Ending OUR Glory Days by Exiting Vero Beach

[Paulmcall]

I hear that the Dodgers are talking about leaving their Florida spring training home. Sounds familiar?

[Shotgun Shuba]

They aint just talkin'. They is doing.

For them to have stayed so long in Florida is a miracle and when they finally do leave in a couple of years it will be a very sad day for me. Almost like the last link to Brooklyn will be gone forever and the conversion will be complete. I will also miss those wonderful early March days when the Mets would be battling the Dodgers and you just felt like there was hope for the world after all.

[EbtsFldGuy]

They aint just talkin'. They is doing.

For them to have stayed so long in Florida is a miracle and when they finally do leave in a couple of years it will be a very sad day for me. Almost like the last link to Brooklyn will be gone forever and the conversion will be complete. I will also miss those wonderful early March days when the Mets would be battling the Dodgers and you just felt like there was hope for the world after all.

Once again, Shotgun has nailed it.

Since they moved their minor league teams out of the East, it IS odd that they stayed in Florida so long. With travel costs, it made little sense.

I hope to visit Vero Beach before they leave - again ,like my visit to Dodger Stadium last November, for closure.

Sadly, the tangible reminders of the Brooklyn days are approaching extinction.

[Mattingly]

I hear that the Dodgers are talking about leaving their Florida spring training home. Sounds familiar?

I'm curious, how long have the Dodgers (since Brooklyn) had ST in Florida? I thought that now being a west coast team, they'd been in the Cactus League in Arizona.

[DODGER DEB]

That piece of land in Vero Beach, FL was bought sometime after WWII, and developed soon after into (what IMO) is the premier MLB ST site. Since that time the BROOKLYN DODGERS and that west coast group have always trained in Vero Beach. It is an incredible place; almost like a city within a city. I loved being there!

c.

[JamesWest]

The Dodgers began spring training in Vero Beach in 1949.

[D6+]

Once again, Shotgun has nailed it.

Since they moved their minor league teams out of the East, it IS odd that they stayed in Florida so long. With travel costs, it made little sense.

I hope to visit Vero Beach before they leave - again ,like my visit to Dodger Stadium last November, for closure.

Sadly, the tangible reminders of the Brooklyn days are approaching extinction.

Other than Los Angeles' Rookie League team in Vero Beach, they still have two Minor League Teams in the Eastern Time Zone. Their AA team is in Jacksonville, with the nickname of the Suns. Ironically, Jacksonville has an NFL team and Los Angeles doesn't.

Also, Los Angeles has an A ball team in Midland, MI, which is in the Thumb Area of the State. The team's name is the Great Lakes Loons. It's probably a matter of time before Los Angeles tries to concentrate their entire operation in the Western Half of the Country.

[D6+]

I came across an article in the Palm Beach Post that relates to the Los Angeles NL Franchise moving their Spring Training complex from Vero Beach to Glendale, AR. Though I understand the writer's ( Dave George ) frustration, he couldn't be more off base with what he wrote in the last sentence of this article. The following is that last sentence. I'll put it in quotes:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/content/sports/epaper/2007/07/04/a1c_george_0704.html

"Enough to turn the Dodgers, the last of the loyalists, into tumbleweeds, too"

[DODGER DEB]

I came across an article in the Palm Beach Post that relates to the Los Angeles NL Franchise moving their Spring Training complex from Vero Beach to Glendale, AR.

"Enough to turn the Dodgers, the last of the loyalists, into tumbleweeds, too"

A few years ago, WE experienced the Palm Beach Post through their Vero Beach paper. It seems they can "dish it out", but have a real problem "taking it", when it's done to them!

What goes around, comes around!

c.

[EbtsFldGuy]

I must confess: Dodgertown is one of the places I want to visit before taking leave of this life.

Looks like next spring is the last time to see the ex-Brooks there.

Will have to start planning, if only to see whatever vestiges of the Brooklyn days exist down there.

[DODGER DEB]

I must confess: Dodgertown is one of the places I want to visit before taking leave of this life.

Looks like next spring is the last time to see the ex-Brooks there.

Will have to start planning, if only to see whatever vestiges of the Brooklyn days exist down there.

You should go, EFG! It is truly one magnificent place.

Assuming that McCourt left all the BROOKLYN items in place, they are not to be missed.

I absolutely loved it!

c.

[EbtsFldGuy]

You should go, EFG! It is truly one magnificent place.

Assuming that McCourt left all the BROOKLYN items in place, they are not to be missed.

I absolutely loved it!

c.

Thanks, Deb. Your positive experience there nails it for me. I'm going . (Now for the hard part = to convince my bride that she'd find it interesting.)

Did you find much left from the Brooklyn days?

I'd welcome hearing about your visit there.

[DODGER DEB]

Thanks, Deb. Your positive experience there nails it for me. I'm going . (Now for the hard part = to convince my bride that she'd find it interesting.)

Did you find much left from the Brooklyn days?

I'd welcome hearing about your visit there.

The last time I was there was in the Spring of 1977, although I had been there once before.

In 1977 there was quite a few BROOKYLN items there. There are the Offices, the Clubhouse, and a Press Room, all with many photos and awards of OUR BROOKLYN DODGERS. They had also renamed several of the "streets" to honor some of OUR DODGERS. There is also a golf course. Also, in 1977 the DODGER Plane was parked on the grounds.

The place is so spreadout, it's like a little city unto itself.

Holman Stadium is a great place to see a ballgame.

Under the McCourt management, I am not sure what has been changed or added, but I am sure most of it is still in place.

EFG, you (and your bride) will enjoy the atmosphere, just walking around and remembering all the BROOKLYN history that walked and played on that mini hallowed ground.

Do take lots of pics, as you will be one of the last to see it, as Dodgertown!

Like everything else before it, it is definitely very sad to see it "go".

c.

[D6+]

[/B]

A few years ago, WE experienced the Palm Beach Post through their Vero Beach paper. It seems they can "dish it out", but have a real problem "taking it", when it's done to them!

What goes around, comes around!

c.

DODGER DEB, after reading one of the Palm Beach Post related threads from early 2004 ( if I recall correctly ) last week, I can totally appreciate where you are coming from.


Interestingly, I came across an article from the NY Times, from June 4, 1958 , that mentioned that then GM of the International League Miami Marlins Joe Ryan decided to evict the LA Imposters ( starting in 1959 ) from playing in Spring Training Games at Miami Stadium. Despite being based on Vero Beach, the Dodgers played a few games a season in Miami.

Joe Ryan mentioned that one of two reasons for the decision was because of the franchise no longer being on the East Coast. This was significant to Ryan because Miami was ( still is ) primarily a destination for people on the East Coast. The other reason was Ryan felt the team wasn't the top attraction from a player personality standpoint any longer. Though Ryan's motives were business oriented, I'm certainly glad he made the decision.

[Paulmcall]

It will be a sad day when they leave for the locals.