Can you smell the freshly cut grass? Or hear the crack of the bat and the fans singing Take Me Out the Ballgame? Yes Santa Clarita, it’s the most wonderful time of the year for me. Baseball season has finally arrived.
…and so have the stars.
I had the wonderful opportunity to meet baseball great and pitcher for the New York Yankees, Al Downing. Downing sported the pinstripes in the early 1960’s, and was selected as an All Star in 1967. Downing came to Los Angeles to play for the Dodgers in 1971 and that season won NL Comeback Player of the Year. In 1974, Downing was on the mound when Hank Aaron hit his record breaking 715th home run. Al resides in the SCV and was seen at the birthday celebration of 102-year-old Nick Corsinita.
Legends past or present are legends, nonetheless. Santa Clarita resident, Cisco Rivas, sighted former Major League All Star, MVP, Golden Glove winner and record breaker Barry Bonds. While Bonds’ baseball career has been controversial, he still holds numerous MLB records, including the all-time home run record with 762 homers in his career and 73 in a single season. He also leads the group having the most walks and intentional walks. Though a Dodger fan at heart, Cisco states, “It was very cool to meet him.”
If you’re out and about, enjoying a ballgame or dining at your favorite restaurant, be sure and have your cameras ready and be on the lookout! Do you have a celebrity sighting to report and a photo to share? If so, please e-mail me at selgin@santaclaritamagazine.com. I look forward to hearing from you. Happy Sightings, Mamarazzi.