50 Years Earlier...Or Later...I Don't Know

[DOUGHBOYS]

50 years ago, the Dodgers opened up Chavez Ravine as their new home in Los Angeles.
I was a kid and a big San Francisco Giants fan. The Dodgers were my
emergency' team to listen to late at night if the Giants had already played or weren't scheduled that day.
After dark, along with a lot of static, I could make out the familiar voice of Vin Scully.

The Dodgers had a 'run and gun' team. They'd try to eke out a run with their legs on offense, while relying on the big guns of Koufax, Drysdale, and Podres to pitch them to victory.
The Dodgers leadoff hitter was a slight and skinny shortstop named Maury Wills. Wills could run. The Giants would make Candlestick Park a mud bath when Wills and the Dodgers came to town. It was even tough for Wills to run in a swamp.
To me, Wills was a pain in the ass.
I grew up with the boppings of Mays, McCovey, and Cepeda. While they strolled around the bases like a walk in the park, Wills would pilfer a base at a time till he was in scoring position.

In '62, the Dodgers had a lefty that was coming of age. He was still a year away from being the best pitcher in baseball, but most knew how special he was going to be. Sandy Koufax had had a hard time controlling his pitches, but started to find the zone in 1962. '62 would be the last year batters had a chance vs. Koufax. From 1963 to the end of his shortened career, Koufax was simply the best pitcher in baseball.

The Giants and Dodgers battled all year. They would eventually tie for the pennant and the Giants moved on to the World Series after beating the Dodgers in a two of three Championship tiebreaker which gave Wills an unbreakable Major League record, playing in 165 games. Wills scored 130 runs to go along with his 104 stolen bases.


So, here we are today.
Technology rules the day.
I don't have to listen to the Dodgers late at night on a static ridden radio.
I have the MLB Package allowing me to pick any game of my choice. On TV!
Back in the '62 games were only on sporadically and they were in black and white with one camera high behind the catcher.
Neanderthal.

But, that is where the differences end.
The Dodgers are starting one of the best pitchers in baseball, still.
His number has changed from 32 to 22. A left hander who leaves hitters looking like they don't have a clue. This isn't fair.
How can they still have the same dominating lefty as 50 years ago?

Their shortstop is a slight, skinny fellow who can run like the wind.
In fact today, he singled, stole second, then moved to third and home on two grounders.
His number has changed from 30 to nine. But, that's him. He wear's that bandit mask like a raccoon.
How did the Dodgers do this?
Heck, they probably still sell Dodger Dogs.

As of this writing, the Dodgers are winning 1-0.
Same Dodgers.
50 years and nothing has changed.
Same way they used to win.

I'm turning the channel.
Maybe the Giants are playing and I can see somebody play that looks like number 24.
If Vin Scully weren't sick, he would have been calling the game.
50 years and the Dodger uniforms look the same.
The numbers have changed, but the players are still the same.