Are You True Blue?
What do I mean by true blue? Well, over the years I have seen my share of bandwagon and fair-weather fans. True blue fans stick with the team no matter what. Their allegiance to the team never waivers. Not when a favorite is traded or lost to free agency, not when the team…
What do I mean by true blue? Well, over the years I have seen my share of bandwagon and fair-weather fans. True blue fans stick with the team no matter what. Their allegiance to the team never waivers. Not when a favorite is traded or lost to free agency, not when the team suffers through bad years. They just remain true.
Since their arrival in LA, the Dodgers have had a lot more success on the field than the team ever did in Brooklyn. They have now spent close to an equal time in each city. If you count the years from 1890 when the NL was formed to 1957 when the team played their last season in Brooklyn, you have 67 years. Now they have been in LA since 1958, 68 years in LA. Brooklyn won one World Series and lost eight. LA has won eight and lost six. Brooklyn lost the two playoffs they were in to the Cardinals in 1946 and the Giants in 1951.
The Brooklyn Dodgers lost 100 games or more twice, in 1905 and 08. LA has never lost 100, the closest they came was 99 in 1992. In Brooklyn, the players lived in the community in which they played. The everyday folks, the fans, lived next door to guys like Hodges, Reese, Snider. They lived and shopped in those communities. Of course, they were not making millions in those days. Most players had offseason jobs in their home states. Some, like Campanella, owned their own businesses.
It is so much different now. If a player lives in LA, it is usually in one of the higher end neighborhoods. Back in the 70’s, many Dodger stars lived in Calabasas’s or other places removed from the downtown area. Many also went back to their home states. Other than spring training, fans get very few real opportunities to interact with their favorites. And when they do, it is usually in a controlled environment.
Card shows, planned public appearances scheduled by the team. Things of that nature. Dodger Fest is a huge part of that now, and the fact that so many fans attend an event for which admission is charged, shows how powerful the teams’ connection with their fans now is.
I have told this story more than a few times, but when I was living in Highland Park at a home for kids, two Dodgers, Larry and Norm Sherry, moved into a new housing development that was built where there had been nothing but a dirt road and fields where we used to play capture the flag and stuff like that. We even had an archery range there.
They had used earth movers to fill in that area and then they extended 66th Avenue about 12 blocks and built houses on all of it. Larry lived 3 houses from the home on the same side of the street and Norm was 5 houses up. They were nice to all of the kids in the neighborhood, and I am sure made some Dodger fans for life. They also asked us kids to shag balls for them when they started working out before heading to Vero.
At that time, I was already hooked on the game and the team. It has never changed. Even all the time I spent not living in Los Angeles, or California, hasn’t changed my love of the team. When I first moved to Arizona, all of the people around me said, oh, you have to root for the D-Backs because you live here. My reply was not a chance. The Dodgers are my team and always will be.
It is funny to me because when I lived there, the biggest draw to their ballpark was the Cubs. There were so many transplanted Chicagoans there. It was amazing. During spring training, the Cubs games were packed.
If ever my fandom was tested, it was during McCourt’s era. I was not much of a fan of FOX’s ownership era either. Yep, the Piazza trade, and a couple of other moves they made. After the O’Malley era, it seemed like they got some guys who just did not fit the Dodger image. Maybe that was the problem. The image of the Dodgers was that they were like a family and therefore were part of yours. I know I brought up my girls to love the team!
That worked until they grew up and got married. My oldest is still a Dodger fan, but Carrie is a Giant fan like her hubby. A couple of my granddaughters like the Giants too. My grandson could care less. I try not to have favorite players nowadays. Too much chance they move on in free agency or a trade. That is why I thought it was so important that the Dodgers keep Kershaw. At least Kersh went out a winner. Koufax had to suffer the indignity of a sweep.
No matter what, I will never change my loyalty to the team. We have been through so much together. I am happy that I have been alive to witness every one of their championships. I have a really good friend who is a die-hard Cubs fan. He has only 2016 to brag about. I really caught it in the three seasons that the Giants won the series. My daughter and her hubby held that over me until for me payback arrived when the Dodgers beat the division winning Giants in 21.
I cannot get to games like I used to. But every night on MLB.TV, I watch the games. I also have the ability to go back two years and watch the last two playoff seasons. And I can still go and look at the game where Shohei hit his 50th homer and became the first ever 50/50 player. For me, having a Dodger do that first, well, that is a special moment for a true-blue fan!
