The lineup of Dodger stars serving as instructors for the 53rd Los Angeles Dodgers Adult Baseball Camp at Historic Dodgertown – Vero Beach, Florida has expanded to include pitchers Chan Ho Park, Jerry Reuss and outfielder Ken Landreaux, it was announced today by Peter O’Malley, Historic Dodgertown chairman.
Park, Reuss and Landreaux will join instructors previously announced as scheduled to attend, including Ron Cey, Tommy Davis, Steve Garvey, Mickey Hatcher, Rick Monday, Maury Wills and Steve Yeager. Plus, Hall of Fame Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda and former National League umpire Bruce Froemming will be guest instructors. Former Dodger scout Guy Wellman serves as the camp coordinator as he has since the first camp in 1983. Historic Dodgertown was the Spring Training home of the Dodgers from 1948-2008.
“We are looking forward to providing a unique experience for those campers in attendance in November,” said O’Malley. “With our latest additions of popular Dodgers Chan Ho Park, Jerry Reuss and Ken Landreaux, this will only enhance the camaraderie, storytelling and instruction for the participants, making this camp the best one ever. It is advisable for those who are considering signing up to do so now.”
Park, a founding partner of Historic Dodgertown, is a pioneer of Major League Baseball, the first player from South Korea to sign a contract in 1994. He signed as a free agent pitcher with the Dodgers on January 14. Park enjoyed 17 seasons in MLB, including nine with the Dodgers (1994-2001, 2008). In 2001, he was a National League All-Star for the Dodgers. Park’s 124 major league wins are the most by a pitcher from Asia. He also participated in three postseasons, including the 2009 World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies. Park pitched in 1,993 innings and had 1,715 strikeouts.
His groundbreaking signing opened the doors for 14 more players from South Korea by 2014 to play in the major leagues.
Since retiring from his playing days in the United States in 2010, Park pitched one season for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan and one year for the professional Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization in South Korea, where he remains one of the nation’s most popular athletes.
Park, from Kong Ju City, first pitched at Dodgertown during 1994 Spring Training as a rookie. He made his major league debut on April 8, 1994 in relief and pitched one inning against Atlanta. He had his best season for the Dodgers in 2000 with an 18-10 record and a 3.27 ERA. Today, Park is developing a baseball training center and entertainment complex in South Korea.
Reuss pitched 22 seasons and is the 21st player to perform in four consecutive decades in the major leagues (1969-1990). The 6-foot-5 left-hander was a standout on the mound for the Dodgers from 1979-1987, as he won in double figures five times and ranks ninth on the all-time L.A. Dodger list for ERA at 3.11 and 10th on that all-time list for innings pitched with 1,407 2/3. An important contributor to the Dodgers’ 1981 World Championship team, he defeated Houston and Nolan Ryan, 4-0 in the clinching Game 5 of the 1981 National League Division Series. Reuss followed that performance with a complete-game, 2-1, win over the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the 1981 World Series, which the Dodgers won in six games.
His top season was 1980 when he led the N.L. in shutouts with six, threw a no-hitter at Candlestick Park over the San Francisco Giants in June, won the 1980 All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in July and finished with 18 victories to place second in the N.L. Cy Young Award voting.
Reuss has provided insightful baseball commentary as an analyst, including for the Dodgers, in addition to serving as a minor league pitching coach. He recently issued his autobiography, “Bring In the Right Hander!”. Reuss is also known for his published baseball photography.
Landreaux played outfield for the Dodgers from 1981-1987. He was acquired by the Dodgers late in 1981 Spring Training from Minnesota and finished the storybook season by catching the final out in center field as the Dodgers won the 1981 World Series over the New York Yankees. Landreaux showed outstanding defensive prowess, as he had a 1.000 fielding average in 244 chances in 1981. He also was the center fielder for the 1983 and 1985 National League Western Division Champion Dodger teams. The Angels selected him in the first round of the 1976 Free Agent Draft (sixth pick) and he made his major league debut one season later.
The Dodgers and Historic Dodgertown have teamed up for this year’s camp, certain to be the best ever. As in past camps, Dodger legends serve as instructors and interact on a daily basis with campers to improve skills, impart their baseball knowledge, compete in a game and share stories about their baseball careers. To date, campers from 16 states are represented.
The success and popularity of the camp begins with the unique, all-inclusive experience, as participants train, play, dine and stay in one place. Campers will take a beautiful, short walk in a park-like setting from their newly-designed rooms to the baseball fields, the major league clubhouse (formerly used by the Dodgers), the inviting dining room, fitness center and Stadium Club lounge with large screen TV, card tables and billiards.
Hours of enjoyment and the opportunity to learn and hear baseball stories from Dodger stars of the past fill the six nights and five days camp schedule. It is around-the-clock, first-class baseball fun, with campers treated the same as when the Dodgers trained at Dodgertown.
Included in the camp package: three meals a day; double occupancy (six nights) in one of Historic Dodgertown’s newly-designed rooms; two authentic personalized Dodger jerseys, both home and road; a video of camp activities and team photo; an autographed baseball by the instructors and other Dodger personnel in attendance; 50 baseball cards with your picture and camp statistics; instructors vs. campers game at iconic Holman Stadium; a poolside cocktail party on the first day; and use of fitness center and on-site recreational facilities (including basketball and tennis courts and the competition-size swimming pool). Cost for this exclusive experience is $4,995.
As the camp is filling up, please call toll-free(844) 670-2735 for more information and to make reservations or visithistoricdodgertown.com.
O’Malley, president of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1970-1998, is responsible for Historic Dodgertown – Vero Beach, Florida, the world-famous, year-round multi-sport training and conference center.
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