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.
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.
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. 15:
= Davey Lopes: Los Angeles Dodgers = Shawn Green: Los Angeles Dodgers = Ann Meyers: UCLA women’s basketball = Tim Salmon: California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels = John Sciarra: UCLA football = Jack Kemp: Los Angeles Chargers
The not-so-obvious choices for No. 15:
=Vince Ferragamo: Los Angeles Rams = Ryan Getzlaf: Anaheim Ducks = Laiatu Latu: UCLA football = Darryl Evans: Los Angeles Kings = Rich Allen: Los Angeles Dodgers = Austin Reeves: Los Angeles Lakers
The most interesting story for No. 15: Ann Meyers Drysdale: UCLA women’s basketball (1974 to 1978) Southern California map pinpoints: La Habra (Sonora High); Westwood (UCLA); Dodger Stadium
In a male-dominated, and often testosterone infested, sports coal mine, Ann Meyers accepted the ongoing challenge of being the female canary sent in to see if things were safe.
Time and time again, just give her a crack, and she’d find another way to kick it the door open.
She must have felt 15 feet tall when the Indiana Pacers had her hold up one of its jerseys with her name across the No. 15 in September of 1979. The number was special to her. It’s what she wore the four previous seasons as barrier-breaking All-American guard at UCLA, coming off a 27-2 season with a team that won the AIWA title under Billie Moore.
After college graduation, the pride of Sonora High of La Habra had already declined signing with the Women’s Professional Basketball League, wanting to keep her amateur status for the 1980 Olympics. But world events were changing fast.
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. 2:
= Tommy Lasorda: Los Angeles Dodgers = Kawhi Leonard: Los Angeles Clippers = Derek Fisher: Los Angeles Lakers = Morley Drury: USC football = Darryl Henley: UCLA football = Robert Woods: USC football, Los Angeles Rams
The not-so-obvious choices for No. 2:
= Lonzo Ball: Chino Hills High basketball, UCLA basketball, Los Angeles Lakers = Gianna Bryant: Mamba Academy basketball = Leo Durocher: Los Angeles Dodgers = Adam Kennedy: Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels = Cobi Jones: UCLA soccer = Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Los Angeles Clippers
The most interesting story for No. 2: Tommy Lasorda: Los Angeles Dodgers manager (1976 to 1996) Southern California map pinpoints: Fullerton, Los Angeles (Dodger Stadium)
Glendale, Arizona, 2010: Tom Hoffarth with Tommy Lasorda.
What’s your opinion of Tommy Lasorda?
Curses. We have quite a few to share.
He motivated and manipulated. He spoke in sound bites as deftly as he could unravel magnificent yarns of stories that seemed to good to be true.
But he always did better with an audience.
One day, at an event in downtown L.A., Lasorda grabbed me by the left forearm. There was urgency.
“We’re going to Paul’s Kitchen,” he said, leaning in. “You gotta go with us.”’
The invite to go to one of L.A.’s most historic Chinese restaurants seemed to mean — With Lasorda and six friends, you get extra egg rolls.
I couldn’t commit because of a deadline for a story to write. I had to take a Teriyaki rain check.
So, the Pied Piper that he was, Lasorda did the quick exit with and a group in tow, out the door of Sports Museum of L.A. — this was after a 2010 press conference that had to do with where Kirk Gibson’s 1988 Game 1 bat and uniform might end up going — and over to a familiar spot where he could hold court for the rest of the afternoon.
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. 6:
= Steve Garvey: Los Angeles Dodgers = Mark Sanchez: USC football, Mission Viejo High football = Eddie Jones: Los Angeles Lakers = Bronny James: USC basketball = Carl Furrillo: Los Angeles Dodgers = Sue Enquist: UCLA softball = Joe Torre: Los Angeles Dodgers manager
The not-so-obvious choices for No. 6: = Marc Wilson: Los Angeles Raiders = Anthony Rendon: Los Angeles Angels = Ron Fairly: Los Angeles Dodgers/California Angels via USC
The most interesting story for No. 6: Steve Garvey: Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman/first baseman (1969 to 1982) Southern California map pinpoints: Los Angeles (Dodger Stadium); Palm Springs
Steve Garvey offered a modest populist proposal in the fall of 2023 — nothing to do with endorsing another reverse mortgage plan, some hair restoration, weight-loss supplements or switching to dog food brands.
It would all happen very painlessly through something called efund.
Ah, the joy of six.
“Our campaign is focused on quality-of-life issues, public safety, and education. As a U.S. Senator, I will serve with commonsense, compassion, and will work to build consensus to benefit all of the people of California,” the script said quoting one of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ most popular and productive players in the 1970s and ’80s.
The CEO of Team Garvey said he needed a lot support as a Republican in a very Democratic state for the March 5, 2024 primaries.
None of this really came out of the blue.
During his baseball career, he had been planting seeds about his next career in some type of high-profile public office. For those who made a connection to the red No. 6 on the front of his Dodgers’ jersey — which he also carried onto a few more seasons in San Diego — the nostalgia was thick and the opportunity ripe as a controversial Republican president was somehow circling back to the pulpit and gaining momentum on a campaign of anti-blue sentiment.
