The Los Angeles Dodgers will begin a five-game homestand Friday at Dodger Stadium, highlighted by Fernando Valenzuela’s induction into the Legends of Dodger Baseball Saturday and Freeway Series games against the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Dodgers will begin a three-game series against the Miami Marlins Friday with a fireworks show accompanied to music related to Saturday’s 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
The anniversary will be marked at Saturday’s game by retired U.S. Air Force Col. Terry Virts, an astronaut on Space Shuttle missions in 2010 and 2014-15, throwing the ceremonial first pitch.
Virts will also make a check presentation to Folds of Honor a nonprofit organization which provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen and disabled service members.
Valenzuela will be the final inductee of the inaugural class of Legends of Dodger Baseball Saturday. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the 5:30 p.m. ceremony.
The ceremony will include appearances by Mike Scioscia, the Dodgers starting catcher when Valenzuela pitched for them, Mike Brito, the Dodger scout who discovered Valenzuela in 1979 when he was an 18-year-old pitching in the Mexican League, and longtime Dodger broadcaster Jaime Jarrin.
The team will induct legends on an annual basis in recognition of their impact on the franchise, both on and off the field. Inductees will receive a plaque honoring their Dodger achievements, which will also be on permanent display at Dodger Stadium. Scioscia, Brito and Jarrin will help unveil the plaque honoring Valenzuela.
The late Brooklyn Dodgers pitching great Don Newcombe was the first inductee, inducted before the April 27 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Retired first baseman Steve Garvey was the second, inducted before the June 1 game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The first 40,000 fans at Saturday’s game will receive a Valenzuela bobblehead.
The Dodgers will conduct their monthly Viva Los Dodgers family friendly festival before Sunday’s game, featuring live music, interactive games and the opportunity to get autographs from present and past Dodger players and broadcasters. Sunday is also Cuba Day, with the Dodgers offering a ticket package including a long-sleeve Cuba Day T-shirt.
As is customary for Sunday afternoon games, the Dodgers will allow children 14 years old and under to run the bases following the game.
Monday is an off day, but the sixth annual Dodgers All-Access will take place at Dodger Stadium from 5-8:30 p.m. A limited amount of tickets are available. The event customarily sells out.
Attendees will have the opportunity to take batting practice in the Dodger batting cages, pitch in the Dodgers bullpen, call play-by-play action on historic Dodger moments, take photos with current and past players, bid on Dodgers memorabilia in the silent auction and eat dinner on the infield.
There will be two panel discussions. Outfielders A.J. Pollock and Alex Verdugo and relief pitcher Joe Kelly will participate in the first. Dodger President Stan Kasten, President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and Vice President and Assistant General Manager Brandon Gomes will participate in the second.
Other current players set to participate include shortstop Corey Seager, pitcher Walker Buehler and catcher Austin Barnes. Past players set to participate include Garvey and two of his fellow members of the Dodgers record-setting infield of the 1970s — Ron Cey and Bill Russell.
Other planned participants include Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda and Dodger broadcasters Orel Hershiser, Charley Steiner and Rick Monday.
The Dodger Stadium portion of the Freeway Series will begin Tuesday with Los Angeles Football Club Night, where a ticket package including an LAFC Night soccer jersey.
Tennis star Naomi Osaka is scheduled to throw the first pitch before Wednesday’s game in connection with Japan Night.
The participating restaurants in the new LA Feeds Blue dining initiative for the homestand will be Border Grill and Socalo which feature Modern Mexican and coastal Latin cuisine which will be available at a pop-up concession stand in the right field plaza.