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Historic Dodgertown
Historic Dodgertown was a multi-sport facility in Vero Beach, Florida where athletes of all ages and skill levels had the opportunity to train, play, and stay together. The facility which included the historic Holman Stadium was originally created as a Navy housing base, and was transformed into the home of spring training for Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, as well as the Vero Beach Dodgers from 1980 to 2006, and the Vero Beach Devil Rays from 2007 to 2008. It evolved into a multi-sport destination that includes an option of room and board via their on-site villas.
Historic Dodgertown was originally built as a Navy housing base for all of the members of the Navy and Marines that trained at the US Naval Air Station during World War II that was located directly across the street.
When Branch Rickey began looking for a permanent spring training site in 1948 he was introduced to a large area of land in Vero Beach, Florida by Bud Holman, a local businessman, as the perfect place to host a fully contained training camp for the Major League club as well as the other 26 minor league teams. The Dodgers and the city of Vero Beach ended up coming to an initial five-year lease agreement that included the naming of the property as "Dodger Town". A stadium was completed in 1953.
The Sporting News reports on the innovative spring training camp to be run by the Brooklyn Dodgers in Vero Beach, Florida. “Mass production and the assembly line have come to baseball and now comes Dodger Town, where at least 400 Brooklyn farmhands will be in action during the month. Dodger Town is one of the most prominent set-ups in the history of baseball. There are, at the moment, only three diamonds here, but it’s probable that more will be laid out. The citizens of Vero Beach have collaborated about 200 percent with the Dodgers, hopeful that (Dodger President Branch) Rickey will stick to his half promise to bring Dodgers and Montreal here to train in 1949.”
When he became Dodger President on October 26, 1950, Walter O’Malley continued to invest in and develop Dodgertown, keeping the initial concept of a baseball school from Branch Rickey, but enhancing its features to cater to the needs of the players, coaches, staff, and press. It was also the most fan friendly of the spring sites with access to players. O’Malley strived for the best food service, medical facilities, training techniques, stadium, landscaping, and a wide variety of on-site recreational opportunities. In 1965, with the purchase of 110.4 acres of land from Vero Beach, the Dodgers became the only major league team in Florida to own and maintain their spring training site. In 1972, the O’Malley family continued to modernize and maintain Dodgertown with new living accommodations to replace the U.S. Naval Air Station barracks. In 1974, they added a 23,000-square foot administration building with a Major League clubhouse, medical department, dining room, kitchen, main lobby, broadcasting studio, photo darkroom, press room, lounge, training rooms, equipment room, minor league clubhouse and laundry room. Beginning in 1975, Charlie Blaney, Director, Dodgertown (1974-1987) named street signs for Dodger Hall of Famers. That year, Jackie Robinson Avenue, Roy Campanella Boulevard and Sandy Koufax Lane were named. Subsequently, upon a Dodgers’ election to the Hall of Fame, more streets were named (including legendary Dodger broadcasters Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrin). In 1977, Harrison Conference Services was hired to manage the use of Dodgertown for business conferences, seminars and meetings on a year-round basis. In 1990, more improvements were made by Peter O’Malley including an indoor batting tunnel and Spring Training office building. In 1991, two full-size baseball fields (Nos. 5 & 6) were added after a land exchange with the City of Vero Beach.
The Dodgers trained at Dodgertown for 60 years and it was the starting point for preparation for their World Championship seasons in 1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981 and 1988, as well as 14 National League Pennant-winning teams.
In 1948 when Dodgertown was created, Branch Rickey was Dodger President and a 25 percent Dodger stockholder. Walter O’Malley was also a 25 percent Dodger stockholder in 1948 when Dodgertown began, became the team’s majority owner in 1950 and was Dodger Chairman of the Board upon his passing on August 9, 1979. Peter O’Malley served as Director, Dodgertown from 1962-65, became President, Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgertown on March 17, 1970, and was responsible for Dodgertown until the family sold the Dodgers to the FOX Group on March 19, 1998. He later became responsible for Historic Dodgertown – Vero Beach, Florida again in January, 2012. At the time it was called “Vero Beach Sports Village”. On August 29, 2013, it was officially renamed “Historic Dodgertown” until Major League Baseball changed it under its leadership on April 2, 2019 to the Jackie Robinson Training Complex.
The date of March 31, 1948 resonates in the advancement of U.S. civil rights as on that date Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida was the first integrated spring training site in the South as the major league Dodgers played their initial game on base against the Montreal Royals, top farm club in the International League. Because of African American Jackie Robinson’s presence, the Dodgers had trained overseas in 1947 (Havana) and in 1948 (Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic) to help shield him from the Jim Crow laws in the South. When the Dodgers made their first appearance in Vero Beach, Robinson was joined on the major league roster that day by fellow African American Roy Campanella. March 31, 1948 marked the first time an African American player on a major league roster played an exhibition game in Florida. This was the beginning of the Dodgers integrating Dodgertown, a city within a city (Vero Beach), so all their players could train, dine, sleep and participate in recreational activities on site.
