Former Sports Greats Gather at Lenny’s

Steve and Lenny’s Sports Bar on Swarthmore hosted a 77th birthday party on Sunday for former Dodgers outfielder ‘Sweet Lou’ Johnson, and several other retired star athletes showed up for the celebration. Among those in attendance were Johnson’s old teammates Wes Parker and Jim ‘Mudcat’ Grant, women’s Hall of Fame golfer Amy Alcott, and Laffit Pincay, Jr., who is second all-time in wins among jockeys. ‘Truthfully, I wasn’t looking for this to be a big event, but the big surprise was seeing all the people I met who were part of my baseball upbringing in Los Angeles,’ Johnson said. An outfielder for the Dodgers for three seasons (1965-67) and a member of the 1965 World Series championship team, Johnson still works in community relations for the Dodgers and resides in Ladera Heights. He spoke at length to members of the Palisades High baseball team as well. ‘I always say one thing: I think the greatest Dodgers team ever was 1965, the year we won the World Series. We got more out of what we had than any other team. We all jelled together that year: Sandy Koufax, the big righthander (Drysdale), they just needed a one or two runs.’ Alcott was recently inducted into the Southern California Golf Association Hall of Fame after a storied career that began in Pacific Palisades, where she still lives. As a member of the Palisades High boys golf team, she made history in 1974 when she became the first female to play in the City high school championships. She is a member at Riviera Country Club ‘ ‘I used to sneak under the fence there when I was a kid,’ she joked ‘ and still stays busy in a number of golf-related ventures in the Palisades, such as teaching golf privately and doing corporate golf outings for companies. ‘This is my home,’ Alcott said. ‘I haven’t left it.’ Grant, who pitched for eight different teams in all, was traded from Minnesota Twins to the Dodgers in 1968 and earned a World Series ring with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Major League Alumni. ‘I’m so glad I’m here and I’m seeing everybody,’ said Grant, who maintains strong ties to the Dodgers organization. ‘I always wanted to play with the Dodgers, and I got that chance. One of the major reasons was Jackie Robinson. I got a chance to relive the history of the game and that was one of the major reasons I was happy I was traded to the Dodgers.’   When Wes Parker came into the dining room and saw Grant, he exclaimed, ‘Hey, Mudcat, great to see you!’ They began visiting and Parker, like most athletes, couldn’t resist reminiscing about his playing days and hitting against Grant. ‘I hit a homerun off this guy when he pitched for the Twins,’ Parker said. Game 4 in the World Series, a solo homer. That was one of the highlights of my career.’ But he also remembered, ‘The first time up in that game, he struck me out on a 3-2 pitch.’ Steve Taub (the former owner of a Porshe Audi dealership in Santa Monica) and Lenny Rosenberg opened their sports bar on October 21 in the former Oak Room, adjoining Lenny’s Deli.   Featuring five 70-inch flat-screen TV’s and a dining area, the bar has a Happy Hour every day except Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m., during which time all food items and drinks are half-price. The menu includes organic beef sliders, pizza, sweet potatoes, seasoned waffle fries, onion rings and quesadillas with sour cream and guacamole. ‘We will have a full sports package from Direct TV and will be offering entertainment on a regular basis,’ Rosenberg said. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 4 to 11 Friday; 11 to 11 Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Closed Tuesdays.