Dodger Blue:
The Championship Years
DVD
It’s impossible to be half pregnant, I’m told. But as I sat to write a review of the DVD Dodger Blue: The Championship Years, I couldn’t escape the notion that I half liked it. Which isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy it. I did, immensely. But like any good thing, I always want more. And that’s why I’m sitting on the fence with this one. Is it "fair" or "foul?" You decide.FAIR
1. Overall professional quality DVD. Great 5.1 sound for a sports documentary; visually dramatic; good graphic menu interface; nicely organized. First class.
2. Great overall Dodger footage. The images captured are strong enough to propel any fan down memory lane – goose bumps included.
3. Charley Steiner does a solid job narrating. Sure, Vin Scully would have been the ideal choice here, but Steiner knows what he’s talking about and he displays a mild mannered, yet optimistic approach to the championship seasons.
4. Great player interviews are sprinkled between the game footage. Though most of the player comments aren’t overly insightful, they are reflective, honest, and emotional.
5. This isn’t a Vin Scully love fest. People wishing to hear Vin call every pitch of every game will be disappointed. A variety of announcers from around baseball are used throughout the anthology which brings a welcomed global perspective to the action. Rest assured, there’s plenty of Vin.
6. This ain’t no blanket giveaway. The World Championship years presented is, in fact, the actual years that the Dodgers won the World Series.
7. There’s a plethora of Sandy Koufax. For those of us who never experienced the thrill of watching Koufax pitch, there’s tons of footage here – in color – with Vin calling the play by play. Almost worth the price of the DVD alone.
8. The Kirk Gibson story never gets old.
FOUL
1. Many World Series games are glossed over, or even ignored. For example, the 1959 Series gives us this amazing insight: “The Series began in Chicago where the teams split the first two games. Then it was on to Los Angeles…” No highlights, scores, stats, or summaries of those first two games. None. The rest of the Series gets the SportsCenter highlight treatment. What gives? The same is true for 1988. After a nice lengthly look at Kirk Gibson’s homer from Game 1, all we get from Game 2 is one pitch from Orel Hershiser and then, “Despite losing Game 3, the Dodgers quickly recovered and the pitching was the main reason why,” as we see Jay Howell throw two pitches to end Game 4. Unacceptable.
2. Seeing Mike Scioscia in an Angel uniform never makes us happy.
3. The Bonus material is rather forgettable. Hall of Fame speeches by Tommy Lasorda, Don Drysdale, and Duke Snyder are nothing to get excited about.
4. Eric Gagne is on the cover on the DVD – why?
5. The chapter called Future Champions showcases various highlights of the “accomplishments” during the Nineties (Ramon Martinez’ 18 strikeouts; Fernando’s no-no; etc.). The infamous Rookies of the Year (Piazza, Karros, Mondesi, Nomo, and Hollandsworth) get some promotion, too. What, exactly, did they win?
6. Too many cut shots. Very few baseball plays are shown in their entirety, missing the opportunity to watch the drama unfold.
7. “In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!” sound bite missing from the Kirk Gibson story. Tragic.
8. At 66 minutes, this DVD is way too short to celebrate a franchise’s six World Championships – especially considering all they left out. What’s the rush?
Overall Rating:
Dodger Blue: The Championship Years DVD earns a double for it's MTV-style look at the six Dodgers World Series championships. Overall, itis a nicely designed package of game footage, interviews, and memories that most Dodger fans will enjoy. Fans looking for a feel-good promotional video of the Dodgers in all of their glory will be most pleased with Dodger Blue. Fans looking for in-depth accounts of the Dodgers six World Championships should look elsewhere.This site is not affiliated with the Dodgers, MLBP, or MLBAM
This site is not affiliated with the Dodgers, MLBP, or MLBAM
