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12/21/02
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Holman Stadium
For more than half a century, it has been the training grounds of future Hall of Famers and the starting point to several generations of Dodger ballplayers. The 2001 spring training season marks the Dodgers' 53rd year at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, FL and the 50th season at Holman Stadium. The Dodgers first set up camp in Vero Beach in 1948 at the invitation of local businessman Bud Holman after the city needed a tenant to occupy the former World War II naval air station. For his efforts, the Dodgers named their spring training stadium after Holman. The 6,500-seat Holman Stadium opened on March 11, 1953 against the Philadelphia Athletics. The facility also includes a row of outdoor batting cages and six practice fields. The original concept of Dodgertown was to provide a classroom environment for players and coaches with enough land so personnel could discuss baseball at any point in the day. Because there were so many Dodger minor league ballclubs, many affiliates and working groups were assigned different colored uniforms to help keep drills and other daily itineraries on schedule. Dodgertown has undergone many changes through the years since 1948 when 600 players spent their first spring training. A modern 90-unit housing facility replaced the old military barracks. A 23,000 square-foot administration building was constructed in 1974 on the site of the former headquarters building. The structure includes a major league clubhouse, minor league clubhouse, medical department, dining room, kitchen, main lobby, broadcasting studio, photo dark room, interview room, lounge, media workroom, two training rooms, two equipment rooms and a commercial laundry room. In 1990, Dodgertown unveiled a new 15,000 square-foot, multi-purpose building that houses four indoor batting tunnels, an exercise room containing the latest in training equipment, a video room to be used by Dodger instructors as a teaching area and baseball administrative offices for Dodger executives during spring training. The offices are also used as meeting rooms for conferences throughout the year. The Dodgers completed a $1 million renovation to Dodgertown in 1997. The renovation included an addition to the complex that houses the major league clubhouse, a new clubhouse and golf cart storage facility at Dodgertown Golf Club, the addition of a new umpires room and minor league equipment storage facility and additional office space to the conference center. In addition to the four projects, Dodgertown upgraded the indoor batting cages and playing fields and created a new private pitching mound next to the pitching strings area. Underground wiring was installed to eliminate all overhead wiring and a new media room was constructed adjacent to the lounge for all working media. Even the recreation facilities at Dodgertown have undergone radical change since their initial spring camp. Two golf courses - an 18-hole golf course called Dodgertown Pines Country Club and a nine-hole layout called Dodgertown Golf Club - outline the complex. The Pines' clubhouse is complete with locker rooms, dining room and pro shop. Dodger personnel also have the use of a swimming pool, four all-weather tennis courts, game room and movie theater. Dodgertown, the only privately owned training camp in the country, also includes 60 acres of citrus groves, 45 residences on the golf course perimeter and a conference center. Since 1965, the Dodgers have purchased 450 acres from the city of Vero Beach. Dodgertown remains open throughout the year as a conference center managed by Harrison Conference Centers. The conference center is designed to provide the proper environment for business meetings and the most intensive learning objectives. There are 20 specially designed meeting rooms, featuring the latest in audio-visual equipment. The recreation program includes golf, tennis, baseball, swimming, basketball, volleyball and jogging trails. Dodgertown has more than 250 employees and can accommodate up to 180 conferees. International visits have become a tradition at Dodgertown. The Dodgers have hosted a professional team from Asia on 12 different occasions. The Samsung Lions professional baseball team from Taegu, Korea trained at Dodgertown in 1985, 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997. In addition to the Lions' five visits, the Tokyo Giants trained in Vero Beach in 1961, 1967, 1971, 1975 and 1981. The Chunichi Dragons from Nagoya, Japan trained at Dodgertown in 1988. Taiwan's Sinon Bulls became the 12th Asian and first Taiwanese team to train at Dodgertown when they began a week of workouts in February 1999. In February 1996, the Dodgers welcomed a baseball team from Hanyang University in Seoul, Korea, marking the first time a Korean university team trained in the United States and the second time overall an amateur college team trained at Dodgertown. Waseda University, one of Japan's leading universities, was the first university to join the Dodgers' players and staff at Vero Beach in 1995. The Dodgers have also entertained representatives from all over the world, including hosting the Nigerian National Youth Team in 1992. Dodgertown has been utilized by numerous NFL teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles in preparation for the playoffs in 1995. The Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers have also utilized the facilities for training. Dodgertown became the home to the University of Miami football team prior to its regular season opener after Hurricane Andrew devastated the Florida coast in 1993. The Ohio State Buckeyes trained at Dodgertown prior to the 1995 Citrus Bowl. The Dodgers also hold a rookie camp following the June First-Year Player Draft each year. Dodgertown also hosts annual adult fantasy baseball camps in November and February, featuring instruction by former Dodger greats and Hall of Famers. The 2001 season will also mark the 22nd year that Vero Beach has served as the summer home of the Dodgers' Single-A Florida State League affiliate. In one of the smallest towns in the country with a professional baseball club (population 17,350), the Vero Beach Dodgers set the club attendance record after drawing 95,300 fans over 63 home games in 1991. Holman Stadium was also the site of the 1991 Florida State League All-Star Game.
Ballpark built in 1953. Seating Capacity: 6,500 plus 1,500 more on outfield grass. Dodgers' Spring Training at this location since 1949.
2003 SCHEDULE
Home games are in CAPS. Game times are PM
and local
Training Schedule
TICKETS
Restaurants
Hotels
Days Inn,
I-95 and Route
60, Vero Beach Vero Beach Inn (ocean
front), Holiday Inn,
3384 Ocean
Drive, Vero Beach Best Western Vero Beach,
8797 20th St., Vero Beach Doubletree Suites Hotel
(ocean front), Comfort Inn,
950 U.S. 1,
Vero Beach Disney Vero Beach Resort,
North A1A, Vero Beach
Map
Directions Location: Dodgertown is located 5 1/2 miles East of I-95 Exit #68, at 43rd Avenue and 26th Street.
From Interstate 95: to Route 60 east, to 43rd Avenue north, to 26th Street. Stadium will be on right.
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2003 National League Pennant Odds
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