Sports
Dodgers plan playoff tribute for fallen Air Force officer and lifelong fan
A pregame flyover and military ceremony will honor Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella before Saturday’s Dodgers-Braves NLDS opener.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will honor Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, a Los Angeles native and dedicated Dodgers fan, before Saturday afternoon’s National League Division Series opener at Dodger Stadium. NBC Los Angeles reported that Estrella was among eight people killed in a June B-52 Stratofortress crash at Edwards Air Force Base.
What it means locally
Three B-52s from Edwards are scheduled to fly over the stadium during Keith Williams Jr.’s performance of the national anthem. The pregame ceremony will recognize Estrella as the Military Hero of the Game. His family said he had long dreamed of attending a World Series game at Dodger Stadium and realized that wish in 2024 and 2025. His wife, Brianna, told NBC Los Angeles that the tribute is especially meaningful because he was both an L.A. native and one of the team’s biggest fans. First pitch against Atlanta is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.
Full report and further details: Read original report →