Dodgers show World Champion spirit at teammate Chris Taylor’s Polar Plunge benefit in Manhattan Beach
Video by Jefferson Graham (JeffersonGraham.com)
by Kevin CodyThe current World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers pitched in literally, as well as figuratively, to help teammate and All Star utility player Chris Taylor in his Second Annual CT3 Foundation Polar Plunge at the Manhattan Beach pier on Sunday, February 2.
Seven Dodgers pitchers, along with infielders Mookie Betts and Miguel Rojas, led thousands of fans into what Los Angeles County Lifeguard Michael Murphy warned during his safety talk, was a “very cold, below 60 degrees” ocean.
“Don’t hesitate to ask for help from Lifeguards who will be in the water, and on PWCs (Personal Water Craft),” Murphy said.
High stepping Michael Grove was the first in the water, followed by fellow pitchers Tony Gonsolin, Anthony Banda, Tyler Glasnow, Evan Phillips, and Tanner Scott.
The CT3 Foundation name comes fromTaylor’s initials, and uniform number. He and his wife Mary, who live in Manhattan Beach, founded CT3 in 2020 to raise funds for local charities. Manhattan Beach-based Skechers was the Polar Plunge’s primary sponsor.
Last year’s Polar Plunge raised nearly $200,000 for the Friendship Foundation, which teaches vocational and social skills to special needs adolescents. This year’s Polar Plunge again benefited the Friendship Foundation, and also the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.
The Friendship Foundation proceeds will go towards the $50 million Friendship Campus nearing completion in Redondo Beach.
Actor Mario Lopez emceed the event.
Second District Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, in her address to the fans, thanked the firefighters in attendance for their work against the recent fires.
Mitchell also thanked Manhattan Beach residents for welcoming the nearly 200 fire evacuee families who have resettled in Manhattan Beach.
“Will I be taking the Polar Plunge?” she said at the end of her remarks. “Let’s be real. No. It’s cold, and I need to stay healthy for Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting,” Mitchell quipped.
Manhattan Mayor Amy Haworth, in her remarks, thanked the Los Angeles Dodgers for helping people “get through these difficult times.”
“Baseball takes our minds off our troubling challenges,” she said.
Taylor thanked his teammates for showing their support, in particular because players are leaving for spring training in Arizona this week.
Hermosa Valley School student and Friendship Foundation singer Julian Richardson fired up the fans for the swim by leading them in the “Star-Spangled Banner.” ER