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01/30/09 5:17 PM EST

The time is right for annual caravan

Dodgers kick off eight-day jaunt through Southland on Saturday

During last year's caravan, former Dodgers Steve Garvey (left) and Rudy Law talked about fielding at the Culver Marina Little League. (Juan Ocampo/Dodgers)
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LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers annual community caravan, which kicks off an eight-day tour through the Southland on Saturday, is generally designed to fire up the club's hardcore fans.

That hasn't changed this year, although organizers also arranged a Wednesday visit to the longest-running game show ever, "The Price is Right," which has players angling for a seat on the bus to the studio that day.

From starring on "The Price is Right" to serving pastrami sandwiches at Canter's Deli, the Dodgers hit the road in the name of community outreach.

They'll celebrate the 90th birthday of the late trailblazer Jackie Robinson and the 20th birthday of Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI). They'll hold an autograph session at the new L.A. Live, visit the organization's ThinkCure hospital partners (City of Hope and Childrens Hospital LA), as well as schools and the Midnight Mission on Skid Row. The eight-day series of appearances will be capped by a sendoff from Dodger Stadium of the equipment truck heading to Camelback Ranch-Glendale, the new Spring Training complex in Arizona.

Here's the schedule:

Saturday -- On the eve of "Black History Month," the caravan for the second year marks Jackie Robinson Legacy Day on what would have been his 90th birthday. Several hundred Los Angeles school children will visit Dodger Stadium to hear stories first-hand from former Dodgers Don Newcombe, Tommy Davis, and "Sweet Lou" Johnson about Robinson's impact on society. This event will be streamed live on MLB.com beginning at noon PT.

Sunday -- A private Dodger Stadium party will be held for families who live in the neighborhood, celebrating the end of the football season and beginning of baseball season. Begins at 2 p.m.

Monday -- On Groundhog Day, children from Washington Irving Middle School will "shadow" various front-office staff to experience the various behind-the-scenes careers in baseball. Begins at 10 a.m.

Tuesday -- The first day of community visits will feature current players Andre Ethier, Blake DeWitt, Brad Ausmus and Hiroki Kuroda; legends Fernando Valenzuela, Tommy Lasorda, Tommy Davis, Rudy Law, Steve Garvey; and broadcaster Charley Steiner. The caravan will visit City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, Fernando R. Ledesma High School in El Monte for children at risk, and conduct a Play Ball LA Baseball Clinic at the Temple City American Little League. At 5 p.m., the Dodgers will meet the public for an autograph session at L.A. Live near Staples Center. In addition to the many new restaurants, L.A. Live features Lucky Strike, which will be the site of the Dodgers Dream Foundation Bowling Extravaganza hosted by James Loney on July 23.

Wednesday -- The second day of community visits will feature current players James Loney, Russell Martin, Delwyn Young, James McDonald, and Mark Loretta; and legends Bobby Castillo, Kenny Landreaux, Ron Cey and Johnson. Caravan particpants will visit Childrens Hospital Los Angeles in the morning, then serve lunch at Canter's Deli on Fairfax Avenue, and at 3 p.m. tape an episode of "The Price is Right" at CBS Studios in Los Angeles.

Thursday -- The Dodgers will attend and support the RBI Dinner at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, celebrating RBI's 20th anniversary. Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities is a Major League Baseball program with roots in Los Angeles. Among current Dodgers, Loney and McDonald are alumni. They are expected to attend, along with honorees Maury Wills and Derrel Thomas.

Friday -- Members of the front office will volunteer at Midnight Mission on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. Midnight Mission offers a bridge to self-sufficiency for homeless people through counseling, education, training, and job placement. Midnight Mission also provides food, shelter, clothing, personal hygiene needs, and medical care.

Saturday, Feb. 7 -- The club's equipment truck departs Dodger Stadium for Camelback Ranch-Glendale, home of the club's new campus in the desert. The club will welcome fans to see equipment and the truck up close, then give it a send-off on its historic inaugural journey.

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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