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
It wasn’t a pretty night for the LAD MiLB teams, and the relievers seemed to take the night off all the way down the organization.
Charlotte Knights (CWS) 12 – OKC Comets 7
After 3 batters, OKC took a 3-0 lead. LF Zach Ehrhard led off the game with a double (15). CF Tommy Edman singled and Ehrhard moved to 3rd. With one out, RF Jack Suwinski hit a 3-run HR (16).
LHSP Charlie Barnes retired the side in order in the 1st. But that did not continue. In the 2nd inning he issued a BB to the leadoff batter, then struck out the next two. The next batter hit a run scoring double.
With Barnes still pitching in the 4th, he gave up a leadoff double, a sac bunt where the batter reached on a fielder’s choice and the runner moving up to 3rd. After an RBI single, Barnes served up a 3-run HR.
OKC went back in front in the 5th. C Eliézer Alfonzo singled to start the inning. 3B Taylor Young hit a 2-run HR, his first in AAA. Ehrhard singled and Edman drew a BB. 1B James Tibbs III flew into a double play 8-4-3 doubling Edman on 1B. The 1B made a throwing error on the play and Ehrhard scored.
RHRP Griff McGarry entered in the 5th. He got the first two outs, and then proceeded to walk the next four giving the Knights another run.
After a scoreless 6th for both teams, Charlotte put up 5 in the bottom of the 7th. LHRP Ronan Kopp was starting his 2nd inning and gave up a leadoff solo HR. That was followed by a single and 2 strikeouts. Kopp gave up a run scoring triple and was then lifted for RHRP Nick Frasso. Frasso unleased a WP allowing the runner on third to come home. He then gave up a single and 2-run HR.
In the 8th, Suwinski hit his 2nd HR (17) of the game.
RHRP Chayce McDermott relieved Frasso in the 8th. A BB and 2 singles and Charlotte scored another.
- Jack Suwinski – 3-4, 2 runs, 4 RBI, 2 HR (17)
- Zach Ehrhard – 2-3, 2 runs, double (15)
- Taylor Young – 1-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (1)
Wichita Wind Surge (Minnesota) 14 – Tulsa Drillers 0
There was two positive aspects to this game. Josue De Paula had 2 hits, and Mike Sirito drew a walk to reach base in his 51st consecutive game.
I was disappointed with RHRP Peter Heubeck who could not get out of the 1st inning.
C Frank Rodriguez was the most effective pitcher of the night and was the only pitcher to complete 2.0 innings, both innings scoreless.
Just move on.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5 – Great Lakes Loons 3 – Game 1, 7 Innings
LHSP Jakob Wright allowed 4 singles in the 1st inning. One was erased on a DP, but a run scored on the 4th single.
Great Lakes put up 3 in the 4th. With one out, 2B Eduardo Guerrero singled and went to 3rd on C Anson Aroz’s double (2).1B Cameron Decker drew a walk to load the bases. RF Samuel Munoz singled home a pair and sent Decker to 3rd where he scored on a 2B Jose Izarra SF.
In the bottom of the 4th, Wright allowed a BB and a 2-out 2-run HR to tie the game.
With LHP Jacob Frost in relief of Wright allowed a BB and another 2-run HR giving Wisconsin a 5-3 lead,
As it turns out, the three hits in the 4th inning by the Loons were their only hits on the night.
Great Lakes Loons 5 – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3 – Game 2, 7 Innings
RHSP Christian Zazueta got the first two outs in the 1st inning, then walked 2 and gave up a run scoring single.
In the 2nd inning, GL put up a pair after 2 outs. LF Samuel Munoz was HBP, and DH Cameron Decker hit a 2-run HR and a 2-1 lead.
Zazueta retired the side in order in the 2nd and 3rd innings. In the 4th, Zazueta gave up a single, but got the next two batters out, but for some reason, he was lifted for RHRP Nicolas Cruz. Zazueta only threw 53 pitches, 33 for strikes. Why was he lifted?
With Cruz still on the mound, he issued a 1 out BB, and threw a 2 out WP before giving up a run scoring single to tie the game.
