"I don't think it's really sunk in yet that this is what I do for a living," Dodson told The Times. "I thought it sunk in last year, but I realize now it didn't. It's still kind of hard to believe."
Dodson spoke to The Times as he prepared for the California League All-Star Game as a member of the high-A Stockton Ports. It was his second-straight year as an All-Star, having won that honor in the rookie Pioneer League the year before.
He went on to continue playing as a pro for the next decade. He made it as high as AAA, but he never made the majors.
Dodson's career began in 1989, taken by the Brewers in the third round of the draft out of Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, Ca.
Dodson started with the Brewers at rookie Helena. He hit .310 over 65 games there. He also earned a young fan. An 8-year-old girl there used her allowance to buy Dodson snacks for road trips, according to a New York Times book synopsis.
He then moved to high-A Stockton for 1990, hitting .273 there and he made AA El Paso in 1992. He hit .248 there that year and .312 there the next year.
Dodson first made AAA in 1994, with 79 games at New Orleans. He hit .261. He then split 1995 between El Paso and New Orleans. It was his final season in the Brewers system.
He moved to the Red Sox and AAA Pawtucket for 1996. He hit .344 in 82 games there. He knocked in runs on a single and a double in June game. He won Player of the Week honors in July.
Dodson's last season in the minors came in 1998 at AAA Rochester with the Orioles. He then returned home to Sacramento and played for and later managing his hometown independent team.
Dodson's son Tanner Dodson has since followed his father into baseball. Tanner Dodson is listed in 2015 as a freshman pitcher/outfielder for the University of California Golden Bears.
- Los Angeles Times, June 20, 1990: The Road to Milwaukee Starts in Stockton
- New York Times, April 7, 1991: Stolen Season (David Lamb)
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