Decked Out in Blue: Dodger Stars Come To Whittier
“You learn from failure. You’re gonna go 0-for-25, 0-for-30. What’s gonna separate you? Are you defined by 0-for-25?” — Dodger Alum Mike Scioscia
Villalobos Hall was painted with Dodger blue for “All-Star Evening at the Institute of Baseball Studies” on November 14th. The Institute for Baseball Studies put on the event and was well-received by baseball lovers alike. President Dillon introduced the Director of the Institute for Baseball Studies, Joe Price, who repeated how lucky Whittier College was to have an opportunity to hear firsthand experiences of four legendary members of the Dodger organization in their respective fields.
Fred Claire, former Dodgers General Manager from 1987 to 1998, also made an appearance, sharing his deeply rooted connection to Whittier and how it propelled his career in baseball. He discussed his beginnings at the Whittier Daily News as a sports journalist and the privilege he had of covering the Dodgers’ establishment in Los Angeles in 1958. Fred Claire has been an essential partner of the Institute for Baseball Studies with his contributions of primary documents and other artifacts donated to the students.
Three more members of the all-star panel were introduced, including photographer Richard Kee and former players Mike Scioscia and Mickey Hatcher. Kee was the Dodgers’ team photographer at the height of his career, who, in his new 2023 book, showcases the photos he captured of the Dodgers titled The Dodger Collection. Mike Scioscia and Mickey Hatcher were integral members of the beloved 1988 Dodger team, who won the World Series under the guidance of former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda — the night primarily revolved around the memories of that famously successful season and the different dimensions of what made it such a great team.
Director Joe Price leaned back in his seat, crossed his right leg over his left, and directed the first question at each panel member. “When did you all first fall in love with baseball?” The audience audibly agreed that this was a great way to start the night. It was a question that was received with quiet contemplation by the Dodgers’ legends. Mike Scioscia admitted that football was his first love and that baseball did not become his sport until 1975. His dream was to play football for Penn State, and when that seemed unlikely to come true, he focused on baseball. Scioscia would go on to be a first-round pick for the Dodgers, win 2 World Series titles, manage the Angels (including the 2001 season when they won the World Series), and continue to be a legendary presence in the Dodger organization. Mickey Hatcher recalled sleeping in his little league uniform the day before his first game, which began a lifetime of love for baseball. He was a utility player who did not play many games in the ’88 season but brought a positive mentality to every game. Hatcher was a part of the “Stuntmen,” as they called themselves, who were the utility players used as relief for the starters. They would make the most of each opportunity, making the team well-rounded.
The men humbly downplayed their impact on the team and took turns playfully degrading each other. Still, it was in good nature because the following comment would be eager to sing each other’s praise. The crowd comprised enthusiastic participants throughout the night who engaged with every reminiscent story with appropriate awe and laughter. Many were Dodgers fans, donning their apparel with pride, but they were also baseball fans. There was admiration for every story, mainly when the panel members talked about Kirk Gibson and Tommy Lasorda.
The 1988 season was magical for many reasons, but one of the most memorable moments was Kirk Gibson’s walk-off home run to end Game 1 of the World Series. It might have been the defining turn in the Dodgers’ favor that allowed them to win it all. The adversity, Vin Scully’s call, and Gibson’s trot around the bases remain cemented in Dodgers’ history. Fred Claire had the privilege of assembling the team, signing Kirk Gibson as the group’s backbone. The team had “the right ingredients,” as Claire put it. “These guys could meet together the night before, and the same feeling would exist.”
Perhaps the most important person to the season’s success was the manager, Tommy Lasorda. He was a major league pitcher but made a name for himself as a manager who got the best out of his players. Scioscia attributed his choice to enter the MLB draft to Lasorda. He was only a third base coach when he called Scioscia to practice with him at Veterans Memorial Baseball Stadium in Ohio. Scioscia signed with the Dodgers the next day and flew out to join the team. He described the camaraderie Lasorda created while in charge of that season’s group. “You always felt like he had your back,” he reminisced. Mike Scioscia and Mickey Hatcher discussed their “swing hard, run fast, turn left” mentality that became the Dodgers’ motto and allowed them to prevail.
Mike Scioscia noticed Whittier College baseball players in the back of the room. He directed his attention toward them for a moment. A discussion of failure sparked a turn in the conversation about the adversity they faced as baseball players and how they pushed past it. In a game that is 70 percent non-success, Scioscia reminded the players, “You learn from failure. You’re gonna go 0-for-25, 0-for-30. What’s gonna separate you? Are you defined by 0-for-25?” He instructed them against internalizing defeat and competing with their teammates in mind. Scioscia talked about his efforts to contribute defensively if he struggled offensively and how he always tried to be a team player. “You’re going to stumble. It’s how you contribute. You’re there for the team.”
The night evoked a yearning for a time when baseball was simply about playing the game. The panel members expressed their opinions of modern baseball rules, shadowed by their fidelity to the “old ways.” Fred Claire was left dissatisfied by the choices his successors made in the seasons following because he believed the Dodgers are an organization that values continuity. He placed a particular emphasis on the people that made Chavez Ravine a magical place. Claire shared his reverence for the Dodgers organization and what it stood for when he was general manager. “When you put on that Dodger uniform, you have an obligation. You treasure the Dodger uniform.”
Time cut the conversation short, but the audience could have heard hours of more witty stories. There were no lulls throughout the night, and every word seemed essential to the history of these men. The nostalgia kept the crowd attentive, although people of various ages and backgrounds were present. Everyone who attended had their reasons, but was grateful to hear firsthand accounts of people who experienced the game at a level many dreamed about. Many stayed to get memorabilia signed and to take pictures with the panel members.
Thank you to the Institute of Baseball Studies for allowing the public to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
