Langill still living in Dodgers' history - SGVTribune.com Page 1 of 3

Langill's interest in the Blue Crew began in 1972 Langill still living in when his parents took him to his first game at Dodgers' history . Was it memorable? "You bet," Langill said. "I don't remember much Article Launched: 06/02/2008 10:25:53 PM PDT about the game, but I certainly remember seeing Many's the kid who dreams of becoming a big Dodger Stadium for that first time. I still have my league ballplayer. But how many kids dream of ticket stub. I guess you could say it was love at becoming a big league historian? first sight."

Meet Mark Langill, official team historian for Any aspirations Langill held about playing for your Dodgers. the Dodgers pretty much ended in Little League. But he still held the dream of joining the Dodgers Langill, asked when he decided on his unusual family. career path, is quick with the documentation. "Well, the way things worked out was pure fate," "When you are 7 years old and never the ball Langill said. "When I was only in kindergarten, in Little League, you are well on your way," someone gave me a book, and it was Paul Langill quips. Zimmerman's history of the Dodgers, published in 1959. Why someone would give a 5-year-old a Langill, 42, has been a Dodgers employee since grown-up's book like that, I don't know. Kismet, I 1994 and the team's historian since 2002. The guess. Then in 1974, someone brought me the South Pasadena High School and Pasadena City packet of press notes from a game at Dodger College grad has seen first-hand a lot of Dodger Stadium. I cherished those, slept with 'em under doings. And he has read virtually everything in my pillow and started to think that maybe I, too, print about the team. Now that the team is could someday, somehow be a part of that." celebrating its 50th year in L.A., Langill is getting to put a lot of that knowledge to use. Growing up in South Pasadena, Langill followed the team in the Star-News and on radio and "It's a great time to be part of the Dodgers television. family," Langill said. "Oh sure, maybe the current team is in a slump right now, but to me, I don't "Never missed a Joe Hendricksen story on the get too excited about the wins and losses. The Dodgers," Langill said. "And, of course, who could Dodgers' history is so rich that there is always ever ask for a better guy to teach you about something to hold my interest. To me, it's more Dodgers lore than ?" about the people and less about the results." Following graduation from Cal State Northridge,

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Langill went to work at the Star-News as a sports becoming a reality," Langill said. "Still, it is an writer, and eventually covered the Dodgers for intriguing concept. I know one thing, the team the newspaper. Then, in 1994, came an has a lot of material here at the stadium to put opportunity to go to work for the Dodgers in the in a Hall of Fame, assuming it is built. And there team's publications department. In 2002, he is that possibility we could acquire other material became full-time historian. on loan. So it is safe to say that when the building is ready, we will be ready to fill it up." "It's been an absolute dream job," Langill said. "There is no set formula for my duties. I have 50 One item that won't be enshrined in a Dodgers years of L.A. Dodger games to draw on, as well Hall of Fame is the ball hit for his as the team's accomplishments from Brooklyn. dramatic home in the 1988 . Baseball is a wonderful sport to document because you never know what will happen. You "No one knows where that ball is," Langill said. can say such-and-such a record is unbreakable, "It is a mystery. The thing is, no one came and then someone comes along and breaks it. forward that night with the ball. And you can't tell by watching the video or from any photos of "For example, was the only guy the event who might have actually caught it with both a no-hitter and an 18-strikeout game. there in the right-field pavilion. So now, even if Then along comes Ramon Martinez, and he someone pops up claiming they have the ball, duplicates that. So, as a historian, you just never there is no way to prove it." say never." Even without a Hall of Fame to stock, Langill is The Dodgers' devotion to chronicling their staying busy. He has written four books on history is a relatively recent development, Langill Dodgers history. This spring has been especially said. hectic, with the team's historic trip to China and the exhibition game at the Coliseum. "The fact is, the team didn't hold an old-timers' game until 1971 and didn't retire a uniform "There is always something to document," number until 1972," Langill points out. "The idea Langill said. "For example, in my latest book of the importance of history just wasn't there. `The Game Of My Life,' I included a chapter on Fortunately, for me certainly, that has changed." Nancy B. Haifley, the Dodger Stadium organist. Do you know that the Dodgers were Not only has current ownership encouraged major-league team to employ a ballpark Langill's efforts, there is talk of a Dodgers Hall of organist? Nancy is the latest in that line, dating Fame to be located at the stadium. back to Gladys Gooding in 1942.

"It is in the planning stage, a long way from "Now, don't say you don't care. You know you do.

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If you're a Dodger fan, you care."

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(626)962-8811, Ext. 2383

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