At every home game during the regular season the Dodgers honor a ‘Veteran of the Game.’ It is their way to express their gratitude and appreciation to those who have served or who are currently serving in our military and without exception it always ends with that game’s honoree receiving a well-deserved standing ovation – even from the players.

But on Tuesday, November 11, Veterans Day, the Dodgers honored our veterans in a different way. Even though there weren’t 50,000 cheering fans in the seats, there were none actually, 300 current and former service members got to do something that most Dodger fans only dream of – they got to take batting practice on the field at Dodger Stadium; not some pretend-type batting practice but the real deal – batting cage and all.

The Veterans Day Batting Practice at Dodger Stadium was an actual batting practice session. Veterans also got to pitch in the Dodgers bullpen, bat in the indoor batting cages and tour the stadium.
(Click on photo to enlarge)

“It’s an honor for the Dodgers to open our doors yearly to active duty members and veterans representing the various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and host them for a day of baseball activities on the field,” said Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten. “The Dodgers are dedicated to paying tribute to those who selflessly serve our country year-round and we are grateful to each and every one of them for their service.”

On hand to welcome the veterans and their families were former Dodger greats Don Newcombe, Wes Parker, Al Downing and Billy Ashley. Newcombe, as you may recall, spent the 1952 and 1953 seasons away from the Brooklyn Dodgers while serving in the Army during the Korean War.

“Being a veteran myself it’s always great to be back and see some of the things and listen to some of the things that went on with them and some of the things that they did,” said Newcombe. “It means a lot to me because I’m just a red-blooded American, I love my country. I still salute the flag every National Anthem wherever I may be. Whether it’s on television or I’m here getting ready to watch the game I will salute my flag. I’m very happy to be here to be a part of anything we can do to help veterans.”

“I’m 88 years old. I can’t throw batting practice anymore but I can sign autographs,” said Newcombe. And he did – a lot.

Former Dodgers All-Star first baseman Wes Parker expressed his appreciation not only to our great veterans but also to those who serve everyday in law enforcement.

“I love our veterans and I love the police force. I love anyone who puts the bad guys away one way or another,” said Parker. “I want to do everything I can to help veterans and police and this country which I dearly love. Whatever we do it’s not enough. Those guys are putting their lives on the line and we’re not doing that. They’re taking the supreme risk and making the supreme sacrifice and anything I do can’t live up to that.”

Quite a few of the veterans were very good hitters. Perhaps it was Wes Parker giving tips to the guys in line that helped.

Former Dodgers pitcher Al Downing served in the Army Reserves although he never saw action. But like his former teammates, he too is grateful for the service and dedication of our veterans.

“An event like this is a reminder that there are people out there putting their lives on the line to protect us and our way of life,” Downing said. “Sometimes we get caught up in what we’re doing and we think that’s the most important thing in the world and we forget that these are young people. A lot of them come back and they’re not whole when they come back and they have to start their lives over. They disrupt their careers or whatever and we’re going along like nothing ever happened and for them it’s everything. It’s nice to pay that respect to them for what they’re doing.”

Former Dodgers left-hander Al Downing giving pitching tips in the bullpen.

Even though former Dodgers slugger Billy Ashley never served in the military, his father did, and being part of events such as this makes his father proud.

“It’s an honor to be here, plain and simple,” said Ashley. “My father was a Viet Nam war veteran and I make him proud when I tell him I do these type of events. In the past I’ve gone down to the V.A. hospital on this day and sat for three or four hours listening to stories. That’s the key thing, you sit there and listen. You don’t pretend that you know what they went through, you don’t pretend that you can empathize because you have no idea what these people go through on a day-to-day basis in the military, especially if they are in combat somewhere, so I like to listen. I like to listen and more importantly I give thanks.

“They’re doing something that I probably would never do for the simple fact that I didn’t have to in my day and age,” Ashley added. “They volunteer, they sign up, they sacrifice their family, they sacrifice their life and the bottom line is that it’s an honor to be able to give back and come here and have them be able to hit and do what I did while they were out fighting. For me it’s an honor to be able to do this and on this day we’re the one’s that are fans of the people who are here.”

Wes Parker, Al Downing, Billy Ashley and Don Newcombe honor America with the National Anthem performed by singer-songwriter Emily Benford – a former contestant on ‘The Voice.’

As for the veterans and the current active duty members themselves, this event is a dream come true.

“This means a lot, I’m a little bit of a Dodgers fan,” said Robert Waugh, a six-year Army veteran serving as a medic at Fort Irwin near Barstow, CA. “I come here every chance I get. I’ve been on the field one time on the grass on Memorial Day when I helped carry the POW-MIA flag. I was the only soldier in dress green. I’m really eager to get on the diamond, that’s what I’m really looking forward to today, to swing the bat where a lot of legends have already played before, a lot of my heroes.”

Army medic Robert Waugh at Dodger Stadium on Memorial Day 2014.
(Photo courtesy of Robert Waugh via Twitter)

When told that several of the Dodger legends on hand for the Veterans Day activities looked at Waugh and the other veterans as heroes, he was a bit surprised, but then he wasn’t.

“It feels pretty good. I mean, these guys were legends when I was a child,” said Waugh. “It’s awkward to have the roles reversed, I’m glad they do. They respect [veterans] here at Dodger Stadium, not all stadiums do – which is another reason I’m proud to be a Dodger fan.”

In talking with Waugh, two things came to light: 1) He is not a little bit of a Dodger fan, he is a huge Dodger fan; 2) As luck would have it, I actually (but unknowingly) took a photograph of him holding the POW-MIA flag on the field this past Memorial Day, albeit a wide angle shot  – but what are the chances?

Robert Waugh is the soldier in the top center holding the POW-MIA flag on the far right.
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And who is Waugh’s favorite Dodger legend? “Hershiser,” he answered without hesitation. And his favorite current Dodger? “I’d say Greinke, Greinke and Gordon.” A Gold Glove winner and an All-Star – not bad choices at all.

The day’s activities also included lunch in the prestigious Dugout Club where the veterans and their families were treated to (you guessed it) Dodger Dogs.

A day at Dodger Stadium wouldn’t be complete without a Dodger Dog.

Lunch was followed by a hitting contest judged by Wes Parker and Billy “Light-Tower Power” Ashley. Winning the contest was Air Force Senior Airman Stephen Hudson Jr., who will be honored as the Veteran of the Game on Opening Day, April 6, 2015 against the San Diego Padres at 1:10 p.m. In addition to his on-field recognition, Hudson will receive four Loge level tickets and a preferred parking pass.

Former Dodger slugger Billy Ashley presents Air Force Senior Airman Stephen Hudson Jr. with a certificate for winning the Veterans Day Hitting Contest. (Photo credit – LA Dodgers via Twitter)