History of the Los Angeles Dodgers facts for kids
The history of the Los Angeles Dodgers started way back in the 1800s. The team was first based in Brooklyn, New York, before moving to Los Angeles.
Contents
- Brooklyn Dodgers: Early Days
- Los Angeles Dodgers: A New Home
- Starting Fresh in LA
- Dodger Stadium and Pitching Power
- New Stars and Lasorda's Era
- Fernandomania and the 1988 Championship
- Changes in the 1990s and New Ownership
- New Owners and a New Approach
- Colletti, Little, and Mannywood
- New Ownership and Big Spending
- Roberts, Friedman, and World Series Appearances
- See also
Brooklyn Dodgers: Early Days
The team we know as the Dodgers began in 1883. They played in different leagues before joining the National League in 1890. Over the years, they had many nicknames like the Brooklyn Atlantics, Grays, Bridegrooms, Grooms, Superbas, and Robins. Finally, around World War I, they became known as the Brooklyn Dodgers. This name came from "Trolley Dodgers," because people in Brooklyn had to dodge streetcars!
During their time in Brooklyn, the team won the American Association championship in 1889. They also won the National League championship 12 times, including in 1955 when they won their first ever World Series championship!
Many famous players, now in the Hall of Fame, played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. These included Roy Campanella, Leo Durocher, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, and Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson made history in 1947 as the first African American player in modern Major League Baseball. He also won the first Rookie of the Year award.
The Brooklyn Dodgers played their last game at Ebbets Field on September 24, 1957. They won that game 2–0 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Los Angeles Dodgers: A New Home
Starting Fresh in LA
On April 18, 1958, the Los Angeles Dodgers played their first game in LA. They beat the San Francisco Giants 6–5 in front of a huge crowd of 78,672 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Sadly, star catcher Roy Campanella was injured and could not play for the new Los Angeles team.
The team's owner, Walter O'Malley, wanted to build a new stadium. He chose a place called Chavez Ravine in the hills north of downtown Los Angeles. There was some disagreement because many families lived there. The city bought their homes, and construction on the new stadium began. This event was known as the Battle of Chavez Ravine.
While their new stadium was being built, the Dodgers played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from 1958 to 1961. This stadium was built for football and track, so it was a bit odd for baseball. The left-field fence was very close, only about 250 feet from home plate! To make it harder to hit home runs, a 40-foot high screen was put up. Still, many home runs were hit to left field. Dodgers outfielder Wally Moon became famous for hitting "Moon shots" – lazy fly balls that went over or onto the screen.
In 1959, the Dodgers tied with the Milwaukee Braves for the league title and won a special playoff game. That year, the Dodgers won the 1959 World Series against the Chicago White Sox in six games. This victory really helped the team connect with their new fans in Southern California.
To celebrate their 50th year in Los Angeles, the Dodgers played one more game at the Memorial Coliseum on March 29, 2008. It was an exhibition game for charity. A record-breaking crowd of 115,300 people watched the Dodgers lose to the Boston Red Sox.
Even after more than 60 years, many people in Brooklyn still hope the Dodgers will move back. Brooklyn Dodgers merchandise is still very popular, showing how much the team is remembered there.
Dodger Stadium and Pitching Power
Dodger Stadium was finished in 1962. With its simple design and beautiful views of hills and palm trees, it quickly became a symbol of the Dodgers and their new California home. It's still one of the best stadiums in baseball today. The stadium was designed so there wouldn't be any bad seats. Its large size also made it a good place for pitchers and defenders. The Dodgers built a team that was amazing at pitching.
The Dodgers' success in the 1960s came from their incredible pitchers, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. They won many awards for best pitcher. Other great pitchers included Claude Osteen and Ron Perranoski. The team's hitting wasn't as strong, but speedy shortstop Maury Wills was a star. He led the league in stolen bases for many years and set a record with 104 stolen bases in 1962. The Dodgers often won games with low scores, relying on their strong pitching and defense.
