National League Wildcard Game: Dodgers Win, Cards Go Home

        It was a walkoff:  bottom of the 9th. Cody Bellinger draws a walk.  Next batter-a nobody named Taylor.  Ball, strike, ball, and then---------a crushing home run deep into the seats.  A bench clearing scene so popular with fans and players.  The exuberance and the displays of comraderie warm the hearst of all fans: in the stadium and at home in front of the flat screen with High Def.

       Next on the agenda:  San Francisco, winner of 1 more game than the Dodgers-107 v. 106 by L.A.  It's the first time these two arch rivals have met in the playoffs.  It could be one of the best series ever with the rivalry in front.   Long ball SF v.  small ball L.A.

Watch it.

An aside:  

         Recent research on the City of L.A. and the Dodger organization has revealed the "Dark Side" of the city and Walter O'Malley, the long time owner of the organization.   Seems O'Malley wanted a new stadium to be built in Brooklyn, NY.   However, Robert Moses, the influential city planner running all things NY in the '50's, had decided that the Yankees deserved a new stadium at Shea.   The Dodgers would have to wait.  O'Malley's plight became known to the LA mayor who had his own ideas.  The City of L.A. had been awarded a Federal grant of  $100 million to build low income public housing.  The mayor decided that this project would work in an area already housing low income mexican- Americans, many in their own homes.   The area encompassed what is today called Chavez Ravine.   Actually, 3 small communities existed in the area.   The City promised "new" apartments to all residents who gave up their land for the project.  Residents would have to get bye on their own for the 1 year time of construction; then all would return to the new projects.

      Didn't happen: the City of L.A. reneged on the deal agreed upon, and the Latino residents got no compensation whatsoever.   The Dodgers came west, and, as they say, the rest is history.   An cultural historian has done the research and now comes the reckoning.  Will L.A. bury its head in the historical sand, or make those families(and ) survivors whole?   Time will tell, but in progressive 'blue' California, the day of reckoning is at hand.