L-R   Eric Karros (1992 NL Rookie of the Year, all-time Los Angeles Dodger home run leader), Steve Sax (1982 N.L. Rookie of the Year, 1988 World Series, five-time All-Star), Mickey Hatcher (star in the1988 World Champion Dodgers), Steve Yeager (tri-MVP of the 1981 World Series, four World Series teams), Ron Cey (four World Series teams, tri-MVP of the 1981 World Series, six-time All-Star) and Rick Monday (two-time All-Star, 1981 World Series).

Not pictured: Don Sutton (all-time Dodger wins leader, four-time All-Star, Baseball Hall of Fame), Maury Wills (seven-time All-Star,1962 all-time stolen base leader, three Dodger World Series teams), Steve Garvey (five World Series teams, ten-time All-Star, MVP 1974 All-Star game, four Golden Gloves), Tommy Davis (three-time All-Star, 1963 World Series),

MILT THOMAS

You can never go home again is a common saying and the title of several books, but with the announcement that Historic Dodgertown will host a Los Angeles Dodgers Adult Baseball camp this coming November 9-15, that saying is no longer true.

The Fantasy Camp, as it has been often called, gives participants a chance to put on a Dodger uniform, meet the stars of yesteryear, mingle at a welcome cocktail party upon arrival, eat with them in the Dodgers’ dining room, train with them in the fitness center, relax with them in the Stadium Club lounge, and even live with them in the newly-redesigned villas Dodger players have used for many years.

And these aren’t second stringers. Nine out of the ten instructors played on World Series championship teams. We’re talking about Dodger greats Don Sutton, Maury Wills, Steve Yeager, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Tommy Davis, Eric Karros, Mickey Hatcher and our own Vero resident, Rick Monday. These players whose careers span the championship years from 1959-1988 will be the initial camp’s instructors, as announced by Craig Callan, vice president and general manager of Historic Dodgertown. “To many of the former Dodger greats and the fans,” says Callan, “these are hallowed grounds.”

When you consider how the relationship between the Dodgers and Vero Beach has evolved over the years, it is nothing short of incredible that they will again grace Holman Stadium. This will be the 51^st Adult Baseball Camp and the first in Vero Beach since interim owner, Frank McCourt, pulled out of town in 2009 and even took all Dodgertown landmark signage with him.

Just in case you don’t know the history, it was back in 1948 that Bud Holman and then-Mayor, Merrill P. Barber, convinced the team to hold spring training here rather than the Dominican Republic. They even came up with the name Dodgertown.  It was a decision at least partially motivated by the city’s desire to make use of the Naval Training complex inherited after World War II.

From that point forward, Dodgertown and Vero Beach were synonymous. The stadium was dedicated to Bud Holman in 1953. Mayor Barber already had a bridge named after him. Many fans moved from New York to Vero, especially after the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles as baseball’s first west coast expansion team. Dodgertown was considered the number one spring training facility in the major leagues. Fox bought the team from long time owners, the O’Malley family, in 2001 and considered moving the team closer to its LA base. But a united local effort to keep them here was successful when the city and county teamed up to buy the Dodgertown facility in exchange for a 15-year lease.

But then Fox sold the team to Frank McCourt, who left town with his team in 2009, even taking the Dodgertown name that had been created by Holman and Barber back in 1948. With so many teams moving spring training from Florida to Arizona, the future of Dodgertown, then known as Vero Beach Sports Village, was uncertain.

But Craig Callan, long time general manager of Dodgertown and lifelong Dodger fan, maintained his relationship with Peter O’Malley, who put together a team including his sister, Terry Seidler, and two former Dodger greats, Chan Ho Park and Hideo Nomo, to not only take over the facility, but to convince the Dodgers and major league baseball to restore the name as “Historic Dodgertown.”

No, the Dodgers won’t be coming back for spring training, but they have agreed to bring back the popular Adult Baseball Camp, beginning this November. According to Historic Dodgertown vice president of marketing, Brady Ballard, “Participants will be staying in the Dodgertown villas, hanging out with the former players, be given home and road uniforms, personalized baseball cards, a video of their experience, team photo, autographed baseball by the instructors and finally a game between instructors and campers at the iconic Holman Stadium. It will be a true, traditional Dodgertown experience.”

Price for the camp is $4995, which includes all meals, lodging for six nights and use of all Historic Dodgertown facilities. It will certainly be the baseball experience of a lifetime. To make reservations, call toll-free (844) 670-2735 or visit www.historicdodgertown.com.

We are all pleased to know that the O’Malleys, Craig Callan and former Dodger greats have come home again (some never left!). Join them either as participants in the Adult Baseball Camp or watch them play in their traditional last day game. You will feel at home right along with them.