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If it’s an obscure, little known fact about the Los Angeles Dodgers, chances are good Mark Langill knows about it.
Take this one for instance: In the 1974 World Series, manager Tommy Lasorda wore two different shoes when trotting to the third-base line for pregame introductions.
“Turns out Tommy was getting 50 bucks from two different companies to wear their product,” remembers Langill, the Dodgers’ longtime historian who seems to pull out tidbits of information about the club like no one on the planet.
Want another? The South Pasadena High grad and local resident takes you back to a 1950 movie – “The Jackie Robinson Story,” an inspiring film paying tribute to the first black player to break the racial barrier – for this one.
“Robinson portrayed himself, several former players from Pasadena Junior College were recruited as extras, including Brooklyn (Dodgers) infielder Dick Williams,” recalls Langill a matter of fact, with no hesitation. “In one scene, Williams portrays an opposing pitcher who gives up a hit against Robinson. The sharp grounder was just out of the reach of the shortstop, also played by Williams. When Robinson makes his final public appearance at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium in October 1972 for a pregame ceremony at the World Series to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his Major League debut, he greets the Oakland Athletics manager – Dick Williams.”
Who comes up with this type of uncanny, odd, bizarre and unusual data in a snap of the fingers? The 59-year-old Langill, of course, who has been gathering particulars about the organization most of his life.
“Once I went to my first game at age 7 in 1972, following the Dodgers was as natural to me as breathing,” he recalled. “I rooted for the team to win, but everything was of great interest: the TV and radio broadcasts, the merchandise, the stadium … And especially the history. Looking back, the baseball cards I collected were like flash cards for someone studying in school. I knew the players and respective histories of the other Major League franchises.”
It simply became an everyday ritual over the years, accumulating all that knowledge, along with hanging onto every word from late Dodger legendary broadcaster Vin Scully and reading the daily newspaper, featuring baseball box scores and standings in the sports section.
The statistics laid the groundwork, helping Langill, who attended South Pasadena schools, in math and further in United States geography where he learned America’s landscape by what he gained through the Western and Eastern Divisions of the National and American Leagues in Major League Baseball.
Who has a Dodgers’ cap going back more than a half century? You know the answer to that one. Langill brought the special hat with him on the day players and staff were presented their 2020 World Series rings. It has remained one of his keepsakes since his early youth, purchased for him by his parents during his first Dodgers’ game.
“That cap means just as much as the World Series ring because it represents the first step of a wonderful path I never expected and still can’t believe,” Langill told the South Pasadenan after receiving the coveted piece of jewelry, representing the organizations first title in 32 years. “The autographs under the bill are still visible and I still remember in vivid detail when I went to a car dealership in the summer of 1975 to meet five Dodgers. I instantly recognized these players in civilian clothes – Davey Lopes, Ivan DeJesus, Doug Rau, Manny Mota and Bill Russell – and had already memorized their career stats from my baseball cards.”
Remarkably, despite some major health concerns, Langill continues to rattle off Dodgers info with pinpoint accuracy after the diagnosis came back recently that he had two brain tumors.
Now he’s of the mindset to take it on with his best stuff and wouldn’t be himself if he didn’t sum up the medical discovery without a baseball analogy.
“I’m batting .500,” one of the two brain tumors discovered is benign,” said Langill, now in his 31st season with the Dodgers, having joined in January 1994. Previously, he covered the ball club for the Pasadena Star-News from 1989 to 1993.
Shortly he will begin treatment for the other tumor, which he hopes to knock out of the park with radiation and medication.
How Langill got to this place began back on April 25 while he was giving a morning stadium tour to four new Dodger employees. “Without warning, I’m out of energy, 10 minutes later and I’m losing my train of thought as the elevator doors twice opened and closed while the four wondered if we were going downstairs on the elevator,” he explained.
Soon enough Langill wound up in Pasadena’s Huntington Hospital, doctors telling him he has a pair of masses on his brain. “Quite the surprise, indeed,” he quipped.
To prepare for surgery in three days, no one would have expected Langill to take the normal path, consuming time lying around waiting for the moment to arrive. He quickly turned to baseball and the compassion for the sport it brings.
“One of the highlights was watching Game 2 of the 1974 World Series on YouTube. It was the Dodgers’ only win against the Oakland Athletics, but as a kid, it was the most exciting time watching the local team get into the Fall Classic for the first time since 1966,” he recalled. “The 1974 Dodgers will always be my favorite team!”
Langill wasn’t in any pain, so he tried to make others around him comfortable. The line from his favorite movie – the 1942 “Pride of the Yankees” – a biography of Hall of Fame first baseman Lou Gehrig, resonated with him.
“I just remember actor Gary Cooper hearing the bad news about his character’s condition at the Mayo Clinic: ‘Doc, I’ve learned one thing. All the arguing in the world isn’t going to change the call of the umpire.’ ”
Langill’s original role at Dodger Stadium was publications editor, writing various stories and editorial copy about the club. The team historian title, which was added in 2002, “opened a whole new world in terms of everything relating to the franchise since its Brooklyn origin in the 1880s,” he likes to tell others.
“It’s the people,” Langill points out when asked what makes his job so special, “whether it’s the fans, players, alumni or colleagues. I love hearing the stories and memories through the eyes of others.”
And, it’s many of those same people who are now coming to bat for him since news broke of his efforts to get past his current medical condition. It’s especially good news knowing that Langill has returned to work.
“Very humbling,” he said of the attention he’s received. “I already knew I have been fortunate throughout my life. But the volume of text messages, letters and phone calls has been surreal. Even my kindergarten teacher checked in!”
And there was nothing quite like returning to Dodger Stadium on June 17 for the first time since the ordeal began.
“Which, of course, is the best medicine,” he said smiling.
