Recent 2013 Rose Award winner and former LA City Councilwoman Roz Wyman will throw out the first pitch at tonight's game. For those who don't already know, we have her to thank for bringing the Dodgers to Los Angeles. Without her persistence the Dodgers would not be here. And to think, she was just 22 years old when she did it. Amazing!
Thank you, Roz Wyman!
If you are interested in a great write up on her role in bringing the Dodgers out west check out Walter O'Malley.com. It's long, but well worth the read if you are interested in LA Dodger history. Below is a sample:
“Right now, I’m deep in plans to bring major league baseball to Los Angeles. Everybody wants it and we should have it. Baseball is a big business. We have the climate and Los Angeles is a great sports town. We need big league baseball. It would be great for the kids, too. They are great worshippers of top sports figures and sports-minded kids are never delinquent.”The pics included in this post is from the 2013 Rose Award banquet that included Vin Scully as presenter. Pic Credit: Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2013
This quote was delivered in April of 1957, not by the Mayor of Los Angeles, but by a woman.
That’s right, the youngest City Councilperson in the history of Los Angeles, Rosalind Wyman, made that statement, filled with hope that she and a cadre of local officials could woo Walter O’Malley and the Dodgers westward, providing he paid to build the stadium. It was one of the biggest gambles in the City’s history, but one, once achieved, that proved to be the mother lode of risk-taking success.
UPDATE:
Below is a video tribute put together by the Dodgers honoring her.
Video Link:
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Rosalind Wyman is my distant cousin through marriage, and she and her husband were very close to my parent. To me, she will always be Aunt Roz, as she was when I grew up in Los Angeles.
ReplyDeleteAunt Roz had a little pull with the Dodgers, and my mom and dad and my brother and I had some great seats at the first game the Dodgers played in the Coliseum. I think this is the third time Aunt Roz has been honored with the first pitch, and tonight will be my second time seeing her make the toss. This will be a treat.
Thank you for your comment. I'm sure you'll have a great time at the game today.
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