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Recommended Reading List
Click on titles for more info
Dodger Stadium (Images of Sport)
by Mark Langill
The Dodgers Encyclopedia
by William F. McNeil
The Perfect Pitch: The Biography of Roger Owens, the Famous Peanut Man at Dodger
Stadium
by Daniel S. Green
True Blue: The Dramatic History of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Told by the Men Who
Lived It
Steve Delsohn
Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy
Jane Leavy
Take Me Out to the Ballpark: An Illustrated Guide to Baseball Parks Past & Present
by Josh Leventhal, Jessica M. Macmurray
The Ultimate Baseball Road-Trip
by Joshua Pahigian, Kevin O'Connell
Fodor's Baseball Vacations: Great Family Trips to Minor League and Classic Major
League Ballparks Across America
by Bruce Adams
America's Ballparks
by Kenneth Hogan
Ballparks of North America: A Comprehensive Historical Reference to Baseball
Grounds, Yards and Stadiums, 1845 to Present
by Michael Benson
Storied Stadiums: Baseball's History Through Its Ballparks
by Curt Smith
Click on titles for more info
Dodger Stadium (Images of Sport)
by Mark Langill
The Dodgers Encyclopedia
by William F. McNeil
The Perfect Pitch: The Biography of Roger Owens, the Famous Peanut Man at Dodger
Stadium
by Daniel S. Green
True Blue: The Dramatic History of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Told by the Men Who
Lived It
Steve Delsohn
Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy
Jane Leavy
Take Me Out to the Ballpark: An Illustrated Guide to Baseball Parks Past & Present
by Josh Leventhal, Jessica M. Macmurray
The Ultimate Baseball Road-Trip
by Joshua Pahigian, Kevin O'Connell
Fodor's Baseball Vacations: Great Family Trips to Minor League and Classic Major
League Ballparks Across America
by Bruce Adams
America's Ballparks
by Kenneth Hogan
Ballparks of North America: A Comprehensive Historical Reference to Baseball
Grounds, Yards and Stadiums, 1845 to Present
by Michael Benson
Storied Stadiums: Baseball's History Through Its Ballparks
by Curt Smith
| Sources: Los Angeles Times; Walteromalley.com; USC & UCLA Archives; Sports Illustrated; Los Angeles Dodgers Table of Contents - Feedback © MMVI ballparktour.com |
| An artist’s sketch of the new Dodger Stadium dugout seats, which were inspired by the similar design of the dugout seats at Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. |
An artist’s rendering of the fine dining available for
patrons of the new Stadium Club restaurant located on
the Club Level at Dodger Stadium.
patrons of the new Stadium Club restaurant located on
the Club Level at Dodger Stadium.
| Members of the Stadium Club could watch the ballgame from either their box on the Club Level or within the confines of the elegant restaurant. |
Early concepts of Dodger Stadium included tram service
as a way to shuttle fans from the parking lots to their
seats.
as a way to shuttle fans from the parking lots to their
seats.
| With a backdrop of the concrete cantilever supports for the Top Deck being installed, Dodger Vice President Dick Walsh shares a laugh with Jack Yount, the Vinnell Constructors partner in charge of the Dodger Stadium construction project. |
A six-acre casting yard and special one-time use $150,000
crane were crucial to the rapid 19-month construction of
Dodger Stadium.
crane were crucial to the rapid 19-month construction of
Dodger Stadium.
The American Seating Company filled one of the largest
single-stadium orders in history, more than 50,000 in the
stands. Even in 2005, Dodger Stadium still has some of the
original wooden seats in use - in the Club level down the left
field line.
single-stadium orders in history, more than 50,000 in the
stands. Even in 2005, Dodger Stadium still has some of the
original wooden seats in use - in the Club level down the left
field line.
| Heavy rains in February 1962 prompted creative methods of drying the playing surface at Dodger Stadium, including bringing an Allison jet airplane engine from an F-84 fighter plane mounted on a truck. |
| Don Drysdale tests the new seats at Dodger Stadium. The seats required 350,000 feet of board lumber, 546 tons of cast iron and 3 tons of aluminum nuts and bolts. |
Dodger Stadium’s first event was a “Grand Opening� for elected officials, civic leaders and the community on April 9, 1962
— one day before the season opener with the defending National League champion Cincinnati Reds.
