'A slice of heaven'

"STEM Day" at the park, with thousands of

elementary students in attendance for a 12 noon

game. I went to my first game at age 8

in 1962, the first year Dodger Stadium

was open.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

(Disclaimer: If you're not a Dodgers fan, read no further. Go to other blog entries.)

It was a slice of heaven, a day at Dodger Stadium that was two years in the making (following health issues, etc.)

L.A. got their stuff handed to them, but the facility continues to be one of the highlights of the major leagues, with all the remodeling and displays that surround the stadium. I missed the Jackie Robinson statue, which I've seen before but which has been moved. There was just too much going on in the hubbub of finding handicapped parking, getting into the park, and getting situated.

The upper deck, where we sat, has beautiful displays of yearly All-Stars at each position--imagine the rich history of the franchise in Brooklyn and Los Angeles to have enough players to fill out that kind of lineup.

And the present edition of the team is so star-studded (but playing poorly right now, as happens in baseball--winning five, losing seven of their last dozen games), that you kind of gasp to realize the names that are running out their positions everyday (or positioning for the DH spot, in the case of Shohei Ohtani). Mookie Betts, moved from right field to second base, now to shortstop, is excelling and sailing forward in his gaudy start to the 2024 season.

Freddie Freeman, the other superstar in the Dodgers' 1-2-3 spots in the batting order behind Betts and Ohtani, is slumping right now. But he is a .330 hitter for his career, so in the course of the 162-game baseball season, this is a slight blip for him.

All in all, a wonderful day. A 12:10 p.m. game, which made it all possible to get up to L.A., leaving in the morning. Then enjoying the full game, then three-hour return drive to land back at the pad by 6:15 p.m. A full day. A good day.