLA football

The most interesting story for No. 34:
Fernando Valenzuela, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher (1980 to 1990)
Southern California map pinpoints:
Dodger Stadium, East L.A., Boyle Heights, Los Feliz, La Canada-Flintridge

On November 1, 2024 — the first of the annual two-day celebration of Dia de la Muertos, a Latino-cultural event where family and friends gathering to pay respects to those close to them who have died — Fernando Valenzuela would have turned 64 years old.

But since Valenzuela had quietly passed away just nine days earlier from a bout with liver cancer, it made that special observance, and the powerful nature of that tradition, all more poignant.

Valenzuela’s death two days before the Los Angeles Dodgers started the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees promoted the team to wear No. 34 patches on their shoulder in his honor.

When November 1 rolled around, the Dodgers were celebrating a five-game championship series victory, riding double-deck buses through the city. Many players, and fans, wore the familiar Valenzuela 34 jersey.

Also on that fall day, artist Robert Vargas finished the first of a three-panel project on the side of the Boyle Hotel, facing the First Street on-ramp to Interstate 101 in Boyle Heights. The multifaceted image of Valenzuela seemed to make him come to life again.

Scores of ofrendas popped up up at the base of site, as well as near the freeway and the street. Same at Dodger Stadium and the roads leading into it.

Visiting the mural site almost became going to a religious shrine.

The experience ignited vivid memories of 1981, when fans of all backgrounds swarmed on Dodger Stadium to witness the then-20-year-old from Mexico who only spoke Spanish do things never seen before on a Major League Baseball diamond. Words, in any language, couldn’t describe it.

Especially, as this was happening on the site that once was a dilapidating housing complex for low-income Latino families who unceremoniously were evicted in the late ’50s when the City of L.A. gave the property to the Dodgers to build upon.

At the Vargas mural site, the drone of cars passing by on the freeway provided a constant soundtrack. It was broken up each day Vargas did the mural by a mariachi band, which came from nearby Mariachi Plaza, performed each day at 4 p.m. to give the artistic process a blessing.

“It’s about unity and representation and bringing different cultures together, which Fernando is still doing as we speak,” Vargas told reporters who called him off the scaffolding for interviews.

Boyle Heights born-and-raised, Vargas had, a few months earlier, depicted his vision of newest Dodger star Shohei Ohtani on the side of the Miyako Hotel in Little Tokyo. It was just a mile West of this Valenzuela site, across the bridge that spanned the Los Angeles River. The murals could now serve as cultural touchstones of the city.

As the mural inspired by “Fermandomania” was named “Fernandomania Forever, finished up by early November. To Vargas, and most others who ever saw him play, it reflects an inate feeling that Valenzuela will live forever in the minds of those who still talk about his feats in excited, as well as reverent, tones.

Continue reading “No. 34: Fernando Valenzuela” →

No. 22: Ila Borders

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This is the latest post for an ongoing media project — SoCal Sports History 101: The Prime Numbers from 00 to 99 that Uniformly, Uniquely and Unapologetically Reveal The Narrative of Our Region’s Athletic Heritage.  Pick a number and highlight an athlete — person, place or thing — most obviously connected to it by fame and fortune, someone who isn’t so obvious, and then take a deeper dive into the most interesting story tied to it. It’s a combination of star power, achievement, longevity, notoriety, and, above all, what makes that athlete so Southern California. Quirkiness and notoriety factor in. And it should open itself to more discussion and debate — which is what sports is best at doing.

The most obvious choices for No. 22:

= Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
= Elgin Baylor, Los Angeles Lakers
= Lynn Swann, USC football

The not-so-obvious choices for No. 22:
= Bo Jackson, California Angels
= Hugh McElhenny: L.A. Washington High football; Compton College football
= Brett Butler, Los Angeles Dodgers
= Bill Buckner, Los Angeles Dodgers
= Dick Bass, Los Angeles Rams
= Raymond Lewis, Verbum Dei High basketball
= Raymond Townsend: UCLA basketball

The most interesting story for No. 22:
= Ila Borders, Whittier Christian High baseball pitcher (1989 to 1993)
Southern California map pinpoints:
Downey, La Mirada, La Habra, Bellflower,  Costa Mesa, Whittier, Santa Ana, Long Beach

A camera crew from CBS’ “60 Minutes” chased down Ila Borders, and she was bordering on a panic attack.

