Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) held a City Connect Showcase event to celebrate the unveiling of the new jerseys that were worn later in the day in the Dodgers’ matchup with the Los Angeles Angels.
Dodgers Dreamteam participants were all invited to the event, and participants of the 2023 Nike RBI World Series played a game wearing the City Connect uniforms. One team wore the Dodgers’ first City Connect jersey, and the other wore the new jerseys that were unveiled.
It was a first-of-its-kind event to unveil the City Connect jerseys, and LADF ceo Nichol Whiteman hopes it will pave the way for other teams to connect with their city in new ways.
“Yeah, it is very special,” Whiteman said. “I think that we consider ourselves with the Dodgers Foundation a leader in our own right.
“We started to plan this event with Fanatics and Nike back in December. So the opportunity to infuse our Dodgers Dreamfields here at Belvedere Park together with our Dodgers Dreamteam program, and now with the City Connect unveiling, really special but also to bring the community into it.
“Everyone doesn’t have the opportunity to go to Dodger Stadium and everyone isn’t always a part of it. So to be able to bring this to community and to make sure that people understand it’s about you too. I think that’s very unique and very special and I hope it is replicated in other places.”
Jason Heyward and Orel Hershiser served as honorary coaches for the team in the new City Connect jerseys, while Bobby Miller and Adrián González worked as honorary coaches for the other team. “I think it’s cool,” Heyward said.
“I think it’s my first time being an honorary coach, but I think it’s going to be fun to watch them do their thing, have some swag.
“This is a newer generation of the game, I think it’s really cool. You’re starting to see it more at the big league level, kids doing their thing, wearing the earings, wearing some bling, and I think it’s cool to have that as part of the game.
“Just looking forward to being out here, interacting and seeing what they give me.”
In addition to the game, LADF also had their partners in attendance to provide resources and games for all the Dreamteam players and families. The secondary part of the event was called Dodger Day, which coincides with LADF’s greater mission of providing to the community, rather than just focusing on baseball.
“And so yes, they get free baseball and softball programming, and it’s the practices and it’s the games, but it’s also about the education and the health resources and bringing those services to the community,” Whiteman said.
“And so we bring together a couple partners that can make sure that families are getting those dental screenings, those eye screenings, the health screenings, the books donated, the science of baseball training and so much more on site, while also bringing like the fun of Dodger baseball.
“So our bobblehead character, and today, to bring the players out and to bring Dodger alumni out, we want to make sure the community feels the love outside of Dodger Stadium.”
Among some of the partners in attendance were UCLA Health, the L.A. County Library, USC college guidance counseling, and many more, providing key resources to families in need.
In addition, the games and Dodgers merchandise giveaways provided entertainment for the kids at the event, and they were also treated to Dodger Dogs, autographs from Dodgers alumni and the opportunity to take a photo with the 2020 World Series trophy.
Dodgers wear City Connect uniforms for first time
After the event, the Dodgers wore their new City Connect uniforms for the first time in a game as they faced the Los Angeles Angels. The Dodgers played well in them, winning 7-2 to split the series.
Tyler Glasnow was dominant, and the offense came through with home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Gavin Lux.
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