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Three years ago a terrible thing happened to the good people of Brooklyn.
After over half a century in Flatbush, the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.
But even after the team had gone, one landmark still remained.
In Brooklyn, just to remind the fans of the glory that was Duke Snyder, Jackie Robinson, Ralph Branca, Carl Erskine, Peewee Reese, the grandeur that was the Dodgers.
That landmark was Ebbets Field.
On a fine spring afternoon, a Dodger fang could stroll down Bedford Avenue past the empty ballpark and picture in his mind's eye how it was when the brightened flags were whipping in the breeze and the crowds battling their way into the bleachers.
He could even dream that someday, somehow, the Dodgers would return to Ebbets Field.
And through the ballpark would echo again the familiar sound of the bat on the ball and the infield fly on the second baseman's skull.
Well folks, we know that now even that last faint hope is gone.
Because shortly Ebbets Field will be torn down, stone by stone, and where it stood will be left only tears, memories, and a few empty beer cans.
So tonight on Be Our Guest, we offer a nostalgic tribute to some of the devoted fans who gathered at Ebbets Field in years gone by.
I would like you to meet right now the Brooklyn Symphony, your old friends and fellow Rooters.
And here they are, the Brooklyn Symphony. Listen to this music.
Music
Applause
You know ladies and gentlemen, there are ballparks bigger and fancier than Ebbets Field.
But none of them ever had a musical rooting section like this.
The one and only Brooklyn Dodger Symphony Band. Welcome to Be Our Guest.
Music
You're watching them all sit down and be comfortable in your seats.
Now these seats that you're sitting in right now are the seats that you sat in at Ebbets Field, are the very same seats.
Now let's meet all of you and find out what you do. Now who's first?
I am. I'm Louis Soriano, leader of the symphony band.
And I used to be the Ray McKinley at Ebbets Field.
You were the Ray McKinley of Ebbets Field. And who's this young gentleman here?
That's my son Armand. He's a stocklaker, Stuban Glass.
Stuban Glass. And up here?
My name is Joseph Zollo.
Joseph Zollo?
Yep. I'm married. I'm three boys and I work for the Transit Authority.
And this?
I'm his son, Tony Zollo. I'm married. I work for Craspin Offset.
And your name?
I'm Jojo.
Jojo! What do you do for a living, Jojo?
I sell bread.
You sell bread.
Ha ha.
What did you do before you sold bread, Jojo?
I used to sell salami.
You sold salami? And what was wrong?
I have no future.
You had no future? Oh.
Tell me, how did the Dodger's Symphony get started, Lou?
Well, one day the whole gang of us went out to a picnic.
And we took our instruments as usual, as we always do.
And when we got there, it started to rain.
So we left the picnic grounds that come down towards Ebbets Field.
And the rain stopped just when we were around Ebbets Field and we started taking in the ballgame.
I see. I like the way you used to kid the umpires. How did you do that?
Well, we used to play this.
The Umpires
Did you ever kid any other people, any other players, like on the opposing team?
Oh yeah, a guy like Stan Musel, every time he got up, boy, he murdered them Dodgers.
And this is what we played for him.
The Umpires
Tell me, did you fellas get paid for playing at the games, Lou?
No, we never got paid. But for seven years we've been paying our own way.
But since Branch Ricky's time, we got free special seats from him.
Oh yes.
Well now that the...
Now that...
You should have been here at rehearsal.
Now that the Dodgers are gone, what do you do, Lou?
Do you go up to the Yankee Stadium?
No, we're down in Ebbets Field, and there ain't no place like the Spirit, like there is in Ebbets Field.
No other place.
You're right. You're right there, Lou.
The Dodgers might have left us, but we'll never leave them.
Right.
Applause
Though the Dodgers are gone forever, I'd like to express the way we feel about the team that done us wrong
with that stirring and inspirational song that used to lead the Dodgers to victory.
It's called...
It's called the Giglio, George. And every time we played that song, win or lose, we always played that number.
That was really that pulled us out.
The Giglio.
Music
Applause
Bye, Dodgers.