Los Angeles Dodgers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Los Angeles Dodgers

2026 Los Angeles Dodgers season

Established in 1883
Based in Los Angeles since 1958


Team logo	Cap insignia

Major league affiliations

National League (1890–present)
- West Division (1969–present)
American Association (1884–1889)

Current uniform

Retired numbers

Colors

Dodger blue, white, red

Name

Los Angeles Dodgers (1958–present)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1932–1957)
Brooklyn Robins (1914–1931)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1913)
Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers (1911–1912)
Brooklyn Superbas (1899–1910)
Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1896–1898)
Brooklyn Grooms (1891–1895)
Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1888–1890)
Brooklyn Grays (1885–1887)
Brooklyn Atlantics (1884)
Brooklyn Grays (1883)

Other nicknames

The Boys in Blue

Ballpark

Dodger Stadium (1962–present)
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (1958–1961)
Roosevelt Stadium (1956–1957)
Ebbets Field (1913–1957)
Washington Park (II) (1898–1912)
Eastern Park (1891–1897)
Ridgewood Park (1886–1889)
Washington Park (I) (1884–1890)

Major league titles

World Series titles (9)

1955
1959
1963
1965
1981
1988
2020
2024
2025

NL Pennants (26)

1890
1899
1900
1916
1920
1941
1947
1949
1952
1953
1955
1956
1959
1963
1965
1966
1974
1977
1978
1981
1988
2017
2018
2020
2024
2025

AA pennants (1)

1889

West Division titles (24)

1974
1977
1978
1981
1983
1985
1988
1995
2004
2008
2009
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026

Chronicle-Telegraph Cup (1)

1900

Wild card berths (3)

1996
2006
2021

Front office

Principal owner(s)

Guggenheim Baseball Management
Mark Walter (chairman)

President

Stan Kasten

President of baseball operations

Andrew Friedman

General manager

Brandon Gomes

Manager

Dave Roberts

The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The team plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) West Division. The team has won nine World Series championships. They have also won 26 National League pennants. Business magazines such as Forbes rank the team among the most valuable sports clubs in the world.

The team started in 1883 in Brooklyn, New York. They joined the National League in 1890 under the name Brooklyn Bridegrooms. After trying several nicknames, they officially became the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932. In 1947, the Dodgers made history when Jackie Robinson joined the team. He was the first African American player in modern Major League Baseball. This brave step helped break the baseball color line and changed sports forever.

The team moved across the country to California before the 1958 season. Owner Walter O'Malley helped lead this big change. The Dodgers played for four years in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In 1962, they moved into their famous home, Dodger Stadium. Across many decades, amazing stars like Sandy Koufax, Fernando Valenzuela, and superstar Shohei Ohtani have helped the team achieve huge success on the field.

History of the Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Team

The Dodgers have a rich history that stretches back more than one hundred years. They started on the East Coast and grew into a global sports powerhouse on the West Coast.

1883–1912: Early Years in Brooklyn

The 1889 Brooklyn Bridegrooms won the American Association pennant before joining the National League.

The team was founded as the Brooklyn Baseball Association in 1883. They played their first season in the Interstate League. In 1884, they joined the American Association. That year they were called the Brooklyn Atlantics, borrowing the name of a defunct team. The club won the American Association championship in 1889.

In 1890, the club moved to the National League. They won the league pennant during their very first year in the new league. Real estate businessman Charles Byrne helped organize the team alongside Ferdinand Abell. A young worker named Charles Ebbets joined as a ticket seller and bookkeeper. He worked very hard and eventually became the president of the team in 1898.

1913–1938: Ebbets Field and the Brooklyn Robins

The very first game played at Ebbets Field took place on April 5, 1913.

Charles Ebbets bought land piece by piece to build a brand new home for the club. He partnered with brothers Edward and Stephen McKeever to pay for construction. The new ballpark was named Ebbets Field. It opened in April 1913 and could hold about 24,000 cheering fans.

Later that year, the team hired Wilbert Robinson as the manager. He led the team for 18 seasons. Fans loved him so much that the team was nicknamed the Robins in his honor. Brooklyn won the pennant in the 1916 season. They played against the Boston Red Sox in the World Series but lost. They won another pennant in the 1920 season before losing the World Series to the Cleveland Indians.

In the 1930s, the team struggled during hard economic times. In 1938, executive Larry MacPhail took charge of the team. He added lights to Ebbets Field so the team could play night games. He also hired legendary broadcaster Red Barber to describe games on the radio for listeners at home.

1939–1957: Jackie Robinson and a Historic Championship

Star player Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color line with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

The Dodgers won the league pennant during the 1941 season. They met the powerful New York Yankees in the World Series. This sparked the famous Dodgers-Yankees rivalry. Soon after, executive Branch Rickey joined the front office along with Walter O'Malley and John L. Smith.