— one day before the season opener with the defending National League champion Cincinnati Reds.
Left-hander Johnny Podres, the hero of the Brooklyn
Dodgers’ World Series Championship in 1955, christens
brand-new Dodger Stadium with its first pitch on April 10,
1962.
Dodgers’ World Series Championship in 1955, christens
brand-new Dodger Stadium with its first pitch on April 10,
1962.
Signature palm trees and colorful flowers on the surrounding hillsides are part of
the picturesque landscape of Dodger Stadium.
the picturesque landscape of Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds line up along the foul lines to be introduced for the first time at Dodger Stadium on Opening
Day, April 10, 1962. The grass was dyed a spinach-colored green because of heavy rains which delayed construction early in 1962.
The original dimensions: 330 down the lines (since unchanged), 370 to short left and right (later, 360), 390 to the deep alleys
(later, 380), and 410 to center (later, 395). The 10 ft hight wall was later shortened to 8 ft.
Day, April 10, 1962. The grass was dyed a spinach-colored green because of heavy rains which delayed construction early in 1962.
The original dimensions: 330 down the lines (since unchanged), 370 to short left and right (later, 360), 390 to the deep alleys
(later, 380), and 410 to center (later, 395). The 10 ft hight wall was later shortened to 8 ft.
Workers are putting the finish touches on the grass playing surface, while the large left field scoreboard is still to be
completed before Dodger Stadium opens on April 10, 1962.
completed before Dodger Stadium opens on April 10, 1962.
Dodger Stadium originally consisted of five colorful seating levels, plus the Dugout Box seats behind the home plate area, which
were sunken into the field. The other levels shown are the Field, Loge, Club, Reserved and Top Deck. Of the total of 56,000 seats,
50,000 are in these areas, while each outfield Pavilion accommodates 3,000 fans.
were sunken into the field. The other levels shown are the Field, Loge, Club, Reserved and Top Deck. Of the total of 56,000 seats,
50,000 are in these areas, while each outfield Pavilion accommodates 3,000 fans.
| The plants and other greenery along the staircases outside Dodger Stadium were carefully maintained to accentuate the overall beauty of the fans' ballpark experience. |
An overhead view of the newly-painted Dodger Stadium parking lot, which accommodates 16,000 cars and buses. Each of
the numbered lots was designed to be on an elevation close to the nearby stadium entrances
the numbered lots was designed to be on an elevation close to the nearby stadium entrances
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This photo from March, 1962, shows just how bad the field conditions were after the severe rains of the previous winter.
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“Your Dodgers’ Home of Tomorrow … Artist’s conception of an inside-the-park view of the stands as they will be for the
new Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine. In this “dream about to become a reality� Dodger fans will be afforded the finest
seating arrangement in any outdoor arena, unobstructed vision from every seat, terraced parking which will enable fans to drive to
their section in the stands with practically no walking or climbing, restraints for all, a Stadium Club for season boxholders,
unmatched beauties in landscaping, numerous lanes for rapid departure of cars and buses after the games, the most modern lighting
equipment in baseball for night ball, a field of balanced playing measurements in left and right field, a breath-taking, sky-high view
of the amazingly picturesque Los Angeles area and many other features which will make this new Stadium a landmark of world-wide
acclaim."
-- 1959 Dodgers game program.
new Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine. In this “dream about to become a reality� Dodger fans will be afforded the finest
seating arrangement in any outdoor arena, unobstructed vision from every seat, terraced parking which will enable fans to drive to
their section in the stands with practically no walking or climbing, restraints for all, a Stadium Club for season boxholders,
unmatched beauties in landscaping, numerous lanes for rapid departure of cars and buses after the games, the most modern lighting
equipment in baseball for night ball, a field of balanced playing measurements in left and right field, a breath-taking, sky-high view
of the amazingly picturesque Los Angeles area and many other features which will make this new Stadium a landmark of world-wide
acclaim."
-- 1959 Dodgers game program.
