Dodgers Bring Back Old With New Look

The Dodgers today will unveil uniform changes for the upcoming season, including commemorative patches featuring many of the franchise’s greatest players.

Likenesses of Dodger Hall of Famers such as Don Drysdale, Roy Campanella and Jackie Robinson will be displayed on patches sewn on uniform sleeves. Names and numbers will appear on the patches as part of an overall program to celebrate the ballclub’s rich tradition.

The team will revert to wearing “Los Angeles” in script on the front of road jerseys, replacing “Dodgers,” an attempt to strengthen its identification with the city. Los Angeles had been featured on away uniforms from 1958 to 1970.

Former players will be honored in pregame ceremonies throughout the season, and a new outfield mural will further depict former stars in their greatest moments. The club will continue to honor community leaders.

“The Dodgers have had so many heroes, so many great players, who have distinguished themselves on the field, so this is a way to honor their legacy while building a bridge to today,” said Barry Stockhamer, vice president of marketing. “It’s important to continue that legacy because of what these players helped the Dodgers accomplish, and because of what those accomplishments meant not only to the Dodgers but to Los Angeles as well.

“There are so many memories and great stories that a whole generation of young baseball fans will now have a chance to discover. There are very few teams, the Yankees are one that comes to mind, that are in a position to do something like this. We can because of our unique history, and this is definitely the right thing to do.”

The patches will be worn for the first time during an exhibition against the Yankees on April 3 at Dodger Stadium. Each player will select the patch he will wear, which means some patches are expected to be duplicated.

A few players have already selected, including first baseman Eric Karros and second baseman Eric Young. Karros’ patch will feature first baseman Gil Hodges, and Young will honor Robinson, who broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947.

Karros is among the program’s biggest supporters.

“It’s a good gesture for guys to pick a number that has some meaning to them, but it’s also a good thing to honor someone whom you respect,” Karros said. “I like to think I have a sense of history about the Dodgers because I grew up watching them, and my dad and brother were big fans.

“For me, Gil Hodges was a no-brainer. He’s a guy who was unheralded because he played with some great clubs in Brooklyn that had guys like Duke Snider, Don Newcombe, Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella. He didn’t get a lot of recognition, but he put up solid numbers every year.

“I identify with him because I think I’ve kind of been in the shadows, first behind Mike [Piazza], but also Hideo [Nomo], Mondy [Raul Mondesi] and even Tommy [Lasorda] when he was here. I think I’m a lot like Hodges in that sense, so I think the whole thing fits with what we’re trying to do.”

Stockhamer said he hopes these moves, and others, will allay fans’ concerns about the Fox Group’s plan for the Dodgers.

“In every conversation I’ve had with Fox, they’ve been very supportive of everything we’ve tried to do,” Stockhamer said. “They understand that the Dodgers’ history is very important to our fans, and they want to keep that legacy alive.”

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