My Grandfather visited Southern California in the spring of 1962. We took him everywhere, including Disneyland, the San Diego Zoo, and Chavez Ravine — all the places my brother and I loved.
My father documented our trip to Chavez Ravine or Dodger Stadium. The romantic in me believes the Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds played. During Easter break, they were in town, and my father, always a Buckeye, probably saw the event as an opportunity to impress his dad, who lived outside Cleveland.
I didn't know it at the time, but the Dodgers played their first games in Chavez Ravine that season, and we were there during the opening few weeks. The year before, I saw my first professional baseball game, the last year the Dodgers played in the L.A. Colosseum. My only recollection of the event was standing next to the screen or fence in left field.
My dad and Grandfather were Cleveland Indians fans and, as such, preferred the American League to the National. Over time my dad and my brother became Angels fans. I never saw the attraction and remain a Dodger fan to this day.
Dodger Stadium, April 1962. Photo by my dad, Richard S. Funk