True-blue support

Jeff Tully

Dave Roberts remembers what it’s like to be a young baseball fan

waiting for an autograph from a major league player.

A native of San Diego, the 30-year-old L.A. Dodger center fielder

said it wasn’t too many years ago that he was the one holding a pad

and pen hoping for a John Hancock from his favorite standout.

“I remember waiting on line to get an autograph from Tony Gwynn

when I was little,” Roberts said. “So I know how important it is to

get an autograph and what it means for the kids to wait for me to

sign one for them. That’s why I like signing autographs, especially

for the young fans.”

Roberts was keeping his writing hand busy Wednesday when he signed

autographs for an hour at Mervyn’s at the Media City Center Mall.

Roberts was at the store helping promote the Mervyn’s-sponsored Think

Red, White & Blue Week at Dodger Stadium. During the week of

activates, Dodger fans get the opportunity to take part in

baseball-related fantasy jobs.

Hundreds of fans lined the isles of the Mervyn’s men’s department

waiting for their moment with Roberts. As famous Dodger Stadium

peanut vender Roger Owens flung bags of salted delights to waiting

baseball enthusiasts, fans in their best Dodgers gear clutched

baseballs, hats, cards and other items to be penned.

Roberts said he doesn’t mind taking some of his off-time to meet

and greet L.A. fans.

“The fans are what it’s all about,” he said. “They are the ones

who really matter and I don’t mind at all giving them back a little

of what they’ve given me.

“We feed on the fans an their enthusiasm. We need them to support

us and to keep us going. L.A. fans have just been great.”

From young children held in the arms to their parents, to elderly

Japanese fans -- Roberts is part Japanese, born in Okinawa, Japan --

Roberts gladly signed everything that was pushed in front of him.

With a smile and a kind word for everyone who came his way, Roberts

appeared to be truly enjoying himself.

“This is great. I love it,” he said.

One of those fans was Cindy Arevalo. She brought her 3-year-old

daughter, Rebecca, and 2-year-old son, Enrique, to meet the Dodger

rookie.

“This is great for them,” Cindy said. “My little girl is such a

big Dodger fan. She has all kinds of Dodger stuff and she even cries

when we have to leave Dodger Stadium after a game because she wants

to stay.”

Little Rebecca even broke out into a rendition of “Take me out to

the Ballgame” to show her love for the game.

“She knows all the words and loves to sing that song,” Cindy

said.

Roberts has a lot to be happy about these days. In his first year

with the Dodgers, he is enjoying success and the team is right in the

heat of the National League West League pennant race.

“This has been a great season,” Roberts said. “We are playing well

and the team is winning, so that is always good. I just want to

contribute as much as I can.”

Roberts, who was a collegiate standout at UCLA, is batting .296

with 56 hits, 31 runs scored, 21 walks, 16 runs batted in, six

doubles, two home runs, two triples and 18 stolen bases.

Last season, he spent his third year in the Cleveland Indians’

organization, spending time between Triple A Buffalo and the

major-league team.

Heading into a weekend series with the Anaheim Angels, the Dodgers

were 49-29 and leading the National League West.