The 23-year-old had become national news of sorts. It was 1998. She was about to become the first pitcher to start a game in a men’s professional baseball league, with the Duluth-Superior Dukes of the independent Northern League.

Her instincts were to push back on anything at this m0ment that could distract from her mental preparation.

In the prologue of her 2017 book, “Making My Pitch: A Woman’s Baseball Odyssey,” Borders explained how she had to retreat to the women’s restroom at the ballpark, jump into a stall and put her feet up so no one could detect she was there.

“I’m an athlete here to win,” she wrote. “Now get the hell out of my face. Would you tell a guy to smile? Growing up I heard about Don Drysdale, the Los Angeles Dodgers star right-hander of the 1950s and 1960s. I was crazy about Drysdale, who everyone said was the nicest guy around — except for the days he pitched. Then no one went near him. … I’ve been fighting for this since I was ten years old.”

By the time Mike Wallace had the chance to sit down with Borders, her family, friends, managers and teammates to do the story, Borders had a chance to explain.

“I’ve always had this fierce spirit to do what I want to do,” she said.

It want as far back to when she wore No. 22 for Whittier Christian High School in La Habra. Right about the time the movie “A League Of Their Own” had come out. There had been a template for women playing pro baseball, and Borders wanted in.

Continue reading “No. 22: Ila Borders” →

No. 36: Roy Gleason

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This is the latest post for an ongoing media project — SoCal Sports History 101: The Prime Numbers from 00 to 99 that Uniformly, Uniquely and Unapologetically Reveal The Narrative of Our Region’s Athletic Heritage.  Pick a number and highlight an athlete — person, place or thing — most obviously connected to it by fame and fortune, someone who isn’t so obvious, and then take a deeper dive into the most interesting story tied to it. It’s a combination of star power, achievement, longevity, notoriety, and, above all, what makes that athlete so Southern California. Quirkiness and notoriety factor in. And it should open itself to more discussion and debate — which is what sports is best at doing.

The most obvious choices for No. 36:
= Bo Belinsky: Los Angeles Angels
= Don Newcombe: Los Angeles Dodgers
= Jered Weaver: Long Beach State and Los Angeles Angels
= Jeff Weaver: Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Angels
= Steve Bilko: Los Angeles Dodgers

The not-so-obvious choices for No. 36:
= Frank Robinson: Los Angeles Dodgers
= Jerome Bettis: Los Angeles Rams
= Fernando Valenzuela: California Angels
= Greg Maddux: Los Angeles Dodgers

The most interesting story for No. 36:
Roy Gleason: Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder (1963)
Southern California map pinpoints:
Garden Grove, Los Angeles (Dodger Stadium)

Roy Gleason looks at a replacement of the 1963 World Champion ring he was given by the Los Angeles Dodgers during a ceremony at Dodger Stadium, with manager Jim Tracy, before a game on Sept. 20, 2003. Gleason’s career was cut short by the Vietnam War, where Gleason received a Purple Heart and other decorations but never returned to baseball. The original ring was lost in Vietnam. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Roy Gleason made into eight games with the Los Angeles Dodgers during a September, 1963 callup, but the first seven were just for pinch-running duties. His one at bat, an eighth-inning stand-up double against Philadelphia against left-hander Dennis Bennett at Dodger Stadium, is documented in a box score. The 20-year-old hit a low inside fastball down the left field line.

That was it for the 6-foot-4, switch hitting Garden Grove High product who signed a $55,000 bonus baby contract in 1961. He had turned down a contract with the Boston Red Sox even after Ted Williams personally recruited him. But the Dodgers were concerned he was too much into the L.A. nightlife and wasn’t dedicated enough at that point.

The team was preparing for another trip to the World Series, eventually sweeping the New York Yankees in four straight. Gleason would be given a ’63 World Series ring for his contribution.

But he’d never play in the big league again. Especially after a trip to Vietnam.

He may have been a Dodger. But he wasn’t a draft dodger, even if it made no sense to him why the Army would come looking for him in 1967.

Continue reading “No. 36: Roy Gleason” →