In the bottom of the 5th, 2B Jose Izarra drew a BB and CF Chuck Davalan was HBP. SS Emil Morales walked to load the bases. After one out, C Victor Rodrigues hit a 2-run single with Morales moving to 3rd. Munoz singled to plate Morales for the 3rd run of the inning and 5th run of the game.
In the 6th, with Cruz still pitching, Wisconsin had 2 singles and then a GIDP. With a runner on 3rd, LHRP Justin Chambers relieved Cruz and issued a walk and single to score a run for Wisconsin for the final score.
- C Victor Rodrigues – 2-3, 2 RBI
- Jose Izarra – 2-2, 1 BB, 1 run
- Cameron Decker – 1-2, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (2)
Ontario Tower Buzzers 9 – Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) 8
RHSP Brady Smith allowed 3 unearned runs in the 1st. After the first two batters were retired, the next batter reached on E5. A walk, HBP, and 3 run double gave the Storm the early lead.
RHRP Brock Stewart made a rehab appearance and surrendered a pair of doubles for a run in the 4th.
RHRP Luis Carias entered in the 5th. Back to back singles and a BB loaded the bases with nobody out. He walked the next batter to force in a run. He struck out the next two batters and got a flyout to get out of the inning.
Down 5-0 in the 6th, Ontario came to life. LF Brendon Tunink walked and moved to 2nd on a WP. 3B Mairo Martinus doubled (14) to score Tunink. Martinus moved to 3rd on a fly out. DH Chase Harlan was HBP, and Martinus scored on a ground out. With 2 outs, 1B Easton Shelton slugged his 19th HR cutting the lead to 5-4.
In the bottom of the 6th, Carias walked a pair and erased one on a GIDP. A WP scored the Storm’s 6th run.
In the top of the 7th, C Conner O’Neal doubled (6) and scored on a one out Tunink single. Tunink moved to 2nd on the throw home, and scored on Martinus’ triple (4). Martinus scored on a fielder’s choice to take a brief 7-6 lead.
Inland Empire tied the score in the 8th after a BB and run scoring double off Carias in his 4th inning.
In the 9th, 2B Javier Herrera and Tunink walked with one out. Both runners scored on a throwing error by the 1B after a ground out.
RHRP Angel Cruz entered in the 9th to attempt to close out the victory. It wasn’t pretty, but Cruz held on, allowing just 1 run, leaving the tying run in scoring position.
- Mairo Martinus – 2-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double (14), triple (4)
- Easton Shelton – 1-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (19)
- Doubles – AJ Soldra (9), Chase Harlan (14), Conner O’Neal (6)
ACL Dodgers 11 – ACL Reds 9
The Dodgers jumped out to a 6-0 lead. After the Reds came all the way back to tie the game at 8-8, the Dodgers scored 3 in the 9th. The Reds got one back, but the Dodgers held on for the win.
- 3B Logan Wagner (rehab assignment) – 3-3, 1 run, 1 RBI
- CF Jhon Gil – 2-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (2)
- C Eduardo Rojas – 3-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI, double (2)
- RF Abel Lorenzo – 1-2, 2 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, double (6)
DSL Red Sox Blue 7 – DSL Lad Bautista 6
The score was 0-0 thru 5. Each team scored 3 in the 6th, and each team scored 2 in the 7th. The Dodgers scored 1 in the 8th, and the Red Sox Blue scored 2 to walk it off.
The Dodgers managed 3 hits with catcher Haram Hernandez the only Dodger with an XBH, a double (2).
16 year old (turns 17 on June 22) RHP Anderson Carias pitched 4.0 scoreless innings. He gave up 1 single and walked 1 batter while striking out 2.
DSL LAD Mega 4 – DSL Tampa Bay – Called after 5.2 innings due to lightning.
Mega had 2 hits on the game, including a double by LF Willy Bergolla. LAD Mega scored the go-ahead run without the benefit of a hit.
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Discussion (93)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I’ve been a Dodger fan for 72 years. My dad was one and he coaxed me to sit with him when Saturday Baseball was on for an inning or two and then it was back outside. That was Monterey Park. Luckily, it was my team that moved to LA. I can see myself rooting for a Portland, OR team if that happens. If so, I’d love it if the Rays moved here/there. I gave up on the Lakers once but came back when Magic arrived. I was a big UCLA fan and when the Lakers had their boring period, I saw no reason to root for players from other colleges that I thought of as the opposition. So, I rooted for Bill Walton and the Trail Blazers for a few years. They could have drafted Jordan but went for a weak footed center instead. Or, did the NBA want him in Chicago?
