1964

February 23, 1964

Travel writer Stephen J. Flynn writes of the special relationship held by the City of Vero Beach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. "It is doubtful if any Los Angeles fans are more rabid about the Dodgers than the local residents and perennial winter visitors to Vero Beach….The team's training camp is probably the biggest in all baseball. Called Dodgertown, it was established in 1948 on the site of an old naval air station by Dodger boss Walter O'Malley. Dodgertown is conceded by many experts to be the largest and most advanced baseball school in the world, with facilities for well over 700 players and a staff of up to 100."  1

March 2, 1964

Bob Hunter writes Jim Gilliam was missing on the Dodger flight to Vero Beach for Spring Training. Gilliam told his family when they didn't see anyone of the Dodger party at the airport that "I'm always early for these things." Gilliam arrived at the airport at 11 a.m., but the flight left at 10 a.m.  2

March 2, 1964

Sid Ziff of the Los Angeles Times writes of the time Dodger coach Leo Durocher asked for a refrigerator in his room to keep bottled water at a cool temperature. Durocher had expected a small room refrigerator for his room at Dodgertown. Imagine his surprise when the largest refrigerator model that could fit into his room was brought to him!  3

March 3, 1964

It's not all baseball that is played in Dodgertown. Columnist Sid Ziff writes of poker games that are played in Dodgertown following dinner. "We learn, too," wrote Ziff, "the Dodgers are hooked on a screwball game of poker which they play for penny-ante stakes. (Al) Ferrara tried to explain it to me but it sounds daffier than the games Peter O'Malley invents for the press room after dinner."  4

March 3, 1964

Dodger outfielder Al Ferrara tells columnist Sid Ziff of the advantages of Dodgertown for young players. "The way the camp is set up a rookie gets to know everybody," explained Ferrara. "When you come up to the majors it's not like you're in a new, strange world. You're among friends. You don't say, 'Oh boy, here I am in the majors and start getting scared. That's one of the big advantages of this club. It's why everyone pulls together."  5

March 5, 1964

Hall of Fame left hand pitcher Vernon (Lefty) Gomez is a visitor to Dodgertown. Gomez told the story of Babe Ruth asking Gomez whether he was the starting pitcher for games. If Gomez told the Sultan of Swat he was the Yankee starting pitcher that day, Ruth would reply, "Hold 'em to five runs and we'll beat 'em."  6

March 7, 1964

In a switch from their regular duties, Dodger beat writers managed the game and Dodger manager Walter Alston wrote the game story for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. Bob Hunter managed one team for a Dodger intrasquad game and Los Angeles Times Frank Finch managed the other Dodger team. Alston then wrote a game story for the Herald-Examiner criticizing Hunter for his managerial moves.  7

March 7, 1964

The Los Angeles Dodger players and coaches held a clinic for Florida area baseball coaches at Dodgertown. Approximately 80 coaches accepted the invitation.  8

March 9, 1964

Dodger Vice President Fresco Thompson recalls that nearly 500 players were in the 1949 Spring Training program at Dodgertown. This season, slightly more than 220 minor league players were in camp.  9

March 13, 1964

The Dodgers defeated the Mexico City Tigers, 8-3 in a game played in Mexico City. Sandy Koufax pitched four innings and Don Drysdale worked two innings. 10 The game in Mexico City was televised locally in Los Angeles on KMEX Channel 34. The game was viewed on a tape delayed basis from the night before. 11

March 14, 1964

The President of Mexico, Adolfo Lopez Mateos, is a surprise guest at the game between the Dodgers and the Mexico City Rojo Diablos. The Dodgers would defeat Mexico City in the game, 10-3. The Dodger players honored the President of Mexico by leaving their dugout and before the President's box, offered a salute to him by removing their caps. The fans rewarded the team with a huge ovation. Dodger owner Walter O'Malley spoke highly of the fans in Mexico City. "The Dodgers have been in Japan, Cuba, Venezuela, Panama, and the Dominican Republic," said O'Malley, "but the enthusiasm of the President of Mexico and that of the fans, was unprecedented in our travels." O'Malley also expressed praise for the youth baseball program in Mexico.  12

March 17, 1964

The Dodgers hold their annual St. Patrick's Day Party at Dodgertown. Recording and Broadway star Dorothy Collins provided the main entertainment, but Dodger players had their opportunity in the spotlight. Maury Wills played his banjo, Tommy Davis was there with a claviata and infielder Nate Oliver sang. 13 Frank Finch wrote in his notes that singer Collins thought Oliver sang well enough to be recorded.   14

March 17, 1964

Dodger Vice President Buzzie Bavasi grabbed a bat and jumped into the batter's box to face Dodger left hand pitcher Johnny Podres. Bavasi's first swing was a clean single. The next pitch by Podres had Bavasi hitting the dirt.  15

