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PHOENIX, Ariz. — It’s been a full decade since the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated an NL West title in the tiny 4-and-a-half-foot-deep pool located beyond Chase Field’s center-field wall.
Only two players who appeared in that game are still major leaguers. The rivalry that developed from the Dodgers’ actions that night escalated and has long since dissipated. Time passed. People moved.
But not Willie Bloomquist. The ex-Arizona Diamondbacks utilityman and current Arizona State head coach seems as angry in 2023 as he did after the Sept. 19, 2013 game.
“There are guys I haven’t talked to since,” Bloomquist said recently. “Whether or not you want to say the relationship ended — I’m not extending the olive branch. They were the ones who were angry with me for what I did. I’m not the first to call them. If we never talk again, I won’t lose sleep over it.”
The D-Backs pool is one of the more unique features a major-league ballpark has to offer. The last time the World Series was played in this building, in 2001 against the New York Yankees, then-Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly covered Game 1 from the pool. Since then, the pool has undergone two changes and inspired other organizations to personalize their parks in a similar way.
“Is it a gimmick (at first)? Yeah, it probably was,” said former infielder Jay Bell, who played for the Diamondbacks from 1998 to 2002 and later coached in the organization. “But still, it definitely drove us apart, for sure.”
Arizona has celebrated on its own water twice this season. It once clinched the playoffs on the penultimate day of the season. And once again the aforementioned Dodgers were eliminated to reach the NLCS.
The D-Backs’ victory brought the drama of a decade ago to the fore as the 2023 World Series moved to Arizona, where the home team and the Texas Rangers were tied at one game each. But to understand the present, it is important to fully understand the context and history of this unquestioned but highly sought-after body of water.
Some of those 2013 Dodgers look back on that night fondly. Brandon League, who threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings that night, said a public relations representative in Los Angeles was told by a D-Backs official before the game that they could not celebrate if they won
At that point in the season, it was inevitable that the Dodgers would win the division. They are 10 games ahead of the D-Backs. The question was whether they could win that night — the final game of the series. The last chance to close the division with a splash, so to speak.
“We were like, that’s kind of weird to bring up,” League said of the instructions to abstain. “We have nothing in mind. But now that we have it in mind, we will do it.”
After the Dodgers’ 7-6 win, Bloomquist was in the Diamondbacks clubhouse, talking to reporters. One asked him what he thought about the Dodgers celebrating at the Chase Field pool.
“Nah, they’re not going to do that,” Bloomquist said.
“They’re in now,” a reporter replied.
Dressed in his travel suit — the Diamondbacks played Colorado next — Bloomquist left the clubhouse and rushed onto the field. He barked at several Los Angeles players as they left the pool. He told them it was not something the Yankees would do.
“I was crucified for going there and wanted to fight their whole team for doing it,” Bloomquist said. “I thought it was wrong — I still think it was wrong. I was called the ‘fun cop’ and all this stuff by all the guys who had their talk-radio (shows) and whatever. But, hey, I stand for something. And I still stand behind the fact that that’s our pool.”
Rumor has it that the Dodgers peed in the pool. It was discussed on Phoenix radio for several days. Bloomquist says it’s not a rumor.
“No, it’s true,” he said. “And knowing who did it, knowing some of the guys on their team told me, they did it.”
Another Dodgers reliever, JP Howell, recalled his team sending an invoice from a very angry D-Backs team.
The whole episode created quite a stir. John McCain, United States Senator at the time, tweeted that it was a “No-class act by a bunch of overpaid, immature, arrogant, spoiled brats!” It was a national story for days.
What a class act by a bunch of overpaid, immature, arrogant, spoiled brats! “The #Dodgers fools” http://t.co/KfZZliBFBV
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) September 20, 2013
“I would call it disrespectful and classless,” D-Backs president Derrick Hall said at the time. “But they didn’t have a nice pool in their old park and they really wanted to see what it looked like.”
There was already bad blood between the teams. All this happened just three months after a nasty mess that resulted in 11 suspensions. There was no love lost between the two organizations, whose Triple-A affiliates clashed the following season.
Before the Dodgers clinched Arizona to end the 2017 season, manager Dave Roberts vowed that history would not repeat itself.
“That’s not going to happen,” Roberts said. “This is a completely different team. I think our goal is bigger than jumping in the swimming pool. Our guys obviously understand what this is about. We have no interest in jumping in the pool.”
Just to be sure, there are policemen on horses guarding that part of the stadium. There are no risks to be taken.
This brings us to 2023. This pool, with its potential occupants, is once again the subject of discussion. Before the NLDS began, Hall was asked if the Dodgers were free to celebrate in their pool — should they clinch Arizona.
“They have the right to celebrate however they want, wherever they want,” Hall said, speaking matter-of-factly. “They certainly earned that opportunity.”
But this Dodgers team can’t even grab a lead in the NLDS, let alone win the series. The topic was brought up again in the NLCS, when the Phillies won the first two home games. If they win 2 out of 3 in the desert, they get a chance to celebrate.
“If we take two here against Arizona, we’re going to put it in the water,” Phillies backup catcher Garrett Stubbs said. according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Throughout this postseason, the Diamondbacks have thrived on excluding people who doubted them. After they clinched a World Series berth, veteran third baseman Evan Longoria talked about the betting lines leaning heavily in Philly’s favor. Tommy Pham stood on stage after the Game 7 win in Philadelphia being filmed by the sad and angry Phillies fans who mercilessly booed them.
This was the personality of the team in October. “Us against the world,” all the way to the World Series. They lean towards keeping receipts. So it’s no surprise that manager Torey Lovullo had some fun at Stubbs’ expense when his team celebrated at the Phillies home ballpark.
“When I found out about the comment that they wanted to celebrate in our pool, I was a little concerned,” Lovullo said after Game 7. “I think it’s what spurred this team out. Taking the picture (in Philadelphia ), made it a little more special.”
The World Series has now moved to Arizona. Each team wins one game.
Both teams enter Monday’s Game 3 knowing they will have a chance to win a championship in this ballpark. Both teams can finish their season in that pool.
Three wins in three days, with a dip in the water as the ultimate reward.
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(Photo of the Diamondbacks in their pool, celebrating their NLDS win over the Dodgers: Elsa / Getty Images)
