LOS ANGELES -- The pregame atmosphere at Dodger Stadium on Thursday felt a little different. Usually, batting practice is a sea of blue and white, but on this day, every player and coach took the field wearing a simple, powerful message: "Everyone deserves to be safe at home."
The T-shirts, featuring the slogan inside a home-plate design, weren't just a play on baseball terminology -- they were a signal of support for the Safe At Home Foundation, which was recognized prior to Thursday’s series finale against the Giants as part of a partnership to highlight domestic violence prevention and relationship safety.
Founded in 2002 by Hall of Famer and former Dodgers manager Joe Torre and his wife Ali, the foundation was born out of a deeply personal mission. Despite a storied career that included nine All-Star selections and four World Series titles as a manager, Torre carried a secret for decades: He grew up in a household defined by the fear of an abusive father.
"I was born in a home ... where my dad was abusive to my mom," Torre said. "It was something I never talked about because I was embarrassed about it, and I thought we were the only family dealing with it."
It wasn't until Torre attended a seminar in the mid-1950s that he began to understand that the nervousness and fear he felt as a child were common symptoms of domestic trauma. Today, his foundation operates Margaret’s Place -- named in honor of his mother -- providing safe rooms in schools staffed by Master’s-level counselors for children facing similar struggles.
"If we send those kids out after school and they don't have self-esteem [because of what they are dealing with at home], they're gonna be easily led and there are too many bad things that can happen out there," Torre said. "So we started [the] Safe at Home Foundation ... and I'm very proud of it."
Torre’s return to Blue Heaven also provided an opportunity to reflect on the organization he managed from 2008-10. He pointed to the stability established under current ownership and manager Dave Roberts as the engine behind the Dodgers' sustained success, including their back-to-back World Series championships in 2024-25.
"Success breeds success," Torre noted. "There’s a great deal of stability, which is so important in our game. Since Davey took over ... it’s not a mistake."
Torre specifically praised Roberts’ communication skills -- a trait Torre believes is essential for leadership in a modern clubhouse.
"The communication is so important," Torre explained. "Davey has been in the game as a player and coach and then a manager ... Nobody walks around with a curiosity about what's going on. Everybody knows where the leadership is coming from, and they jump on board."
Even with four World Series rings, a plaque in Cooperstown and his number retired by the Yankees, Torre insists that the true measure of a career isn't found in a trophy case.
"I think it’s relationships," Torre said. "It’s always a bond that you had from the time that you did something special together, and it doesn't go away. I'm always appreciative of the relationships that continue to be vital."
That commitment to staying present -- and the belief that the moment an individual stops looking forward, they lose their edge -- is why the game has remained a constant, evolving experiment for Torre across six decades.
"I can honestly say the game always felt brand new to me," Torre said. "It’s like putting a puzzle together, especially as a manager. You want to find a way to make it work, and there's always a challenge out there. Any time you sit back and say, 'Look what I've done,' I think you've stopped doing it. I don't care what line of work you're in -- once you stop to admire what you accomplished, you really stop working at it."
As the Dodgers took the field Thursday, that bond was on full display -- not just in their pursuit of another win, but in their unified support of a man whose biggest save has nothing to do with the ninth inning, but with the 50,000 children his foundation reaches annually.
For the kids coming through Margaret’s Place, the message on those T-shirts isn't just a slogan; it’s a promise.
"We're here to raise awareness. Domestic violence is a very tough subject to talk about, but it's reality and you can't hide from it," Torre said. "We want to be able to have people connect. That's the message we want to get across -- that it's OK to talk about it and don't hide it. You've got to really face it up.”
For those looking to learn more about the organization or to find resources for those in need, visit safeathome.org.