February 8th, 2013 at 7:26 am 
by Ron Cervenka As much as I always wanted to attend Dodgers spring training while they were still at Vero Beach, I was never able to make it there. It was simply too far and too expensive for me, not to mention the time away from my family and my work. However, since moving their spring training facilities from Vero Beach to Glendale, Arizona in 2009, I have yet to miss a single Dodgers spring training; and every year I enjoy it more and more.
To be able to watch your favorite players up close and personal is simply priceless, not to mention the thrill of getting their autographs or taking their pictures. Spring training is pure baseball 24/7.
In the four years that I have attended spring training at Camelback Ranch (soon to be five), there is one guy who never ceases to amaze me – Tommy Lasorda. Oh sure, I have seen Tommy get a little cranky at times, even downright nasty, but there is no one… absolutely no one who signs more autographs year after year than Lasorda. (I’ll let you in on a little secret – whatever you do, do not neglect to say thank you to Lasorda after he signs for you and say it loud and clear. If you do not, you will see a side of Tommy that you wished you hadn’t).
Tommy Lasorda signs more autographs each spring than any other Dodger – especially for kids. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
I am blessed to be able to see Lasorda on a relatively regular basis because of my time spent in the Vin Scully Press Box and at the various press conferences, and one thing that I never do is take him for granted. When you stop and realize all that he has done in his 60+ years with the Dodgers, it is simply amazing. The guy has forgotten more about baseball than most people will ever know.
Rather than write a big story about the 85-year-old Hall of Famer, something that both Craig Minami of True Blue LA and Scott Andes of Lasorda’s Lair have both done exceptionally well this past week, I will simply leave you with two short video clips of the legendary former Dodger player, coach, manager and executive. (Note: Both videos are several years old)
Enjoy.
(Click the “Watch on YouTube” link)
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Nice article – watched the first video – great. Second video doesn’t play.
Ron is absolutely correct – you BETTER say thank you.
After you click on the second video, you have to click on “Watch on YouTube.” Works every time.
I’ve been to over 20 Spring Training camps in Vero and now all but one of them at CBR and I have to say Tommy is by far the most entertaining. Although I have been turned down many times by Tommy it’s normally been understandable, not the right time to ask or he’s just been swamped by all the fans. But let it be known if Tommy is disrespected all hell will come down on you. the only real exception is with the little kids and even then he’ll say something about it.
One of my main goals of my spring training trip is to get Tommy’s autograph. I see it’s going to be a challenge.
Tommy is, hands down, the easiest autograph to get at spring training. If they do what they have done in the past, he signs for about an hour on the days that the Dodgers play at CBR. That said, the line usually starts forming a good hour before he shows up. Worth the wait, in my book.
As I’ve said before; in a hundred years, Tommy’s stories will still be told throughout baseball.