Carwash to Feature Sports Memorabilia

A taste of Cooperstown comes to Ventura County this weekend when a $5.5-million carwash owned by ex-major leaguer Lenny Dykstra opens in Simi Valley.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, as many as 15,000 people are expected to stop by to meet former Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda, former Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers Manager Sparky Anderson, former Minnesota Twins and Angels first baseman Rod Carew, Houston Astros third baseman Ken Caminiti and Dykstra, who grew up in Southern California and played for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.

Dykstra and his brother Kevin, vice president of the carwash business, will operate Lenny Dykstra’s Car Wash at 1144 Los Angeles Ave., which features television sets and a sports ticker.

It will also include memorabilia from Dykstra, Mickey Mantle, Dwight Gooden and other major league players.

Kevin Dykstra says it’s a bit ironic that his brother should be involved with a carwash. At the end of a typical baseball game, his jersey would be caked with dirt and the center field turf where he roamed in Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium stained with tobacco juice.

“It’s funny. He’s got that reputation for being hard-nosed and getting dirty, but when it comes to cars, he’s picky about keeping them clean,” Kevin Dykstra said. “He kept his truck spotless.”

He said his brother chose Simi Valley because of its strong youth baseball organization and because he is moving nearby. Dykstra and his business partner, Lindsay Jones, opened their first carwash in Corona nearly five years ago.