In 1962, the Dodgers lost a playoff game to the Giants. But they went on to win the league title in three of the next four years. In the 1963 World Series, they swept the New York Yankees in four games. The Yankees couldn't even get a lead against Koufax, Podres, and Drysdale. After a tough 1964 season, the Dodgers won the 1965 World Series in seven games against the Minnesota Twins. Koufax, who was Jewish, famously refused to pitch on the Yom Kippur holiday, a decision that was widely praised. He then pitched two shutouts to help the Dodgers win the championship.
The Dodgers won the league title again in 1966, but they lost the 1966 World Series to the Baltimore Orioles. Koufax retired that winter because of arthritis in his pitching arm.
New Stars and Lasorda's Era
After a few quieter seasons, new young players joined the Dodgers from their minor league teams. They won another league title in 1974. Even though they lost the 1974 World Series to the Oakland Athletics, it showed that good things were coming. Steve Garvey was named the National League MVP in 1974. Pitcher Mike Marshall won the Cy Young Award and set a record for most appearances by a relief pitcher in a season, playing in 106 games.
For 23 years, starting in 1954, the Dodgers were managed by Walter Alston, a quiet and respected man. He won 7 league titles and 4 World Series. When he retired in 1976, a very different person took over: Tommy Lasorda.
Tommy Lasorda was a former minor-league pitcher who had been a coach. He was outgoing and enthusiastic, a big contrast to Alston. He quickly became famous for his personality, often saying things like, "If you cut me, I bleed Dodger blue!" He was known as an "ambassador for baseball" and was a huge part of the Dodgers from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.
The team now had a strong infield: Steve Garvey at first base, Davey Lopes at second, Bill Russell at shortstop, Ron Cey at third, and Steve Yeager as catcher. These five players stayed in the starting lineup together for a long time, from 1973 to 1981. The pitching staff was also strong with Don Sutton and Tommy John. The Dodgers won their division in 1977 and 1978. They beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the playoffs both years but lost the World Series to the New York Yankees both times.
The Dodgers also had a great run of four straight players winning the Rookie of the Year award from 1979 to 1982: Rick Sutcliffe, Steve Howe, Fernando Valenzuela, and Steve Sax.
Fernandomania and the 1988 Championship
In 1981, a 20-year-old rookie pitcher from Mexico, Fernando Valenzuela, became a sensation. He pitched a shutout on Opening Day and won his first 8 games. "Fernandomania" swept across Southern California and Mexico. Valenzuela became the only pitcher ever to win both Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in the same season. The Dodgers had a great start to the season. They beat the Montreal Expos in the playoffs and then defeated the New York Yankees in the 1981 World Series in six games.
The Dodgers won their division again in 1983 and 1985 but lost in the playoffs both times. Valenzuela's arm troubles meant he played less in 1988. The new star pitcher was Orel Hershiser, nicknamed "Bulldog" by Lasorda. In 1988, Hershiser won 23 games and the Cy Young Award. He also broke a major league record by pitching 59 scoreless innings in a row!
1988 World Series Champions
The 1988 World Series championship was special because many people didn't expect the Dodgers to win. Players like Kirk Gibson (who was named the league's Most Valuable Player) and the steady Hershiser, along with the enthusiastic Lasorda, inspired the team. They were the underdogs against the powerful New York Mets in the playoffs but won in seven exciting games.
In the World Series, they faced the Oakland Athletics, who had the best record in baseball. In Game 1, the Athletics were leading 4–3 in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two outs, injured Kirk Gibson came in to pinch-hit. After a tough at-bat, he hit a dramatic two-run, walk-off home run, winning the game for the Dodgers 5–4. This home run is one of the most famous in baseball history. Gibson's home run set the tone for the series. Hershiser was amazing in Games 2 and 5. The Dodgers completed a stunning upset, winning the series 4 games to 1. Hershiser was named the Series MVP.
Changes in the 1990s and New Ownership
After 1988, the Dodgers didn't win another playoff game until 2004. From 1992 to 1996, five Dodgers players in a row won the Rookie of the Year award: Eric Karros, Mike Piazza, Raúl Mondesí, Hideo Nomo, and Todd Hollandsworth. This is a record! After almost 20 years as manager, Tommy Lasorda retired in 1996 but stayed with the team as an executive.
