Tagged: Bill Plaschke

We Salute You!

Today, on Veteran’s Day, everyone at the Dodger organization salutes those who sacrifice for others to make this country what is is today. There are so many great things going on around the nation today, including a really exciting event at Dodger Stadium where members of the military will be taking BP, hanging out on the field, meeting legends like Tommy and Newk and enjoying a great day at the stadium.

Before that, we’ll head out to the Veteran’s Hospital in Westwood with Tommy and Vin Scully to spend some time with those who are there and thank them for their service. It’s all part of a larger program we’ll be starting in 2011 to honor the military.

The Dodgers Media Network (www.dodgers.com/dmn) has a great tribute video to Dodger legend Rick Monday’s proud moment of saving the flag, while Bill Plaschke weighed in this morning with a heartfelt column as well.

And while we’re saluting the efforts of others, it’s important to note that Joe Torre will host his annual Safe at Home dinner tonight in New York to benefit the great work that his foundation does to stop domestic violence, while Ryan Theriot’s inaugural celebrity golf classic is tomorrow in Louisiana to benefit three great causes (www.ryantheriot.com).  

Garret Anderson, Jay Gibbons, Sylvia Fisk and Esther Rosen

In today’s L.A. Times, Bill Plaschke found one of the amazing stories in the building so make sure you check it out. It’s always great to see some of the hard working people here get some recognition and the incredible thing is, there are stories like this behind so many people who work for the Dodgers, yet few ever learn of their tales.

It’s only fitting, since Bill points out that they’ve never met a player in four decades of Sylvia working here, that we put their names in the headline with two players who made news today. The club designated Garret Anderson for assignment to make room for Jay Gibbons, who has been tearing up Triple-A all season long after spending last year retired in Thousand Oaks. Garret has been a class act throughout a difficult year and we wish him well. Hopefully Jay can come up with some big hits for this club in the final seven-plus weeks of the season.

As for Sylvia and Esther, the timing of the story was also ironic because yesterday we had the latest installment of the Starting 9 program. Various stadium workers – from ushers to ticket takers, security to parking attendants and food service workers, etc. are nominated by their colleagues to be their department’s member of the Starting 9. Those nine employees then get to watch batting practice from the field, meet a Dodger player and, here’s the kicker: Meet Vin Scully.

It’s awesome to see the reaction on their faces when they meet the person who ties all Dodger generations together and hopefully Sylvia will be honored in the future if she hasn’t been already.