The twist in all this — the California primaries reward the top two vote-getters regardless of party moved onto the Nov. 5 general election. In this wrestling match to finally get the seat once held by Diane Feinstein, Democratic candidate Adam Schiff was an early favorite but he created a campaign strategy targeting Garvey as his main competitor — inciting more Republican support for Garvey — because Democrat Katie Porter provided a far-more serious threat to Schiff.
As a result, Schiff manipulated it so he and Garvey finished 1-2 in the primaries with nearly the same number of votes.
Now there were eight months left of campaigning for a spot that really wasn’t that close.
Back in February of 2024, a Los Angeles Times story tried to layout the contradictory “family values” life Garvey has led coming to this point — including a disassociation with one of his daughters and his grandson. He has seven children. Not all keep in touch.
“Dozens of ex-athletes have attempted to transition into politics, some of them driven by noble aims. But what sets Garvey’s Senate run apart from all the others is that I’m not sure what it is about at all. In fact, it seems entirely devoid of a purpose beyond the name of the candidate himself.
“It’s not just that Garvey is running as a Republican in a deep-blue state in perhaps the most polarized era in modern American history; it’s that he doesn’t even seem to be trying. He speaks in aphorisms that mean absolutely nothing; he won’t even express a definitive opinion about the standard-bearer of his own party. It’s as if he’s running just to say he ran, because this is what he always appeared destined to do when he was younger. It’s as if he’s trying to fill out the gaps in his own story.
“There’s something kind of sad about this. But it also feels like a telling metaphor for modern American politics at a moment when celebrity has outweighed substance. Best as I can tell, Steve Garvey is running for office because of his own hollow conception of fame. …
“For a while, it appeared Garvey stood above it all, and then his own hypocrisy rendered him a punchline. Maybe it’s cynicism; maybe it’s naivete. But either way, it’s as if he’s trying one last time to will into truth his own hollow fiction.”
At the website Sons of Steve Garvey, billed as “random rantings and ravings about the Los Angeles Dodgers, written by a small consortium of rabid Dodger fans,” there was never a Garvey endorsement of his political aspiration.
We had a flashback to 1998 when we caught up with Garvey at a North Hollywood baseball card shop named Porky’s. At the time, Jessie “The Body” Ventura had just won the governorship Minnesota. Garvey told us that Barbara Boxer, who had just been re-elected California state senior, “could have been had” if another Republican — like him? — had stepped up to get that spot.
Even then, he said he had his eye on Feinstein, whose six-year term was coming up in 2000. But he knew he wasn’t getting any younger.
“You know, I’m going to be 50- in December,” he told me than (and he just had a two-week old daughter born).
A bumper sticker one can obtain with a donation to the Garvey campaign.
So now, in 2024, the 75-year-old Garv thought he could change the narrative of a “man of the people” journey.
A baseball card created for Garvey’s senate campaign issued to contributors.
Mailers to constituents tried to make his case through a mock up of a baseball card. Another mailer tried to make sure that even if he has supported Donald Trump in previous presidential elections, he would like to be thought of more as someone aligned with former president Ronald Reagan — sending out a 1984 photo of the two once together in San Diego.
Garvey tried to use a new-age baseball stat — Wins Above Replacement — as a way to show how Schiff’s shortcomings could be best measured.
The back side of the campaign card.
“He just doesn’t need to be replaced. He needs to be defeated,” Garvey wrote.
Even though a story in The Nation projected that Garvey could not be underestimated, it all played out as suspected. Photo ops on Skid Row in L.A. and a trip to Israel in the middle of a war to try to see for himself what was going on weren’t effective.
The fact remains that, by early November, Schiff easily send Garvey to the showers with a 59-41 percent victory that was called by an Associated Press projection about one minute after the California voting precincts closed.
Garvey (who goes with the social media handle of @SteveGarvey6) used even more twisted numerical logic in his November election-night remarks in Rancho Mirage, which occurred just days after the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series triumph, to make it appear he achieved something (by fact that California is the most populated state and likewise produces the most voters):
In baseball, like in many professional sports, there’s a tradition of members of the opposing team to congratulate the winners. Often times with a handshake on the field or even a visit to the opponent’s clubhouse. In that same spirit I congratulate Congressman Adam Schiff on his victory. Using their enormous power the voters have elected him the next U.S. Senator from California. And I respect that and wish him good choices for all of the people in the years to come. I want you to know that despite the outcome that when the counting is over we will have gotten the fourth-most number of votes in the country. This means that everyone in California does have a voice. And it will only grow louder and louder. ….
I fell in love with California since my first day when I arrived on September 1,1969, when I was a rookie with the Los Angeles Dodgers. And want it to once again be the heartbeat of America. And I want the American Dream to live on and thrive. Because as the great Ronald Reagan once said — “As long as that dream lives, as long as we continue to defend it, America has a future, and all mankind has reason to hope.” Thank you again. God bless you and God Bless America.
Tom Hoffarth's The Drill: More Farther Off the Wall 