Tommy has no choice, Sunday is the last of his 20 game max rehab stint. Who leaves when LAD returns home on Monday?
It may sooner than you want. working on something in that regard.
Like everyone else, I have never waivered on my fanaticism for the Dodgers…or my Trojans. I was told I went to a 1958 game at the Coliseum, but I do not remember it. I remember being a fan during 1959 and through the World Series, and my have been a fan non stop since. I attended my first USC game on December 1, 1962, against Notre Dame. I went to the 1963 Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin. Then attending USC I am a Trojan for life through good and bad. I grew up a Lakers fan in the Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Happy Hairston, Jimmy McMillan, Jim Cleamons, Keith Erickson, Pat Riley…even the Mel Counts years. Then like the NBA the Lakers were resurrected after Kareem became a Laker, and then Magic signed with the Lakers and Larry Bird played for Boston. Five years later Michael Jordan joined the League and it has not looked back since. I stayed with the Lakers until Magic abruptly retired after the 91-92 season. I did not regularly follow the Lakers until I moved to Sacramento area, and became a Laker fan again in the 2001-2002 season. Too many obnoxious Kings fans who thought they had the Championship until Robert Horry. They tried to blame the refs on Game 7, but I pointed out that Sacramento was 16 of 30 free throws. They make 23 out of 30 and the Kings are in the Finals. That was my last year of following the Lakers and NBA. And as long as Lebron is a Laker I will never follow them. I was a fair weather LA Kings fan during the Rogie Vachon, Butch Goring, Juha Widing, Marcel Dionne…Then onto Gretzky. Luc Robitaille, Dave Taylor, Bernie Nichols. I am up in San Jose Sharks territory with a Daughter who is a die hard fan and a grandson who is good little hockey player in his own right (although he is a Tampa Bay fan). But I still cannot become a Sharks fan, even with their young kids. Finally I am a Packers fan. People ask me why a Packers fan and not a Rams fan. My first favorite teams, Dodgers and Trojans, were winners. The Rams? So I read the papers and found that Green Bay was a winner and went with them. There was a big gap between Bart Star and Brett Favre, but I stayed loyal throughout. I have been in Northern California since 2000, and I still consider LA my home, and the Dodgers are a huge reason.
So after the pathetic display of hitting the Blue displayed, I watched the Phillies game and The Miz was pitching. Complete game,14Ks, one hit, who was eliminated, no walks, so he faced the minimum. Maybe I’m crazy but if we are going to unload the farm, this is the guy who I want. He didn’t do this against the Rocks, he did it against a potent Phillies lineup . Dano says Book em, I say Buy him.
I dumped the rams when they left LA. I was a Laker fan my whole life. The last time I watched an entire game? Kobe’s last game. And I have never watched a Lakers game since LeBron joined them. Don’t hate him, just never been a fan of him. Maybe after he retires I will watch them again. Although I really don’t care much for the NBA at all. I used to know every coach in the league several years ago. Now I might name 3. J.J. reddick went to high school about 30 minutes from my house, so I I know him. My youngest son played against his brother in high school. He wasn’t good at basketball but decent in football. As far as the Rams go, I don’t mind them winning, and I really like Mathew Stafford. But I’m a Bronco fan now. And since my son (who does radio in charlotte) covers the Panthers, I like seeing them win too. But as far the Dodgers are concerned, I will be a fan till I die! Now if they move back to Brooklyn, all bets are off! On the team. I’m getting a little nervous about the offense. I know the runs scored and all that. But this team can go cold in a heartbeat. But there doesn’t seem to be a way to fix it, other than getting rid of some wonderful veterans who are not hitting! That ain’t happening! Dalton can be a little bit of an ass, but his fire is something a few others on this team could benefit from!
Been a Dodger fan since my first MLB game at Ebbets Field and they played the Cubbies. Dad was a Philly fan. Always have and always will be a Dodger fan. Ma favorite front office guy was Bavasi. When Koufax evolved into King Koufax in LA, Bavasi said, “When we were in Brooklyn, I would have killed to have a Jewish baseball hero for our fans. We get to LA and we have Koufax, but nobody cared”. I thought that was a funny statement that defined some of the differences between Brooklyn and LA. Like Bob Hope said Bear, “Thanks for the memories.”
