We asked Dodger fans a simple question “who was the first person to make you a Dodger fan”. Whether it was family or players themselves, our Twitter and email inbox was blown up with amazing answers!
My grandfather and my mother. My grandfather lived in north hollywood when the dodgers, who he was already a fan of, moved to los angeles. He loved Koufax.
He made my mom a die hard fan who then loved Ron Cey.
They made me die hard with watching the '88 WS as a 5yo kid. pic.twitter.com/O6O0bN0Rf3
— Legenda[ryan] ? (@ryanatanner) March 17, 2020
My Dad. He took us to games all the time. When it was $12.00 for field level seats. We bleed blue. pic.twitter.com/iPoBSvftH9
— ??Liv A Little ?? (@LivHolton) March 17, 2020
$12!! incredible. (Editor’s note: I remember them days.) This next user on Twitter had one of the coolest stories on how she became a fan.
My grandpa did! He played in the 1947 World Series on the Brooklyn Dodgers. He’s known for his famous “catch.” So I grew up always hearing about that and all his other baseball endeavors. Being a Dodger fan is just in my blood???????? pic.twitter.com/hSiygM9aKj
— Nicollette Marie? (@itsnikkiiiibby) March 17, 2020
Terrell below is one of the best ways to become a fan as well…
Hearing Vince Scully call a game as a five year old boy. He made it seem as I was right there at the game. Plus his story telling was magical
— Terrell (@T_Champ_J2885) March 17, 2020
Really miss hearing Vinny.
We didn’t only get Twitter entries, we also got a ton of great email submissions! Here are a few of the best.
Lauren L.
My grandpa! My first memory of watching Dodgers baseball was with him, I was about 5/6 years old and sat right in front of his big chair. He taught me the game, the important of each player but mostly he gave me my love for Dodger baseball. It’s been 23 years and I still go over to my grandparents house I sit on the floor in front of his big chair and we watch the game together.
James G.
Watching the game with my dad on TV back when it was on FS1 and KCAL9 before spectrum. Also going to games watching Shawn Green, Jeff Weaver, Adrian Beltre, Eric Gagne, Paul La Duca in the early 2000s.
Christopher C.
In short, my Dad. I grew up in Orem, Utah and people always ask how I became such a big fan of the Dodgers. That goes back to when my Dad was growing up. For a short while when he was a young boy he and his family lived in the San Fransisco area. While living there my Uncle, who was only one year older, became a fan of the Giants. My Dad, being the competitive person he was, decided if his older brother was going to like the Giants then he was going to root for the Dodgers. So that’s what he did and he then passed that on to me!
Some of the most epic games I’ve been to in my lifetime have been when Matt Kemp, he was my favorite player at the time, hit a walk off home run in the 10th inning of the game against the Nationals in 2012 ruining Bryce Harper’s major league debut. I was also at Corey Seager’s 3 home run game against the Braves in 2016. Last year I traveled to LA with my 2 brothers, one of which followed Mike Piazza to the Mets becoming a Mets fan, for the game against the Mets last year when Alex Verdugo walked it off in the 9th after trailing by 5 going into the bottom of the 7th. The best part was, I warned my brother after Bellinger flew out in the 7th that if he got up again that game that the Dodgers were going to win!
Tom M.
As a young boy growing up in Philadelphia in the 1970s, I grew up idolizing Mike Schmidt. One sunny Saturday afternoon, I finally got to attend my first game and was looking forward to meeting Mike. Finally, there he was walking back to the dugout after pregame infield! I was ready with pen and ball in hand, along with my wide-eyed toothless grin. He walked right past me not even looking but simply said “not now kid. No time”. I was devastated. My young heart was ripped from my chest. Tears rolled down my face. I just wanted to go home and never come back (this was my first game ever!)
My parents somehow convinced me to stay and we waited for the visiting team to come out for BP. I simply wanted to leave. I knew nothing about this other team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. I did not even know where ”Los Angeles” was. All I can remember, while standing down the first baseline, is that this handsome man with a big smile and the largest forearms I had even seen saw that I was distraught and came over. He asked what was wrong and my father explained what just had happened.
Of course, that man was Steve Garvey. He was so kind and gentle to me. I really can’t recall exactly what he said but it literally, changed my life forever. He was very nice. He Signed several autographs, then asked some blond guy with a mustache, who walked funny to come over (obviously, Ron Cey!). They made a big fuss over me and jokingly said next time they come to town that they wanted to see me wearing blue. This would NOT be any problem for me! Back then, with only 2 divisions (East n west), teams made 2 trips to Philadelphia.
To top off of this life-changing interaction, Several weeks later, I received in the mail an autographed picture from Steve. Hence, my life long love affair with the Los Angeles Dodgers was born. Since then, I have cried many times for this team, as a young boy and even as grown man. The bond is that strong and it is forever.
Quin M.
Well like a lot of people, it was Vin Scully. As a boy in Phoenix (really Giants territory) I found the Dodger games on my AM/FM radio one summer and for years later I listen to Vin do his thing along with Jerry Doggett. My father taught me the ins and outs of football (LA Ram fan until they left LA) and basketball (Laker and Suns fan, go figure), but Vin taught me all about baseball. He was and is the best teacher and ambassador for baseball and for that I am eternally grateful. Baseball is the best of games, bar none. Thank you.
Final Thoughts
What better way to walk it off with another great Vin Scully story.
Don’t let the conversation end! How did you become a fan of the Dodgers?
NEXT: 18 Best Regular Season Games to Watch
