Grab a glove, don your Dodger blue, and sign up before the bus fills up
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Josh Gray was just two years old when his aunt took him and her son to their first Dodgers game. He doesn’t remember every detail, but the tradition stuck. Since then, he’s been continuing that tradition—most recently on Opening Day last month, when he cheered from the stands with his wife and the same aunt who brought him all those years ago.
“Dodgers games, especially Opening Day, are one of the hallmarks of my family’s year,” said Gray, who now serves as director of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. “In hard times and good, Dodger games are a connection to summer, lifelong traditions, and always a good time.”
This June, RSRPD is offering others the chance to share in that tradition with a community daytrip to Dodger Stadium. The outing, scheduled for Thursday, June 5, gives residents a chance to watch the Dodgers take on the New York Mets—without the stress of driving, parking, or planning.
Though the trip is tailored to adults 50 and older, anyone five and up is welcome. Families are encouraged to come together—grandparents, grandkids, friends, or neighbors—for a full day of camaraderie, Dodgers pride, and summertime tradition.
The $88 cost includes round-trip transportation from the Simi Valley Senior Center, a game ticket, and trivia games with prizes during the bus ride. Space is limited to 50 participants, RSRPD said in a statement.
For many Southern Californians, the Dodgers are more than just a team. According to MLB.com, the franchise began in Brooklyn in 1883 and moved to Los Angeles in 1958, becoming Major League Baseball’s first West Coast team. Since then, the Dodgers have captured the hearts of generations, winning multiple championships and producing legends like Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, and Clayton Kershaw.
This year’s game against the New York Mets adds an extra layer of history. The Mets were formed in 1962, just a few years after the Dodgers left Brooklyn. According to Dodgers Nation, that connection still resonates, especially during matchups between the two clubs. Their rivalry peaked in the 1988 National League Championship Series, which the Dodgers won on their way to a World Series title.
Gray, who shared a photo of himself with his wife and aunt from this year’s Opening Day, said that even now, each visit to Dodger Stadium still feels special. “We love cheering on our old favorite players like Kershaw, welcoming new international players like Sasaki, and marveling in the one-of-a-kind talent of Shohei Ohtani,” he said. “I’m grateful and proud Rancho Simi continues to connect residents with opportunities to celebrate and cheer on the Dodgers to another championship.”
Registration is available at www.rsrpd.org, or by calling the Simi Valley Senior Center Recreation Office at (805) 583-6059. The bus leaves June 5—but the memories could last a lot longer.