March 18, 1964

Florida Governor Farris Bryant is present at Dodgertown to throw the first ball as the Dodgers open their 1964 exhibition season. The Dodgers defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 3-1.  16

March 21, 1964

Jim Gilliam was on the coaching lines for the Dodgers in a Spring Training game. After the 1964 season, the Dodgers would name Gilliam to the major league coaching staff to be one of the first African-American coaches. Gilliam would be a player-coach for the Dodgers in 1965 and 1966 and made the game saving play in the seventh game of the 1965 World Series to help the Dodgers win, 2-0.  17

March 29, 1964

Sandy Koufax pitches eight innings for a complete game in Spring Training, but loses, 3-1 to Minnesota. Koufax had made his Spring Training debut on March 17 and pitched five innings.  18

March 30, 1964

The opening day of the 1964 Indian River County Little League season in Vero Beach was attended by Dodger players and the team owner. Players Don Drysdale and Ron Fairly are present along with Dodger owner Walter O'Malley and Dodgertown Camp Director Peter O'Malley.  19

March 30, 1964

Future Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda showed his personal skills in a camp game of Dodger minor leaguers. He was a coach for the Salem club who was playing the St. Petersburg club. In the bottom of the ninth inning with the score tied, an error by a young shortstop on the Salem club allowed the winning run to score. As the winning run crossed the plate, a storm came in and it was a drencher. All the players ran off the field for cover except the young shortstop who stood there in the pouring rain. Lasorda knew the shortstop was taking the loss and the error hard and even though he was being soaked, ran out to the player. "What's wrong?" asked Lasorda and the player said he lost the game with his error. As the rain came down in a torrent, Lasorda said, "Son, that's not the first error you ever made, nor the last. You tried your best and that's all anyone can ask. Go get dressed. Tomorrow will be another day."  20

March 31, 1964

The Los Angeles Dodger team visited Cape Kennedy in Cocoa Beach, Florida before their scheduled exhibition game with the Houston Astros.  21

April 4, 1964

The regard the Dodger team and players had for Jim Gilliam is reflected in a feature in The Sporting News. Manager Walter Alston said of Gilliam, "He doesn't make any mistakes….If I had eight like him, I wouldn't have to have a single sign." Gilliam was asked why he was spending so much time with young infielder Nate Oliver on learning to play second base if Oliver was slated to take the position. Gilliam answered, "I'm just helping him. I'm not teaching anyone to take my job. I'll play my 145 games (this season) some place. Don Drysdale said of Gilliam, "Jim's a pro. He knows the game inside out and how to handle any situation that comes up."  22

September 24, 1964

The Los Angeles Dodgers agree to purchase the property that consists of Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida from the city of Vero Beach. 23   The Vero Beach Press Journal reported "The (Vero Beach) City Council has repeatedly recognized that the Brooklyn Dodgers and now the Los Angeles Dodgers have been highly desirable tenants. They have put Vero Beach and Indian River county on the map as have few other organizations. They have kept in excellent repair and improved airport barracks building built to last but for the duration of World War II. They built Holman Stadium and beautified it and kept it in excellent shape, and they permit its use for public functions of countywide interest. All of the Dodgertown properties have been well maintained."   24

1 ^ Stephen J. Flynn, Los Angeles Times, February 23, 1964

2 ^ Bob Hunter, March 2, 1964, Los Angeles Herald-Examiner

3 ^ Sid Ziff, Los Angeles Times, March 2, 1964

4 ^ Sid Ziff, Los Angeles Times, March 3, 1964

5 ^ Sid Ziff, Los Angeles Times, March 3, 1964 

6 ^ Sid Ziff, Los Angeles Times, March 5,1964

7 ^ Bob Hunter, Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, March 7, 1964

8 ^ Bob Hunter, Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, March 5, 1964

9 ^ Frank Finch, Los Angeles Times, March 9, 1964

10 ^ Bob Hunter, Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, March 14, 1964

11 ^ Don Page, Los Angeles Times, March 14, 1964

12 ^ Bob Hunter, The Sporting News, March 28, 1964

13 ^ Bob Hunter, The Sporting News, April 4, 1964

14 ^ Frank Finch, Los Angeles Times, March 18, 1964

15 ^ Frank Finch, Los Angeles Times, March 17, 1964

16 ^ Indian River News, March 19, 1964

17 ^ Bob Hunter, Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, March 22, 1964

18 ^ Frank Finch, Los Angeles Times, March 29, 1964

19 ^ Indian River News, April 9, 1964

20 ^ Frank Finch, Los Angeles Times, March 30, 1964

21 ^ Frank Finch, March 29, 1964

22 ^ Bob Hunter, The Sporting News, April 4, 1964     

23 ^ Los Angeles Times, September 24, 1964

24 ^ William Jackson, Vero Beach Press Journal, September 24, 1964

For more on the history of the Dodgers Spring Training visit walteromalley.com