In 1998, the O'Malley family, who had owned the Dodgers for a long time, sold the team to Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. This was a big change for the team. The new owners made some changes to the team's uniforms and added silver to the team colors. The team became more consistent in the early 2000s, with winning seasons under manager Jim Tracy. Pitcher Éric Gagné became one of baseball's best relief pitchers. In 2003, he won the Cy Young Award and set a major league record with 84 consecutive saves over three seasons.
New Owners and a New Approach
In 2004, the Dodgers were sold again to Frank McCourt. He hired Paul DePodesta as the new general manager. DePodesta used a statistical approach to find players, which was talked about in the book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. Many thought this meant the Dodgers wouldn't spend much money on star players. The Dodgers did win their division in 2004 but lost quickly in the playoffs.
In 2005, the team struggled with injuries and didn't do well. Manager Jim Tracy left, and DePodesta was also fired. Ned Colletti became the new general manager in November 2005.
Colletti, Little, and Mannywood
Ned Colletti brought a new energy to the team. He hired Grady Little as manager. He also made trades for players like Andre Ethier, Rafael Furcal, and Nomar Garciaparra. Many rookies were called up and played well, including catcher Russell Martin and pitcher Chad Billingsley. Rookie first baseman James Loney tied a Dodgers record with 9 RBIs in one game. Closer Takashi Saito also had a great season.
In 2006, the Dodgers had an exciting pennant race. They hit four home runs in a row in one game to tie it in the ninth inning, then won with a walk-off homer! They made the playoffs but were swept by the New York Mets. In 2007, the Dodgers had a good start but then struggled and missed the playoffs. Grady Little resigned as manager, and former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre was hired.
In 2008, the team faced many injuries. Star player Rafael Furcal was hurt, and many young players had to step up. To boost the team, Ned Colletti made some trades. On July 31, 2008, the Dodgers got outfielder Manny Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox. Ramirez brought a lot of excitement to the team and the fans. The Dodgers caught up to the Arizona Diamondbacks and won their division. They swept the Chicago Cubs in the playoffs but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the next round.
In 2009, Manny Ramirez was suspended for taking a banned substance. Despite this, the Dodgers won their division again. They swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies again. In 2010, injuries hurt the team, and Joe Torre retired as manager. Don Mattingly took over.
New Ownership and Big Spending
In 2012, the Dodgers got new owners, the Guggenheim group. They immediately started bringing in big-name players. They traded for Hanley Ramírez, Shane Victorino, and in a huge trade, they got Adrián González, Josh Beckett, and Carl Crawford from the Boston Red Sox. The new owners added a lot of money in player salaries. Despite these efforts, the Dodgers missed the playoffs in 2012.
In the offseason, the Dodgers signed star pitcher Zack Greinke and Korean pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu. In 2013, injuries caused a slow start. But when players got healthy, and Cuban player Yasiel Puig joined the team, things changed. The team went on an amazing winning streak and moved from last place to first. They clinched their division title early, overcoming the biggest deficit in team history. They made it to the playoffs but lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The 2014 season saw Dee Gordon become a star, leading the league in triples and stolen bases. Matt Kemp and Adrián González also played very well. Pitcher Clayton Kershaw had an incredible season, winning 21 games with a very low ERA. He was the first pitcher in history to lead the league in ERA four years in a row. Kershaw and Josh Beckett both pitched no-hitters that season. The Dodgers won their division again but lost to the Cardinals in the playoffs. Kershaw won both the Cy Young Award (best pitcher) and the NL MVP Award (best player), which is a rare achievement.
Roberts, Friedman, and World Series Appearances
After the 2014 season, the Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman to lead their baseball operations. He focused on building up the team's minor league system. The team made many trades, bringing in players like Howie Kendrick, Jimmy Rollins, and young talents like Yasmani Grandal and Enrique Hernandez. The Dodgers won their third straight division title in 2015, but lost in the first round of the playoffs. After the season, manager Don Mattingly left, and Zack Greinke signed with another team. The Dodgers hired former player Dave Roberts as their new manager for the 2016 season.
