Fans Get Porter’s Message

Ross Porter hasn’t officially said goodbye to the Dodgers, but he did say on the air Saturday night that he was possibly working his final game for a team he has been with since 1977.

The Dodger broadcaster, whose contract expires Oct. 31, has not been offered a new deal by the club. Neither has fellow broadcaster Rick Monday, and there have been rumors that one or both could be gone. Most of the rumors have focused on Porter, 65.

“It occurred to me that [Saturday night] could possibly be my last game, and I didn’t want to not say anything,” Porter said Sunday night. “I wanted to thank everybody, particularly the Dodger fans, who I have tremendous feeling for.”

It was in the bottom of the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ 4-0 victory in Game 3 of their playoff series with St. Louis that Porter mentioned that he was possibly working his last Dodger game. He thanked the fans and told them, “You are the best.”

Porter did not do play-by-play Sunday night since it was Monday’s turn to announce the middle three innings on radio, while Vin Scully handled the rest. But Porter was in the Dodger Stadium press box to do the post-game show.

Porter said he has not been in contact with the Dodgers but his agent, George Green, has.

Dodger executive vice president Lon Rosen said Sunday night there was nothing new regarding the announcing situation and that those decisions would be made in due time.

A source said Porter makes around $400,000 a year, but Rosen said his salary was not an issue.

Porter said the only conversation he has had with Rosen came during a chance meeting while leaving the stadium about 10 days ago. He said he told Rosen he had not solicited any of the media attention his situation has gotten. “I wanted to make sure he knew I have not called any reporters, that they have called me,” Porter said.

Porter said he has not talked to any other organizations about possible employment, nor will he until his contract expires. “At that time, I’ll be a free agent,” he said.

As for his future with the Dodgers, he said, “We’ll just have to wait and see.”