Dodgers welcome Dave Roberts back as manager
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dave Roberts was welcomed back to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday as the first minority manager in franchise history.
Co-owner Magic Johnson handed Roberts a No. 30 jersey that he hastily buttoned up over his blue dress shirt and blue-and-white striped tie.
Roberts said he was so focused on landing the job that he didn't realize the magnitude of being the club's first minority manager.
Roberts comes from the rival San Diego Padres, where he was bench coach the last two seasons.
The Dodgers haven't won a World Series since 1988 despite having baseball's highest payroll last season.
The Dodgers lost 3-2 to the New York Mets in a decisive Game 5 of the NL Division Series this year, having made the postseason in three straight years for the first time in franchise history.
Roberts played college baseball at UCLA after growing up in the San Diego area.
Roberts is perhaps best known for his stolen base in the 2004 AL playoffs that sparked the Red Sox to an elusive World Series championship.
Boston won 6-4 in 12 innings, then became the first team in major league history to overcome a 3-0 deficit and win a postseason series.