The Dodger franchise has existed for nearly 140 years. Close to 2,000 players have donned the Dodger blue, including 46 members of the Hall of Fame who spent some or all their career with the team. The Dodgers have more Cy Young Award winners and boast 18 players who have been named Rookie of the Year, far more than any other franchise. What a job to select a single team from that group and all that talent! That’s the enviable, but next to impossible task that Ned Colletti has given himself. Then drill that team down to selecting the starters. Pee Wee or Maury at shortstop? Campy or Piazza catching? Hodges or Garvey at first base? And who manages this team?
As he did when he led the Dodger brass, Ned selected his team by looking at both statistics and
intangibles. (Fortunately for Ned, and unlike the real world, he was not hindered by budgets or luxury taxes in making his selections.) For each position and player, he has added his unique personal touch and observations.
After Ned assembled his team, Dave then put his imagination to work in creating the art to depict the team and the scenes telling the story. Just as Ned was not constrained by monetary restrictions, Dave’s artwork was not limited by chronology. What if you could suspend time and have stars of different eras gather together, each in their prime? That is what Dave has done. Instead of simply painting portrait-like pieces of the players, Dave created scenes that only baseball fans can imagine.
That’s all here, and more, in the pages that follow. I’m sure you will agree that Ned’s discussion and Dave’s art are truly a joy to behold. So, join us in reading the logic and thought process behind Ned Colletti’s creation of The All-Time Dodgers team and enjoying Dave Hobrecht’ art that embodies that team and this amazing and historic franchise!
- Author: Ned Colletti and Dave Hobrecht
- Hardcover: 157 pages
- Published: November, 2023
- Dimensions: 9.5 x 1 x 12 inches
DAVE HOBRECHT is a world-renowned sports artist whose work is collected
by art patrons across the globe. He is known for his classic, yet innovative
black and white sports painting, dramatic sports subjects, and masterful
technique.
Hobrecht is a sports enthusiast whose life was changed dramatically
when he was hit by a car as a young teenager. Upon waking up in a
hospital bed weeks later, he learned he would not have the opportunity
to fulfill his dreams as an athlete. With both legs shattered and his goals
of athletic success gone, he found a new way to participate in the sports
he loved by refocusing his efforts toward documenting sports through art.
NED COLLETTI has worked in Major League Baseball for 40 years and has
become one of the winningest executives during the last 20+ years. He
began his baseball career with his hometown team, the Chicago Cubs,
where he worked for 13 seasons. He left Chicago for California, spent 11
years with the San Francisco Giants and 17 years with the Dodgers.
He then led the Dodgers as General Manager for nine seasons. During his
GM tenure, when the Dodgers captured five division titles, no NL GM
won more games than Colletti.
He won four Emmy’s on Dodgers SportsNet LA network and authored a
Best-selling book, The Big Chair, detailing his career in baseball
The Dodger franchise has existed for nearly 140 years. Close to 2,000 players have donned the Dodger blue, including 46 members of the Hall of Fame who spent some or all their career with the team. The Dodgers have more Cy Young Award winners and boast 18 players who have been named Rookie of the Year, far more than any other franchise. What a job to select a single team from that group and all that talent! That’s the enviable, but next to impossible task that Ned Colletti has given himself. Then drill that team down to selecting the starters. Pee Wee or Maury at shortstop? Campy or Piazza catching? Hodges or Garvey at first base? And who manages this team?
As he did when he led the Dodger brass, Ned selected his team by looking at both statistics and
intangibles. (Fortunately for Ned, and unlike the real world, he was not hindered by budgets or luxury taxes in making his selections.) For each position and player, he has added his unique personal touch and observations.
After Ned assembled his team, Dave then put his imagination to work in creating the art to depict the team and the scenes telling the story. Just as Ned was not constrained by monetary restrictions, Dave’s artwork was not limited by chronology. What if you could suspend time and have stars of different eras gather together, each in their prime? That is what Dave has done. Instead of simply painting portrait-like pieces of the players, Dave created scenes that only baseball fans can imagine.
That’s all here, and more, in the pages that follow. I’m sure you will agree that Ned’s discussion and Dave’s art are truly a joy to behold. So, join us in reading the logic and thought process behind Ned Colletti’s creation of The All-Time Dodgers team and enjoying Dave Hobrecht’ art that embodies that team and this amazing and historic franchise!
- Author: Ned Colletti and Dave Hobrecht
- Hardcover: 157 pages
- Published: November, 2023
- Dimensions: 9.5 x 1 x 12 inches
DAVE HOBRECHT is a world-renowned sports artist whose work is collected
by art patrons across the globe. He is known for his classic, yet innovative
black and white sports painting, dramatic sports subjects, and masterful
technique.
Hobrecht is a sports enthusiast whose life was changed dramatically
when he was hit by a car as a young teenager. Upon waking up in a
hospital bed weeks later, he learned he would not have the opportunity
to fulfill his dreams as an athlete. With both legs shattered and his goals
of athletic success gone, he found a new way to participate in the sports
he loved by refocusing his efforts toward documenting sports through art.
NED COLLETTI has worked in Major League Baseball for 40 years and has
become one of the winningest executives during the last 20+ years. He
began his baseball career with his hometown team, the Chicago Cubs,
where he worked for 13 seasons. He left Chicago for California, spent 11
years with the San Francisco Giants and 17 years with the Dodgers.
He then led the Dodgers as General Manager for nine seasons. During his
GM tenure, when the Dodgers captured five division titles, no NL GM
won more games than Colletti.
He won four Emmy’s on Dodgers SportsNet LA network and authored a
Best-selling book, The Big Chair, detailing his career in baseball
