First of all, I’ve been on the DL for about three days with food poisoning.  I am feeling better now but my stomach muscles are still sore.   I think I lost five pounds but I rather take the pounds back than to go thru that.   Is a good thing this did not happen the night before I got my Sandy Koufax baseball.  

 So my friend Lore and I met Jeff Kliewer, the Director of Development of  Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation by the main office.   We were scheduled to meet him at 4:30 so we could go down the field and watch batting practice standing on the field!   We both were very excited for that opportunity!   

When we got there Joe Torre was having his daily meeting wiht the media where they gather around with their mikes and notebooks around the dugout.  

We set to checkout BP and all the view from there.  

Afterwards Joe Torre came over and hand me my baseball! 

Joe said that is one of the best signatures he’d seen on a baseball. 

Chatting with the skipper.

Afterwards Joe said he needed go get back to work so he headed to the cage. 

I got a picture with Andre:

Next I got a picture with Matt Kemp and he signed the picture I have with him from the Bluetopia movie premier. 

Jorge Bahaia who was there to throw out the first pitch, came from El Salvador wtih 50 of his family and friends.   Jorge and his wife Elsy have been attending a homestand since 1945 and have never missed a World Series at home or on the road.  WOW!  and impressive record.   I had thought I had taped an interview with him but I was very sorry that it did work.    I did not know that they were attending a whole homestand until I read it  afterwards in Jon Weisman’s blog.

SenorBahaia, if when you come back to Dodger Stadium, I would love to talk to you more about the old Dodgers that you got see play!  

Jorge Bahaia showing the ceremonial baseball he was going to throw.  It reads “Los Angeles Dodgers Ceremonial First Pitch Dodger Stadium 2010.” 

The shirt that the family and friends of the Jorge and Elsy Bahaia were sporting:

Here is part of the Bahaia family:

James Loney was signing for the Bahaia family when I told him I had something to show him. 

James said “OH wow!”  “You should get him to sign it.”   “Here let me sign it first.”   It is a picture of his dad and I at Fenway Park this year when I happen to see Mr. Loney  before he crossed the street to get into Fenway.   Lore happen to capture this picture.    

Loney. 

Here is Jeff of the Safe At Home Foundation

Here is Lore enjoying being on field.   She has more pictures that she took.     

Here is my pass to watch BP on the field.  

Well, it was time now to leave and go to our seats.  

We ended up sitting in the family section in the Loge area.  

Here is Mr. Jorge Bahaia throwing out the first pitch:

A friend of mine that knows I keep score had texted me that if it happened, he wanted a copy of my scoresheet.  I told him “Absolutely”   We did not mention what it was so we did not jinxed it.   

Padilla pitched a great game giving out two hits, striking out nine and getting two hits!  I love watching the “soap bubble” like Vin Scully calls that slow pitch Padilla throws.          

August 4, 2010 was a very special day for me, one that I would never forget!  Thank you Joe Torre, Thank you Jeff Kleiwer, thank you Safe At Home Foundation and thank you Sandy Koufax!