Private Tour Of Historic Dodgertown--Holman Stadium (Part 4)

For the purist in baseball, few would dicker that Holman Stadium in Vero Beach, Florida was once one of the mecca's for Spring Training Baseball. This particular story really nails the atmosphere that was the Dodgertown Experience before Los Angeles pulled the plug and made Glendale, Arizona the Winter Home of The Los Angeles Dodgers.

One of the best write ups we've ever read about Dodgertown and the true fan experience that was apart of it. Please read it. Clearly the thoughts comes from the author's heart.

Finishing off our four part series on Dodgertown--Holman Stadium seated 6,500 patrons. Unless you sat under one of the very large trees planted and grown within the seating bowl--you were out of luck in staying out of the sun. The same as the players for both teams that weathered open air seating areas--instead of dugouts.

Located on Duke Snider Drive with the car entrance from Tommy Lasorda Lane, Holman Stadium may well have been the most intimate baseball park in America. For spring training, there were no fences in the outfield. The trees that lined the outfield perimeters of the ballyard were painted with yellow markers to indicate to fielders there was an obstruction in the way. With the outfield treeline sitting on the same slope as fans, it's just remarkable to think that a family of four could be spread out on the grass only to be surprised by a player running over them chasing a ball.

That's about as intimate as it gets.

Today, Holman Stadium looks pretty much like what it did for most of the 60 odd years The Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers called it their Spring Training Home. The Press Box is classic, so are the tiny metal hinged fiberglass seats that sit within the bowl. There is a tarp now placed over the dugouts. There is a full time home run fence in the outfield. Other that not--not much has changed.

There is a small concession stand behind the press box and home plate. As well as concessions located on the 1st and 3rd base sides--accessible by walking down steps from the seating bowl. Behind the 1st base concessions lies the original ticket windows and team gift shop.

The only modern structure is the very large building sitting over the right centerfield wall.  Inside were housed The Dodgers Executive Offices and Clubhouses for both home and visiting teams. Just a few feet east of that facility lies the second Group Bullpen Mound and Batting Cages--used by both teams on game days.

Our pictures speak for themselves. But what really struck us visiting Holman Stadium were the three commemorative plaques which strongly suggest the history The Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers brought to Vero Beach and abandoned in 2008 for the desert of Arizona.

The first plaque honors Bud Holman--namesake on the ballpark. The forward thinking Vero Beach resident that convinced Dodger's Owner Walter O'Malley that land abandoned by the Navy near the Vero Beach Airport after World War II was perfect for Dodgertown development in 1948.

The second plaque is unique. A commemorative to those lives lost in the bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. Signed by Walter O'Malley, then Manager & Hall Of Famer Walter Alston, Captain & Hall Of Famer Pee Wee Reeese, Bud Holman and front office employees of The Brooklyn Dodgers, this November 1st, 1956 plaque remembers The Brooklyn Dodgers visit to Japan was something we didn't expect to see during our visit to Dodgertown--but was striking to view in person.

And finally--the third plaque honoring the first professional game between South Korea and The Los Angeles Dodgers played at Holman Stadium on March 9, 1985.

Leaving Historic Dodgertown after our visit on March 2nd, 2011, all The African Queen and I could think about was this thought: Retaining history and expanding on it are important--losing it is sad. Sadness is what we believe The Dodgers brought to baseball by leaving Vero Beach in 2008. Understanding the east coast/west coast dilemma The Los Angeles Dodgers struggled with--there comes a time when a business decision has to be about more than just money. Dodgertown was a unique case that should never have been abandoned.

BTW: The actual beach front property of Vero Beach is quite nice. We visited there after leaving Dodgertown and came away impressed with the high end communities along the shoreline, the fine landscaping and not crowded at all communities. No tee-shirt shops. No tourist traps. Just high quality homes and pristine beaches.

Priceless.

All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved