LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers interrupt Vin Scully's retirement only for big deals. Wednesday's announcement that the 2020 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard would be played at Dodger Stadium was the launch of a two-year celebration and deserving of the most beloved Dodger of all.
"Come one, come all," said Scully's iconic voice narrating a video opening a momentous news conference. "Lights, camera, action. You're invited to the show."
From Commissioner Rob Manfred, who made the awarding official, to Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten, to the baseball and political dignitaries in attendance at the center-field conference, it's clear the Dodgers won't just be hosting a game. They'll be throwing a Hollywood-class gala.
"We're Los Angeles. We know how to throw parties, we know how to host big events," said Kasten. "And you can bet the party here in two years will be extraordinary."
Manfred said Los Angeles was selected for three distinguishing factors: The city would be "a great place to showcase the young stars of our game." Dodger Stadium is "one of our iconic stadiums." And the game hasn't been hosted by the Dodgers since 1980.
"So it's time for us to be back here," Manfred said.
Manfred thanked the club and city officials, including Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Councilman Gil Cedillo, for clearing numerous hurdles to host a week-long series of All-Star events. Those include FanFest, Play Ball initiatives, the Futures Game, the Celebrity Softball Game and the Home Run Derby, in addition to the actual All-Star Game. The Los Angeles City Council authorized a $100,000 expenditure for the use of city services and resources connected to host the game, estimating the event would generate an $89 million economic impact to the community.
"The series of events gives people of all ages and circumstances an opportunity to participate in the festivities, and it's really important to the growth of our game," said Manfred.
Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, an All-Star for the first time last year, joined closer Kenley Jansenand manager Dave Roberts in representing the current uniform personnel at the news conference.
"Since Commissioner Manfred has taken the role over, he's been hammering down on us to reach out to the youth, and that's something our organization takes a lot of pride in," said Turner, a Southern California native. "This is a monster step toward growing the game of baseball in what I think is already the most competitive youth baseball city in the country."
Kasten said he recalled the day the current ownership group took over, May 2, 2012, and one of the first questions he was asked was when Los Angeles would host an All-Star Game.
"It is not just the second-biggest market in America, it is not just the media and entertainment capital of the world, we also have become the most heavily attended sports venue in the world," said Kasten.
Kasten, whose group spent $2.15 billion to purchase the team and another estimated $150 million in stadium improvements, said more renovations to the venue will be made in advance of the All-Star Game. For the 1980 All-Star Game, the Dodgers installed a then-state-of-the-art DiamondVision video scoreboard above the left-field pavilion.
In addition to Manfred, Kasten, Cedillo, Roberts and the players, attendees of the annoucement event included Hall of Famers Tom Lasorda and Spanish-language announcer Jaime Jarrin, former Dodgers stars Don Newcombe, Reggie Smith, Bill Russell, Ron Cey and Manny Mota.
This will be the fourth All-Star Game hosted by the Dodgers. In addition to the 1980 edition at Dodger Stadium, the club hosted one of two All-Star Games in 1959 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. And the Brooklyn Dodgers hosted the 1949 game at Ebbets Field, where Jackie Robinson made his first All-Star Game appearance.
In the 1980 All-Star Game, Russell, Smith, Steve Garvey and Davey Lopes were starters for the National League club that won, 4-2.
The 89th All-Star Game this year will be hosted by the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, with Roberts managing the NL team. The 2019 game will be hosted by the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.
ARTICLE BY KEITH GURNICK
