JC's Dodger Snapshots | June's Best of the Rest

Dodger closer Jonathan Broxton delivers a pitch to the Phillies' Chase Utley.

As a kid, I was amazed by the circular stairway leading up to the bottom of the primary scoreboard behind the right-field pavilion.

Moving toward the left field corner, the base of the foul pole extends out ready to give a tricky bounce to any ball that might strike it.

In my best Tommy Chong voice, "Wow, man, that's a trip."

The retired number of Dodger legend Sandy Koufax hangs under the roof of the right-field pavilion. This is the format for all the retired Dodger numbers except...

...except for the only number retired throughout baseball, in honor of the man who reintegrated baseball, the immortal Jackie Robinson.

Underneath the left field pavilion, there is a small room for the Dodger pitchers to hang out in. There are a few different chairs in the room, but one that is far nicer than the rest.

A couple of metal rings hand from under the left field stands that allow Dodger pitchers a chance to stretch out the muscles in their arms before hitting the bullpen mound and preparing for action.

Just after the final out in the final Dodger game in Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, the Dodgers had home plate dug up and transported West with the team to Los Angeles.

It now resides in a display case behind home plate in the dining room for the field box club.

Also on display is this silver platter that was presented to Pee Wee Reese by the entire team. It is engraved with the signatures of all his teammates.

The platter was gifted to the Dodgers by the Reese family after his death.

Also on display is a game worn Brooklyn Dodger home jersey with the No. 14 of Gil Hodges. The Hall of Fame voters should be ashamed they never voted in enough numbers for this eight-time All-Star to be enshrined.

Hodges was also the manager of the 1969 Miracle Mets, who went from ninth place in 1968 to the World Championship the next year.

Various paths in at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla., were named for the Hall of Fame Dodgers. Here is one of the Jackie Robinson Ave. signs also with a photo of Vin Scully the day a street was named for him.

Special edition black bats with the engraved signatures of all the players served as World Championship trophies until 1967, when the commissioner's trophy was first created.

The 1988 World Championship trophy is at the far right of this shot.

Copies of the World Series Program from the championship years are also on display.

On the other side of the pathway down to the restaurant above the Dodger Dog condiment station sits the 1981 World Championship Trophy.

A nice thing to gaze up at while putting the mustard and onions on your dog.

Even though the 1984 Olympic Games was the first Games to feature baseball, it was a demonstration sport and thus not considered in the medal tally for the countries.

The Olympic Organizing Committee saw fit to create a set of Olympic Medals to award the Dodgers for hosting the event.

Along the corridor leading to the elevators, is a time line of major events in Dodger history. This segment comes from the latter days in Brooklyn and early days in Los Angeles.

A youngster gazes at his batting glove while waiting to take his turn in the batting cage during the "Under The Lights" night at Dodger Stadium.

Can it get any better than playing catch with your Dad in the outfield of Dodger Stadium? Not for a LA kid it can't.

A Dodger fan hits the wall in left field making a game saving catch (in her mind). Good for her.

Dodger legend Steve Garvey was on hand to pose for photos with the fans, along with former third baseman Ron Cey and current catcher Russell Martin.

Members of the Dodger Ambassador staff who are on hand to assist fans.

The Dodgers have done a excellent job in training a large staff to handle the needs and questions Dodger fans may have. The level of service compares favorably to a five-star hotel.

An interesting view toward home plate from the first base bag POV.

With my feet on the warning track, a look in from ground level towards home. One of the most interesting things to me was how low the grass it trimmed.

Think I'll have to find out more about the surface from some of the grounds crew.

Liked this shot of a ball laying on the painted foul line.

I do prefer the original field configuration, where the foul lines were in a dirt lane and made of chalk. I'm fairly certain this current way of dressing the field is easier to maintain, but that should not be the point.

The team has really gone out of their way to welcome yours truly, and I greatly appreciate it.

Not quite the way Bill Engvall means rather...

...to give a perspective of where the Dodgers hold out a chair for the chosen blogger.

Looking down the walkway towards the field where the Hall of Fame honored Dodger media are recognized.

Vin Scully, Jamie Jarrin, Bob Hunter, Ross Newhan, and Jim Murray are the enshrinees.

When I first saw this photo, it really cracked me up.

Looks to me like James is giving his best James Cagney "You dirty rat" impression.

Jersey's depicting all the retired numbers in Dodger history line the walkway as the players make their way to the clubhouse.

An empty frame waits for the next inductee, a reminder of what is possible for the player who achieves great things.

Say hello to Brooklyn legend Don Newcombe.

Don won the third ever Rookie of the Year award in 1949, and was the NL MVP and Cy Young winner in 1956.

He is a special advisor to the Dodger Chairman Frank McCourt and director of the team's community relations department, a position he has held since the department was created in 1970.

A normal angle view while sitting on top of the bench in the Dodger dugout.

Injured Dodger hitter Doug Mientkiewicz takes some cuts in the batting cage has he works to try and return to the team for the stretch run.

Implements of destruction await their call at the Dodger bat rack.

View from the loge (second) level of pitchers taking their batting practice. Here we see Hiroki Kuroda taking a cut.

Often times, starting pitchers have season long bets for things such as batting average, home runs and sacrifice bunt totals.

Workers get ready for the throng of hungry fans they will serve for the next couple of hours. Umm, I'll have two Dodger Dogs and an large coke please.

Need something to wet your whistle? Thank you, I'll have a dark beer.

Fresh after taking some BP, the Dodgers Andre Ethier stops for a second to say hello to the fans.

You can find a link to Andre's "Dining With 'Dre" site at the Dodger web site, in which he reviews Mexican restaurants in his native Phoenix area. I asked if he was going to do the same with LA eateries, but said time frames make it difficult.

I would imagine so, since nearly every Mexican restaurant in the LA area would want him to stop by, and there are more than a few if you catch my meaning.

...one will travel into the heart of the Dodger clubhouse and other facilities for the team. The training room, exercise room, and lounge are for player's and staff only.

Copyright © 2009, JC Ayvazi and Cathy de León. All rights reserved.