Don’t look now, but Suwinski currently has a slightly higher BA and OPS than Tibbs. Seems this guy was a steal under the radar pickup! Is he quickly moving up in the stud outfield prospects list?
I used to feel that way about hockey until I attended a game. I had no idea how fast that game was. I didn’t play basketball in high school so I know only know a little about the intricacies. I’m a Laker fan, went to several of their games in the early 70s. Back then I felt I could outrun anyone on the court. But dribbling a ball at the same time? Nope. I tried that in intramurals, where the competition was all former high school players. I could play D and pass. That was it. Also played some intramural soccer. Holy crap. That sport is exhausting. Like running suicide sprints in football only you never stop. And for what? Nobody scores. No thanks. Football and baseball.
Because of his arm, there is speculation that Harlan will eventually become a RF. He is not a good defensive 3B. But his bat works.
Harlan needs to move up to Great Lakes. The California League is not that much of an obstacle for him. These guys need to face better pitching to properly gauge where they are at in their development stage. LAD moved up Emil Morales and he is struggling at Great Lakes. Fine, he will adjust, or he won’t. But to keep him in the California League would have been counter productive (IMO). The same is true with Shelton. His K rate has not moved this year from his career. It is actually 35.9% this year aqnd 36.7% career. You use PA to measure K%. If you use AB you are not giving the batter credit for not striking out when walking or sac fly or HBP. 19 HRs by June 10 (54 games) is not something to be ignored, regardles if he is Joey Gallo or James Outman. Outman never had 19 in 237 PA. He did have 20 in 70 games and 333 PA at OKC. Push him
If anything happens to Pages, I think AF goes for Alek Thomas, then move Sirota to CF at OKC. If anything happens to Tucker, Suwinski goes up to play RF and JDP to OKC. Then there is the out of the box thinking tht AF often does…move Edman to CF and bring up Hyeseong Kim. Thomas and Kim are on the 40 man. Not having any of the information or knowledge that permeates throughout the LAD front office, I would be okay with JDP in LF over Ryan Fitzgerald and Sirota in CF over Thomas. IMO, Thomas and Fitzgerald are worthy AAAA insurance claims. But they are blocking legit elite OF propspects.
4:10 PM ET Dodgers (44-26) White Sox (37-31) SP Y. Yamamoto R 6-4 2.68 ERA SP Sean Burke R 3-3 3.88 ERA Confirmed Lineup DH S. Ohtani L CF Andy Pages R 1B F. Freeman L SS Mookie Betts R 3B Max Muncy L RF Kyle Tucker L LF Ryan Ward L C D. Rushing L 2B A. Freeland S 87° Wind 16 mph R-L Ohtani is back in the lineup
Only 3 backups in today’s game. That might help. A little. I show a 1:10 PDT game time. A lot of talk about minor league players here. I look and always ask the questions “if” and “who”. Help will come from AAA, right? We just saw the answer if Ohtani, Call and if Smith, Chuckie. Gulp. A lot of seemingly great prospects. For years later than this one. I see trades in the near future
I watched the White Sox a lot in Spring Training and thought they were going to be better. Maybe not this much better. To their credit, they are doing a nice job rebuilding this team with some fresh new talent. They are no longer automatic wins for their opponents. Last night’s game gave me a good reason to watch my recoded MCWS game between North Carolina and Ole Miss. Great game with outstanding pitching. The Tar Heals rolled out a freshman closer, Caden Glauber, who just turned 18 and should be a senior in high school. Apparently he left early to join NC this season. 6’4″, 220 and sits in the high 90’s. You hope his arm hold together but these big, young, pitchers are impressive. Good baseball game. By the way if you happen to drop by my house and notice my TV on and it’s tuned to the World Cup, please call 911. There’s an excellent chance that I’m dead in my recliner. That would be the only reason soccer would be playing on my TV. I just can’t get into it.
“As per Jack Harris of The California Post, Tommy Edman is on the verge of returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers roster. The 31-year-old utility man will finish his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. Therefore, he is progressing towards returning to the Dodgers lineup next Tuesday as scheduled”.