In 2016, the team dealt with many injuries, setting a new MLB record for players on the disabled list. They signed Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda and acquired Rich Hill. They won their division for the fourth year in a row. They beat the Washington Nationals in the playoffs but lost to the Chicago Cubs. Corey Seager won the National League Rookie of the Year award.
2017 World Series Run
In 2017, the Dodgers re-signed key players like Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen. They also got great performances from new players like Chris Taylor and rookie Cody Bellinger. At the trade deadline, they added star pitcher Yu Darvish. The team had an amazing record for most of the season. Even after a late-season slump, they recovered to win their fifth straight division title and had home-field advantage in the playoffs. Cody Bellinger was named the National League's Rookie of the Year.
In the playoffs, the Dodgers swept the Arizona Diamondbacks and beat the Chicago Cubs to reach the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros. The Dodgers lost the series in seven games. Later, it was confirmed that the Astros had illegally stolen signs during the 2017 season and playoffs.
2018 World Series Run
Despite a tough start to the 2018 season, the Dodgers made the playoffs for the sixth year in a row. They won their division in a special tie-breaker game. Players like Max Muncy, who hit 35 home runs, and Matt Kemp, who returned to the team, made big contributions. Rookie pitcher Walker Buehler also helped solidify the pitching staff. At the trade deadline, the team added Manny Machado and Brian Dozier.
The Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs and then won a tough seven-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers. They were the first team in either league to win Game 7 of a playoff series on the road since 2006. However, the Dodgers lost the 2018 World Series in five games to the Boston Red Sox.
2019 Season: Record Wins, Playoff Upset
In the 2018–2019 offseason, the Dodgers made some changes to their front office and traded away some long-time players to make room for younger talent like Alex Verdugo, Will Smith, and Julio Urias.
In 2019, the Dodgers set a franchise record with five consecutive walk-off wins. They also became the first team to have three straight walk-offs by rookies. For the third year in a row, they broke the Dodgers' record for home runs in a season. They also set a National League record for most home runs in a season. The Dodgers led the league in both runs scored and fewest runs allowed.
The Dodgers won their division for the seventh year in a row, clinching it earlier than ever before. They finished the regular season with 106 wins, a new franchise record. However, they were upset by the Washington Nationals in the playoffs. Cody Bellinger had an amazing season and was awarded the National League MVP.
2020 Season: Mookie Betts and a Championship
In February 2020, the Dodgers made a big trade, getting outfielder Mookie Betts and pitcher David Price from the Boston Red Sox. In July, Mookie Betts signed a huge 12-year contract extension, making it the richest contract in Dodgers history.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the 2020 season was delayed and shortened to 60 games. David Price decided not to play that season because of the pandemic.
The 2020 Dodgers started the season incredibly well, matching the best 40-game start in franchise history. They finished the regular season with 43 wins and 17 losses, winning their eighth straight division title. They swept the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres in the playoffs. Then, they came back from being down 3-1 to beat the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs, reaching the 2020 World Series. The Dodgers then defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in six games, winning their first World Series since 1988! It was their sixth championship since moving to Los Angeles and the seventh in franchise history.
Recent Seasons: Playoff Exits
The Dodgers started the 2021 season very strong but then had a tough stretch with many injuries to key players like Bellinger and Kershaw. They traded for star pitchers Max Scherzer and Trea Turner at the trade deadline. They also signed future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. The Dodgers won 106 games, tying a franchise record, and made their ninth straight playoff appearance. They beat the Giants in the playoffs but were defeated by the Atlanta Braves.
In 2022, the Dodgers signed All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman. Pitcher Julio Urías led the league in earned run average, and Clayton Kershaw had a strong comeback season. The Dodgers won 111 games, a new franchise record and the most in the National League since 1906. Despite this, they were upset by the San Diego Padres in the playoffs.
The Dodgers continued their playoff streak in 2023, winning 100 games for the fourth full season in a row. However, they lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the playoffs.
In December 2023, the Dodgers made huge news by signing two-way player and two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani to the largest contract in professional sports history. That same month, they also signed Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a big contract, further strengthening their team.
See also
- 1958 in baseball