The field was graded and ready for sod when the first rains came in February. It took 10 days to dry out and reconditioning for the
field to be graded again and 150 square feet of sod was installed before another five-day series of storms washed away the top soil,
causing an estimated $500,000 in damages. The waterlogged playing field required creative drying solutions. An Allison jet airplane
engine from an F-84 fighter plane was mounted on a truck. Moved to various locations on the field, the engine spewed a jet blast of
300 feet of heat estimated at 250,000 BTU’s (British thermal units). Two helicopters were also employed to help dry out the field
with their powerful downdrafts of air. The jet engine was also eyed for future use if needed to dry the access-road beds leading
into the stadium so they could be blacktopped.
field to be graded again and 150 square feet of sod was installed before another five-day series of storms washed away the top soil,
causing an estimated $500,000 in damages. The waterlogged playing field required creative drying solutions. An Allison jet airplane
engine from an F-84 fighter plane was mounted on a truck. Moved to various locations on the field, the engine spewed a jet blast of
300 feet of heat estimated at 250,000 BTU’s (British thermal units). Two helicopters were also employed to help dry out the field
with their powerful downdrafts of air. The jet engine was also eyed for future use if needed to dry the access-road beds leading
into the stadium so they could be blacktopped.
Vinnell Construction Co. built a six-acre casting yard. The concrete casting beds were 3 inches thick, 50 feet wide and between 200
and 400 feet long. Vinnell cast the 22-foot-long seat units in steel side forms and cured them with steam. All other concrete
members were cast in wood forms and covered with curing compound.
There were more than 25,000 separate pieces, all cast before the construction began. Each piece of concrete was marked and
catalogued so the erection crew could find it. Yount also utilized fiberglass molds instead of steel. The pieces were cast on the
property and a special $150,000 one-time use crane was assembled at the stadium site to move the pieces in place.
“There is a lot more strength in this stadium than there is in highway bridges,� Yount said. “On this structure, we used
almost seven sacks of cement a yard. On freeway bridges, they use five. For paving, they use four or less. So every yard of concrete
poured at the stadium cost O’Malley about $1.50 extra just in cement alone. There are about 45,000 yards in the whole stadium.â
€�
On Nov. 22, 1961, the first of 50,000 chair-back seats were fixed into place by representatives of the American Seating Company of
Grand Rapids, MI. The amount was one of the largest single stadium installations in history. If placed side by side, the seats would
form a row nearly 33 miles long.
and 400 feet long. Vinnell cast the 22-foot-long seat units in steel side forms and cured them with steam. All other concrete
members were cast in wood forms and covered with curing compound.
There were more than 25,000 separate pieces, all cast before the construction began. Each piece of concrete was marked and
catalogued so the erection crew could find it. Yount also utilized fiberglass molds instead of steel. The pieces were cast on the
property and a special $150,000 one-time use crane was assembled at the stadium site to move the pieces in place.
“There is a lot more strength in this stadium than there is in highway bridges,� Yount said. “On this structure, we used
almost seven sacks of cement a yard. On freeway bridges, they use five. For paving, they use four or less. So every yard of concrete
poured at the stadium cost O’Malley about $1.50 extra just in cement alone. There are about 45,000 yards in the whole stadium.â
€�
On Nov. 22, 1961, the first of 50,000 chair-back seats were fixed into place by representatives of the American Seating Company of
Grand Rapids, MI. The amount was one of the largest single stadium installations in history. If placed side by side, the seats would
form a row nearly 33 miles long.
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An estimated 2,000 fans attended an outdoor luncheon as civic leaders and baseball officials celebrated the end of the project — at
least its frantic final hours as Teddy Buckner’s Dixieland band played alongside the sounds of Yount’s construction crews.
“When O’Malley, Frick and the rest of the dedication committee arrived at the stadium for the ceremonies, workmen were
still scurrying around all four tiers, hammering, welding, plastering and painting,� Sports Illustrated reported. “A huge
orange crane stood in left field lifting sections of the electronic message board into place. The grass, which had been grown outside
the stadium and then carted inside in squares a few weeks before, was uneven and splotchy. Half of it had been dyed a rich green,
but the other half was an unhealthy yellow. Delivery boys raced wildly about with bunches of flowers asking ushers where such-and-
such a place was. The ushers could only shrug. Even the Dodgers’ batting cage got lost, preventing the team from taking batting
practice.�
-- WalterOmalley.com / Sports Illustrated
least its frantic final hours as Teddy Buckner’s Dixieland band played alongside the sounds of Yount’s construction crews.