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Historic Dodgertown
Historic Dodgertown was a multi-sport facility in Vero Beach, Florida where athletes of all ages and skill levels had the opportunity to train, play, and stay together. The facility which included the historic Holman Stadium was originally created as a Navy housing base, and was transformed into the home of spring training for Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, as well as the Vero Beach Dodgers from 1980 to 2006, and the Vero Beach Devil Rays from 2007 to 2008. It evolved into a multi-sport destination that includes an option of room and board via their on-site villas.
Historic Dodgertown was originally built as a Navy housing base for all of the members of the Navy and Marines that trained at the US Naval Air Station during World War II that was located directly across the street.
When Branch Rickey began looking for a permanent spring training site in 1948 he was introduced to a large area of land in Vero Beach, Florida by Bud Holman, a local businessman, as the perfect place to host a fully contained training camp for the Major League club as well as the other 26 minor league teams. The Dodgers and the city of Vero Beach ended up coming to an initial five-year lease agreement that included the naming of the property as "Dodger Town". A stadium was completed in 1953.
The Sporting News reports on the innovative spring training camp to be run by the Brooklyn Dodgers in Vero Beach, Florida. “Mass production and the assembly line have come to baseball and now comes Dodger Town, where at least 400 Brooklyn farmhands will be in action during the month. Dodger Town is one of the most prominent set-ups in the history of baseball. There are, at the moment, only three diamonds here, but it’s probable that more will be laid out. The citizens of Vero Beach have collaborated about 200 percent with the Dodgers, hopeful that (Dodger President Branch) Rickey will stick to his half promise to bring Dodgers and Montreal here to train in 1949.”
When he became Dodger President on October 26, 1950, Walter O’Malley continued to invest in and develop Dodgertown, keeping the initial concept of a baseball school from Branch Rickey, but enhancing its features to cater to the needs of the players, coaches, staff, and press. It was also the most fan friendly of the spring sites with access to players. O’Malley strived for the best food service, medical facilities, training techniques, stadium, landscaping, and a wide variety of on-site recreational opportunities. In 1965, with the purchase of 110.4 acres of land from Vero Beach, the Dodgers became the only major league team in Florida to own and maintain their spring training site. In 1972, the O’Malley family continued to modernize and maintain Dodgertown with new living accommodations to replace the U.S. Naval Air Station barracks. In 1974, they added a 23,000-square foot administration building with a Major League clubhouse, medical department, dining room, kitchen, main lobby, broadcasting studio, photo darkroom, press room, lounge, training rooms, equipment room, minor league clubhouse and laundry room. Beginning in 1975, Charlie Blaney, Director, Dodgertown (1974-1987) named street signs for Dodger Hall of Famers. That year, Jackie Robinson Avenue, Roy Campanella Boulevard and Sandy Koufax Lane were named. Subsequently, upon a Dodgers’ election to the Hall of Fame, more streets were named (including legendary Dodger broadcasters Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrin). In 1977, Harrison Conference Services was hired to manage the use of Dodgertown for business conferences, seminars and meetings on a year-round basis. In 1990, more improvements were made by Peter O’Malley including an indoor batting tunnel and Spring Training office building. In 1991, two full-size baseball fields (Nos. 5 & 6) were added after a land exchange with the City of Vero Beach.
The Dodgers trained at Dodgertown for 60 years and it was the starting point for preparation for their World Championship seasons in 1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981 and 1988, as well as 14 National League Pennant-winning teams.
In 1948 when Dodgertown was created, Branch Rickey was Dodger President and a 25 percent Dodger stockholder. Walter O’Malley was also a 25 percent Dodger stockholder in 1948 when Dodgertown began, became the team’s majority owner in 1950 and was Dodger Chairman of the Board upon his passing on August 9, 1979. Peter O’Malley served as Director, Dodgertown from 1962-65, became President, Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgertown on March 17, 1970, and was responsible for Dodgertown until the family sold the Dodgers to the FOX Group on March 19, 1998. He later became responsible for Historic Dodgertown – Vero Beach, Florida again in January, 2012. At the time it was called “Vero Beach Sports Village”. On August 29, 2013, it was officially renamed “Historic Dodgertown” until Major League Baseball changed it under its leadership on April 2, 2019 to the Jackie Robinson Training Complex.
The date of March 31, 1948 resonates in the advancement of U.S. civil rights as on that date Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida was the first integrated spring training site in the South as the major league Dodgers played their initial game on base against the Montreal Royals, top farm club in the International League. Because of African American Jackie Robinson’s presence, the Dodgers had trained overseas in 1947 (Havana) and in 1948 (Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic) to help shield him from the Jim Crow laws in the South. When the Dodgers made their first appearance in Vero Beach, Robinson was joined on the major league roster that day by fellow African American Roy Campanella. March 31, 1948 marked the first time an African American player on a major league roster played an exhibition game in Florida. This was the beginning of the Dodgers integrating Dodgertown, a city within a city (Vero Beach), so all their players could train, dine, sleep and participate in recreational activities on site.
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