He’s Netted a Few Baseballs in His Day

June 14, 1960: Herman Kent caught Dodger fever. The former Brooklyn resident and Ebbets Field customer moved to Los Angeles in 1946 and when the Dodgers came west, he installed himself as one of the first characters in the Coliseum. Kent brought a fishing net and megaphone to games. He caught baseballs with net and caught the attention of just about everyone with his megaphone.

"In three seasons I've netted 33 balls—31 in batting practice, two in actual games," he told The Times' Jeane Hoffman. "Would have had three but the first season I reached up to bag a fly and the ball tore right through the net." Kent said he gave the balls away. As for the megaphone, he apparently liked to bother third base coaches from his seat behind third. "My employers say they can hear my voice in the 60th row. So I keep it on the light side," he said. "I'm just out for fun. I love baseball." --Keith Thursby