DODGERS FOR A DAY FATHERS, KIDS GET TO PLAY IN PROS' STADIUM.

Byline: EUGENE TONG Staff Writer

With mitts in hand and their throwing arms warmed up, George and Gary Garcia weren't about to let any imaginary foe score a run off their father- son team at Dodger Stadium.

``We'd pretend to catch it as if that ball was going to home plate,'' said George Garcia, 66, of Whittier, playing catch with his son Gary, 44, at the third annual Father's Day Catch at the stadium in Chavez Ravine.

The opportunity to play catch in the outfield Sunday drew more than 3,000, including three generations of the Garcia family. George Garcia, a lifelong fan from the team's Brooklyn days, relishes the event every year.

``You can go to the park, but there's only one Dodger Stadium,'' he said.

Still, the home team hasn't quite caught on with grandson Ruben, 14. ``I only have to do this once a year,'' he said. ``I just like reading.''

For Chuck Driesler, 29, of Lakewood it's time well spent on hallowed ground.

``It's home,'' said Driesler, who began rooting for the Blue Crew during the 1988 World Series, when Kirk Gibson hit a home run against Oakland in the first game despite a leg injury.

``Look what a man can do with one swing of the bat.''

It's a lesson he hoped to pass down to 10-year-old Chuck Jr., although the boy -- dressed in a full Dodgers uniform -- was concentrating on his pitching form.

``It's a great way to spend Father's Day,'' said Chuck Jr. ``It's the best one so far.''

Decked out in his No. 1 Dodger-blue ``Dad'' T-shirt, Michael Rachford of Westchester got to relive a fond memory with his children Steve, 22, and Lynn, 24. Neither was older than 10 when the family last stepped onto the outfield together for a fireworks show.

``It's a way to spend quality time with the kids,'' said Rachford, 46. ``It feels like I'm in that movie `Field of Dreams.' All we need is Vin Scully here saying, `Welcome to Dodger Stadium.'''

Rick Avila, 48, and his son Michael, 20, of San Pedro posed in the infield in matching homemade Dodgers jerseys.

As season-ticket holders, father and son together have lived through a lot of ups-and-downs at the stadium. They took pride in attending 75 out of 81 games last year, despite the disappointing season.

``It's like reliving your childhood. I saw (Sandy) Koufax pitch right there as a kid,'' the elder Avila said. ``And I raised my kid right -- I raised him a Dodger.

``My wife's not going to come down to this -- she goes to too many games already.''

Other dads and sons were creating new memories. Manix Wolan, age 7, said he wants to either be a race car driver or a baseball player when he grows up -- and the boy visiting from New York got a head start on one of those wishes in Dodger Stadium.

``I like being on first or the outfield,'' he said, running his hand through the manicured green center field. ``I like to get people out.''

``It's one of those things he'll really remember his whole life,'' said his dad, Alan Wolan, 43. ``It's his day.''

It was such a good day for Don Lee, 50, of Torrance that he was willing to cut Dodgers owner Frank McCourt some slack, despite some tough times for his team.

``For all the grief that Frank McCourt gets in the news, this is one of the most wonderful things he's done,'' said Lee, who threw a few balls with his boys Andy, 10, and Zach, 8. ``It really ties the kids to the team.''

``It was fun,'' Andy said. ``You get to pretend you're a real player.''

``It's like being Matt Kemp,'' said Zach, referring to the left fielder and hitter.

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

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3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) Above, Gavin Plasschaert plays catch Sunday with daughter Mackenzie, 4, and son Zach, 19 months, at Dodger Stadium. At left, Robert Scott throws to son Sean, 4, while son Robert II runs.

(3) Jeff Hammill gets ``help'' from his son Kevin, 3, whom he holds, playing catch Sunday at Dodger Stadium. More than 3,000 took advantage of the Father's Day chance to play in the stadium outfield.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer