Todd Leitz took over as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ PA announcer over a decade ago, and shared how he can still do his job with so much energy and enthusiasm in an interview with Dodgers Nation’s Noel Sanchez.
Leitz’s job as the PA announcer is incredibly important to the atmosphere in Dodger Stadium, as he introduces players ahead of their at-bats and other key figures throughout the game, gives live game updates on key plays and engages with the crowd.
Regardless of the score or the state of the game, Leitz knows exactly how important he is to the feel of the stadium, and makes sure to give it his all at all times.
“I love baseball, I love Dodger Stadium, I love Dodger baseball,” Leitz said on how he remains passionate during games. “It’s kind of easy. I know that each time one of these guys comes to the plate, something special could happen. I’ve seen it, I’ve lived it. I know that even if we’re down 5-1 in the bottom of the ninth, we can pull that game out.
“These guys are putting their effort in, I’m gonna keep the energy up just to keep pushing them along.”
Over the course of more than 11 years, Leitz has seen the Dodgers finish with 11 winning seasons, 11 postseason appearance and of course three World Series wins.
How Did Todd Leitz Get His Job as the Dodgers’ PA Announcer?
While Leitz has spent the last 11 years with the Dodgers, his first break nearly came from a different NL West team: The San Diego Padres.
Leitz entered an open audition at Petco Park in 2014, which thousands of people attended, per his account. He worked his way to a top-two finish in the audition, but ultimately didn’t get the job. Leitz didn’t give up after falling short, though, landing an opportunity with the Dodgers a couple of years later.
“I also thank the Padres, because they gave me an opportunity to learn how to be a public address announcer at a major league ballpark,” Leitz said.
“I had never done PA announcing at all, and I never even considered that that might be something that I could do, so I thank them for giving me the chance to learn and not hiring me.”
As long as he holds the microphone, Leitz will continue shaping the atmosphere in Dodger Stadium in a way only he can.
