Former Dodger scoops up historic Hancock Park estate

A former Los Angeles Dodger has landed safely on a Hancock Park estate with some historic cache.

Adrian Gonzalez, who played first base for the Dodgers, paid $10.5 million for a five-bedroom Mediterranean Revival-style home, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The home was owned by the family of the late Leonis Malburg, the grandson of John Leonis, the founder of the city of Vernon. Leonis built the home in 1928 and his family had controlled the property ever since. Linda Marie Malburg Fletcher and Carlos Sima, successors of the Malburg Family Trust, were the listed sellers, according to property records.

The sale, brokered by Brett Lawyer at Hilton & Hyland, closed last month. The original asking price was $10.9 million.

Set on a double lot of 40,600 square feet, the property features a sweeping staircase, multiple loggia’s with groin vault ceilings and a separate staff cottage. Aside from a pool and a tiled three-car garage, the home’s basement has a secret Prohibition-era walk-in liquor vault, according to Hilton & Hyland’s website.

Leonis Malburg served as the mayor of Vernon, about 15 miles from L.A., for 35 years before he was convicted in 2009, along with his wife, for conspiracy, perjury and voter fraud. A voter-fraud probe also led to the 2009 conviction of his son, John Malburg, on child molestation charges.

Gonzalez played for the Dodgers from 2012 to 2017, before being traded to the New York Mets. The Mets released him from his contract in June. [LAT] — Alexei Barrionuevo