Manny Mota was inducted into the Dodgers Baseball Legends, honored for his uninterrupted service to the team since 1969 as a player, coach, broadcaster, and ambassador.
“I love you all and thank you for your great support,” Mota said in his induction speech. “I am proud to be Dominican, I am proud to be Latino and grateful to be a part of this great nation.”
Saturday’s 18-minute ceremony included remarks by Mota and retired Dodgers broadcaster, Jaime Jarrin.
“This is a great honor and a great privilege, and I am very grateful to the Dodgers for selecting me as a Dodger Baseball Legend,” Mota admitted.
The ceremony saw a host of Dodger legends take the field, including Adrian Beltre, Orel Hershiser, Steve Garvey and the former owner Peter O’Malley.
“I don’t consider myself a legend, just another person who always tried to contribute to the Dodgers and do my best. I’m honored and really appreciate what the Dodgers are doing for me.”
Beltre gave Mota a bike, which was a reference to how he used to bike around Dodgertown, where the team used to hold spring training in Vero Beach, Florida.
“I consider the Dodger Stadium my home away from home” and I consider myself an adopted son of the Dodgers organization.”
CEREMONY
Mota threw out the ceremonial first pitch and his family members said, “It’s Dodger baseball time,” just before the first pitch of Game 2 against the Cardinals.
The Legends of Dodger Baseball was established in 2018 to recognize Dodger greats and their impact on the franchise, both on and off the field.
Members receive a plaque honoring their accomplishments with the Dodgers, which will be on permanent display at Chavez Ravin’s Dodger Stadium.
MEMBERS
Manuel Mota was the sixth member. Don Newcombe, Steve Garvey y Fernando Valenzuela they were admitted in 2019. Maury Wills y Kirk Gibson they were admitted in 2022. Orel Hershiser will be admitted on July 29.
Mota, now 85, has been with the team since 1969, when he was traded from the montreal expo. Since then, he has worked as a player, coach, Spanish broadcaster and team ambassador.
READ ALSO:
Manny Mota honored as “Dodgers Baseball Legends” [+VIDEOS]
During the tribute ceremony it was enjoyed in video before the game, before he threw out the first pitch and spoke the favorite words of all Dodgers fans: “It’s Dodger Baseball Time!”
In addition to the ceremony, the first 40,000 fans received a Mota bobblehead doll.
@dodgers’s photo
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2023-04-30 16:48:48
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