“When O’Malley, Frick and the rest of the dedication committee arrived at the stadium for the ceremonies, workmen were
still scurrying around all four tiers, hammering, welding, plastering and painting,� Sports Illustrated reported. “A huge
orange crane stood in left field lifting sections of the electronic message board into place. The grass, which had been grown outside
the stadium and then carted inside in squares a few weeks before, was uneven and splotchy. Half of it had been dyed a rich green,
but the other half was an unhealthy yellow. Delivery boys raced wildly about with bunches of flowers asking ushers where such-and-
such a place was. The ushers could only shrug. Even the Dodgers’ batting cage got lost, preventing the team from taking batting
practice.�
-- WalterOmalley.com / Sports Illustrated
| According to Los Angeles Times columnist John Hall, Moon hit the first home run in batting practice, “a 370-foot bolt into the right field bullpen.� Players who marveled at the beautiful grass during batting practice noticed the baseballs were turning green. At the suggestion of Mervyn LeRoy, the groundskeepers had sprayed the turf with a deep green dye the previous night. Kay O’Malley, wife of the Dodger President, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Also honored was Mrs. James (Dearie) Mulvey, Dodger stockholder who traveled from her New York home to visit Los Angeles. Mrs. Mulvey had also witnessed the Dodgers’ first game at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field in 1913 |
| -- --------------------------------------------------- -- |
After the 1962 season a $1.5 million beautification program, originally slated as a five-year project, was packed into one offseason.
The bare hills in the back of the stadium were covered with the golden California poppy, along with a solid sea of blue and purple
flowers. Palms and eucalyptus worth more than $104,000 were planted in the area fronting the ballpark. The hills in the
background were laced with pipe for the sprinkler system. Poppy seed, containing its own fertilizer and hormones, was shot in with
a gun.
“Everything will be in bloom by June", Walter O'Malley predicted. “The setting will not be just beautiful, but dramatically
beautiful so that people will come out raving.�
The bare hills in the back of the stadium were covered with the golden California poppy, along with a solid sea of blue and purple
flowers. Palms and eucalyptus worth more than $104,000 were planted in the area fronting the ballpark. The hills in the
background were laced with pipe for the sprinkler system. Poppy seed, containing its own fertilizer and hormones, was shot in with
a gun.
“Everything will be in bloom by June", Walter O'Malley predicted. “The setting will not be just beautiful, but dramatically
beautiful so that people will come out raving.�
| -- --------------------------------------------------- -- |
| -- --------------------------------------------------- -- |
Kay and Walter O'Malley received a stone lantern as a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Sotaro Suzuki, the dean of Japanese sportswriters
who was invited to the opening of Dodger Stadium in 1962. The Dodgers created a Japanese garden environment to surround
the stone lantern.
The 10-foot tall, 3,921-pound stone lantern was built by the Shimizugumi Stone Works Company and shipped to the Dodgers in
the winter of 1965. The lantern was the centerpiece for a Japanese garden that was maintained by local gardeners and
contained two cherry blossom trees, river-rock paths and pine trees cut Japanese-style.
The lantern was placed on a hill adjacent to Parking Lot 37. The inscription on the back of the lantern base reads, "To
commemorate the opening of Dodger Stadium on April 10, 1962. Donated by Sotaro and Toku Suzuki, Guests." The Dodgers
held an opening ceremony for the public on April 9 and played the first game against the Cincinnati Reds the following
afternoon.
who was invited to the opening of Dodger Stadium in 1962. The Dodgers created a Japanese garden environment to surround
the stone lantern.
The 10-foot tall, 3,921-pound stone lantern was built by the Shimizugumi Stone Works Company and shipped to the Dodgers in
the winter of 1965. The lantern was the centerpiece for a Japanese garden that was maintained by local gardeners and
contained two cherry blossom trees, river-rock paths and pine trees cut Japanese-style.
The lantern was placed on a hill adjacent to Parking Lot 37. The inscription on the back of the lantern base reads, "To
commemorate the opening of Dodger Stadium on April 10, 1962. Donated by Sotaro and Toku Suzuki, Guests." The Dodgers
held an opening ceremony for the public on April 9 and played the first game against the Cincinnati Reds the following
afternoon.
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