Dodgertown Emotional After Deal Signed

Although the proposed sale of the Dodgers to the Fox Group has been pending since September, employees here at Dodgertown reacted emotionally Thursday to the announcement that an agreement has been signed.

They huddled and reminisced about the organization’s success late into the evening. They praised owner Peter O’Malley for his contributions to the game, reflecting on their good fortune to have worked for him.

And some expressed concern about the franchise’s future, despite having learned that O’Malley and Executive Vice President Bob Graziano, a longtime team official, will remain in key positions. Major league baseball must still approve the deal, but an era has already ended at Dodgertown.

“For many reasons, this really is a very sad, sad day for so many of us,” said Jaime Jarrin, the Dodgers’ lead Spanish announcer, who was recently elected to the Hall of Fame.

“For 40 years I have worked for the Dodgers, and Peter and his [late] father [Walter] have been so good to me, but not only to me. They have taken care of so many of us, and welcomed us into their family. They made us all one big family, so this is a very difficult day.”

The announcement caught employees by surprise. They had thought nothing would occur until the owners voted on the sale during meetings beginning Tuesday at St. Petersburg.

“We all knew this was coming, but the realization of it really hit home today,” said former manager Tom Lasorda, now a vice president. “We all know time is moving on, but that doesn’t mean you have to be happy about it.”

Many were pleased that O’Malley will remain as the chairman of the board for at least another year, and that Graziano--groomed by O’Malley--will become the president and chief executive after 13 years with the Dodgers. But some had doubts about the control they will maintain once the sale is completed and Fox puts its own people in place.

Fred Claire isn’t among those worried. The executive vice president said he believes the new owners will rely on O’Malley and Graziano.

“I don’t think that you can experience this and not have a lot of emotion connected with it, because this takes us one step closer, I guess the final step closer, to the sale taking place,” he said. “But you have to feel positive about this because this is what Peter wants to have happen, and these are very smart, innovative people we’re talking about.

“They recognize the value in people such as Peter and Bob. They understand the history and tradition of the Dodgers, and they want to further it.”

Moreover, Claire doesn’t anticipate sweeping changes in the Dodgers’ on-field operations.

“Not as far as the areas where I have responsibilities,” Claire said. “Not with our minor league departments, with our scouting department, with the employees in those departments.

“As far as the Dodger philosophy, and I can only speak from my position, but I can’t see that changing. I can’t even conceive that someone coming in and looking at the economics of baseball would want to change a structure that has been vital to our success.”

Spanish announcer Rene Cardenas, in his 21st year with the Dodgers, also is confident that O’Malley’s influence will endure.

“He represents dignity, stability and tradition,” Cardenas said. “That will always remain with the Dodgers.”

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The movement on the proposed sale won’t affect contract negotiations with all-star catcher Mike Piazza, according to Claire.

Claire said previously nothing would occur involving Piazza until after the sale was completed, and he reaffirmed the team’s position.

“We have stated all along that we have the desire to sign Mike Piazza, but the sale hasn’t been officially approved,” he said. “As far as the details of that, or how all of that specifically will evolve, I’m not going to comment on that. Fox has not assumed ownership yet, and that’s all there is to it.”

Piazza is in the final year of a two-year, $15-million contract and is expected to become the game’s first $100-million player.