RODY L. JOHNSON

Memory is that which gives us the illusion of existing while vanishing before our eyes. That is the joy and sorrow and shortcoming of this book. This trek though the history of the Los Angeles (formerly Brooklyn) Dodgers long time spring training and minor league facility feels like an ongoing chat with old friends. That is it's joy. A nice chat indeed--memories of players and fans and team personel representing virtually every year in the life of Dodgertown. From the comic (players sneaking out after curfew) to the serious (race relations as the Dodgers broke the local color barrier), the book makes these events feel like a part of your personal memory. But they are memories without much reflection. The constant skimming left me wanting to rest on certain topics--such as the racial issues in Vero Beach or a better understanding of the ongoing real estate issues between the Dodgers, Vero Beach and the FAA (Dodgertown actually being on the same property as an air field). But on the whole I appreciate the memories I now have of he glorious formation of Dodgertown, growing up a Dodger fan these memories mean more to me than many of my own. And I even appreciate the sad decline, as the existence of Dodgertown in Vero Beach is caught in the vice between money and change until finally it was gone. Even that sadness has stayed with me, though it seems to be fading faster than it should.… (more)