Saturday Dodger Affiliates’ Schedule 3:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Cole Irvin) at Charlotte (Hagen Smith) 4:40 p.m.: Great Lakes (Brooks Auger) at Wisconsin (Jayden Dubanewicz) 5 p.m.: Tulsa (Roque Gutierrez) vs. Wichita (Preston Johnson) 6:45 p.m.: Ontario (TBA) at Lake Elsinore (Tyler Schmitt)
Good post Badger. I agree about moving Mookie down in the order. In a throw-back lineup, him in the 4 hole doesn’t play. His bat speed is poor and he is a weak fly-ball machine. I think his defense is good; he is dependable on routine plays. Thanks to Miggy Ro, he has learned to get his throws off quickly (he gets it in the air) without having to display much arm. And Freddie has saved his ass on an untold number of errors.
I have stuck with this franchise since 1975. I vaguely remember losing to the A’s in 1974. I do remember losing to the Yankees in 1977 and 1978. Then we won the strike shortened year of 1981 and I remember getting home from school and seeing Rick Monday hit that HR in a cold day in Montreal. Of course the magic run in 1988 with Hershiser and Gibby. Then we hit some lean years (1990’s and 2000’s) but still followed them everyday. The McCourt era was a fiasco and was so glad when he was no longer the owner but he sure came out just fine with his parking lot deal. I think that’s what he made money off of. The last 13 years have been a great time being a Dodger Fan. We should have 4 titles in that time but 3 is pretty nice too. I would really love a 3 peat that would be icing on the cake.
And Jeff. Best first half of soccer I’ve ever US play. Beating guys one v one with the ball, touch passes and one strike finishes. And Reyna had a world class goal at the end.
Yes, it has been a fun ride. How long can it continue? At some point, they are going to have to retool and add some youth.
Thank you, Bobby. I never waivered. Never even thought about it even through all the years I was not in California. I loved the Show-time Lakers, but not so much since. Rams? When they left LA I said adios and never looked back. Now that they are back, I will watch them now and then, but not an avid NFL fan at all. Same with hockey and soccer. I liked the Angels when they first started because they had some colorful characters on that team, including Jimmy Piersal. But after they moved to Orange County, I cared less how they fared. Only time I ever watched the Kings was when Gretzky was with them. Even then, not a huge hockey fan. The Clippers? Please, moved too many times since they joined the NBA for anyone to really like them. I was 11 when they won in 59, watched most of the 63 sweep over the Yankees, still to me the most satisfying series win. Loved Koufax and saw him pitch many times. Was not a huge Alston fan. I still blame him for the loss to the Giants in the 62 NL playoff. Loved Tommy but thought he kept some of his pitchers in games way too long. I understood why Peter sold the team, but I wish he had sold them to real baseball people and not a corporation like FOX, who knew bupkis about the game and the history. I never went to a game while McCourt owned the team. He had raised tickets and parking so much, I just would go when they played in Arizona. Never liked the Raiders no matter where they have been.
Thank you. They said the same thing in 81. Not a real title. But all the teams had to play under the same rules. The one team that got screwed was the Reds. The actually won the most games in the west, but the Dodgers won the first half, and the Astros the second. Might have been a different outcome had the Dodgers had to face the 81 Reds.
When I start to complain about these Dodgers under Walter’s and AF, I just have to go back and remember the crooked McCourts! What a decade+ to be a Dodger fan!
Nice topic Bear! I’m quite certain that all of us who take the time to come to Mark’s amazing blog to comment and give our baseless opinions are all pretty “True Blue” to begin with. I myself have been a fan since 1983, after my first year of little league (where my only hit the entire year was a bunt single). The team winning the World Series on my 17th bday in 1988 was the best bday gift I’ve ever received. 2nd best bday gift may be being at 2024 NLCS Game 6 at Dodger Stadium and seeing us beat the Mets to go to the World Series. I never thought about leaving the team during the McCourt and Raider fan era at the stadium, but I definitely refused to go to games until that mess was cleaned up. I decided to become real “True Blue” in 2017 when I became a season ticket holder. My most “True Blue” moment had to be flying to NYC to watch us win the World Series in 2024 at Yankee Stadium. The only time I ever dumped a team was when the Los Angeles Raiders moved to back to Oakland. After a few years of them being the Oakland Raiders, I asked myself, “why am I rooting for a crappy team that left me and my city for the crappy Bay Area, and has a completely idiotic fan base that always starts fights?”