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LA DODGER FANS - Shohei Ohtani had the greatest post-season game ever! And what do the stadium fans have as a collectible souvenir memento? >>> ZIP! The Dodger Brass say they love their loyal fans. However, with the change to electronic ticket sales, fans get absolutely nothing tangible (as a thank you) for putting their butts in those ridiculously expensive stadium seats.
Besides sports trading cards, game-worn jerseys and game-used equipment, event tickets and ticket stubs are one of the most highly prized sports collectibles. Tickets and stubs from famous sporting events now sell for unbelievable amounts. In February of 2022, an unused ticket from Michael Jordan's October 26, 1984 NBA debut sold at auction for $468,000. Later, at that Heritage Auction, a ticket stub from the 1947 major league debut of Dodger icon Jackie Robinson sold for a record-breaking $480,000.
In case you live under a rock, the "Shohei Game" just happened in game 3 of the National League Championship Game on Thursday October 16. Dodger GOAT (i.e. Greatest Of All-Time) Shohei Ohtani pitched 6 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts and then amazingly hit a home run in each of his 3 at-bats. Almost no other major leaguer has ever even tried to play "both ways" since Babe Ruth amazingly did it in the 1920s. So, as sportswriters like LA Times Columnist Mirjam Swanson wrote (the day after), "Ohtani, the GOAT, puts together nothing short of baseball's greatest game". So, do you think anyone attending that game might have liked a ticket or stub?
My childhood friend Jeff still prizes his ticket stub from Sandy Koufax's Perfect Game at Dodger Stadium on September 9, 1965, versus the Chicago Cubs. I gifted him a 45 vinyl of Vince Skully's call of that game (also, a nice collectible addition to the stub). I know how much he loves seeing that ticket stub and reliving that magical long-ago memory.
I bet almost all fans are wishing for tickets of future games. For example, long-time Northridge resident and Dodger season ticket holder Judy Diamond recently commented, "Whether it's a baseball game or concert, I really miss having a collectible souvenir." So, if the Dodgers want moms and dads to someday proudly show their grandkids a ticket from the "Shohei Game", they better rev up the printing presses right now. They've got addresses of everyone who purchased post-season tickets, so just mail them all a beautiful, colorful official post-game ticket picturing Ohtani homering the third time. THAT gesture will make the Dodger brass heroes to the loyal fan base forever.
Come to think of it, mail every post-season ticket holder a souvenir ticket for each 2025 League Championship Series game. And if you really have your act together, everyone entering Dodger Stadium gets a ticket for every World Series game. And that grand gesture might just make you rethink bringing back physical tickets to everyone entering a regular season game. Why you could even attach a one-day only discount coupon to sell more souvenirs to attendees. Please, don't send me more than a 3% commission per item sold. I don't want to seem greedy.
Not to upset the electronic ticket system, the Dodgers should revisit physical tickets (not to get into the event) but as a free give-away to those attending. Then maybe, just maybe Major League Baseball will get the hint and recognize that all ticket purchasers in every ballpark deserve a collectible memento. And if MLB is lucky, the National football League won't be smart enough to follow suit. Then, you can once again take a shot at regaining your title as "America's pastime". Just kidding?
Too bad Charlie O' (the former A's owner) ain't around to get the ball rollin'. HE knew a great promo concept when he dreamed one up. So, Dodger Brass, get cookin' while Shohei still has lots more 2-way games in his tank. He's probably intent on putting Babe Ruth further behind him in the rear-view mirror. And those photos will look FANtastic on next season's free giveaways at every Dodger Stadium game.
(Ken Ross is a retired dentist, former Associate Professor at UCLA Dental School, and a longtime animal advocate. He serves as NENC First Vice President, is a staff writer for Valley News Group, and a regular contributor to CityWatchLA.com.)
