The Artful Dodger
The connection between UCLA and the Dodgers has always been a strong one. Jackie Robinson spent his formative undergraduate years in Westwood before defining his historic professional career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. And when the Dodgers moved to L.A. in 1958, the team trained and played exhibition games at UCLA’s baseball field — the Bruins’ current home stadium is named after Robinson, creating a permanent bond between the two teams. Another way the Dodger-Bruin bond continues is through The Artful Dodger: Dave Roberts ’95. The first Black and Asian manager in Dodgers history, Roberts has struck a balance between breaking barriers in the MLB and winning World Series. Learn more about how he’s bringing Bruin excellence to baseball in UCLA Magazine’s Fall 2025 issue.