For decades, Black players were unfairly kept out of Major League Baseball. Branch Rickey wanted to change this injustice. He signed Jackie Robinson, who grew up in Pasadena, California. On April 15, 1947, Robinson made his major league debut for Brooklyn. He showed extraordinary courage while facing unfair treatment. His courage helped inspire the American Civil Rights Movement, paving the way for events like the Montgomery bus boycott.

Robinson became an instant star on the diamond. He won the very first Rookie of the Year Award. In 1949, he won the batting title and led the league with 37 stolen bases. He was later elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Before this breakthrough, Black stars played in Negro league baseball, such as the Negro National League. Following Robinson, the Dodgers signed other amazing stars including Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe, Jim Gilliam, and Joe Black.

With these stars, Brooklyn won six league pennants in ten seasons. The Dodgers lost several tough series, including the 1952 and 1953 contests against the Yankees. In the 1955 World Series, the team finally defeated the Yankees to win their very first title. Fans celebrated all across Brooklyn. Author Roger Kahn later wrote about this famous group in his popular book The Boys of Summer.

Portraits of legendary Dodger players are painted outside Dodger Stadium.

During the 1950s, Walter O'Malley became the team's principal owner. He wanted to build a modern stadium in Brooklyn. He talked with city planner Robert Moses, but they could not agree on land. To see other options, the Dodgers played a few games at Roosevelt Stadium in New Jersey during the 1955 and 1956 seasons. Official Kenneth Hahn invited O'Malley to visit California. Los Angeles offered plenty of open space for a brand new stadium.

Mayor Norris Poulson supported bringing baseball to the West Coast. On May 29, 1957, league owners agreed to allow the move. Giants owner Horace Stoneham decided to move his team to San Francisco as well. The Brooklyn Dodgers played their final game at Ebbets Field on September 24, 1957, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 2–0.

1958–1973: Moving to Los Angeles and the Sandy Koufax Era

The 1959 World Series was played in front of massive crowds at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

The Dodgers moved to California for the 1958 season. They kept the name Dodgers even though Los Angeles had fewer trolleys. Before they arrived, minor league teams like the Hollywood Stars and Los Angeles Angels of the PCL played in the city. The Dodgers played their first home game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against the San Francisco Giants.

In just their second year in California, the Dodgers won the 1959 World Series against the Chicago White Sox. In 1962, the team moved into Dodger Stadium. That season, speedy star Maury Wills stole 104 bases. He won the National League MVP award. The Dodgers tied the Giants in the regular season but lost a tough playoff series.

Pitching dominated this exciting era. Left-handed superstar Sandy Koufax and star Don Drysdale formed one of the greatest pitching duos ever. Koufax won the pitching Triple Crown and threw four no-hitters, including a rare perfect game in 1965. Drysdale set a record in 1968 by pitching 58 consecutive scoreless innings. The Dodgers swept the Yankees in the 1963 World Series and defeated the Minnesota Twins in the 1965 World Series. They won another pennant in 1966 before Koufax retired due to arthritis in his elbow.

1974–1997: Tommy Lasorda and Fernandomania

Pitching star Fernando Valenzuela sparked Fernandomania in 1981.

Manager Walter Alston retired in 1976 after leading the team for 23 seasons. Popular coach Tommy Lasorda took over as the new manager. Lasorda brought huge energy to the dugout and led the team to pennants in 1974, 1977, and 1978. During this time, the team featured an infield of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Ron Cey, and Bill Russell, who played together for many years.

In 1981, a young pitcher from Mexico named Fernando Valenzuela became an international sensation. Valenzuela threw amazing screwball pitches, sparking a huge wave of fan excitement called "Fernandomania". Valenzuela won both the Rookie of the Year Award and the Cy Young Award in the same season. He helped guide the Dodgers to a victory in the 1981 World Series against the Yankees.

In 1988, pitcher Orel Hershiser broke the scoreless inning record with 59 straight shutout innings. In Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, injured batter Kirk Gibson came off the bench and hit a dramatic pinch-hit walk-off home run. That moment helped propel the Dodgers to a championship against the Oakland Athletics. Over the next decade, five consecutive Dodgers won Rookie of the Year, including Eric Karros, Mike Piazza, Raúl Mondesí, Hideo Nomo, and Todd Hollandsworth.

1998–2012: Changes in Ownership

Manager Joe Torre led the Dodgers to back-to-back division titles.

The O'Malley family sold the team in 1998 to the Fox Group, part of News Corporation. During this era, pitcher Éric Gagné became a dominant closer and won the Cy Young Award in 2003. In 2004, the club was sold to developers Frank and Jamie McCourt. That fall, Steve Finley hit a dramatic walk-off grand slam to secure the division title.

Former Yankees manager Joe Torre took charge in 2008. The team traded for slugger Manny Ramirez, who hit .396 down the stretch. The Dodgers reached the National League Championship Series in 2008 and 2009. However, financial troubles created difficulties for the club. In 2011, MLB commissioner Bud Selig appointed Tom Schieffer to monitor team operations. The franchise entered bankruptcy protection to organize its finances.

2013–Present: The Modern Guggenheim Era

The Dodgers receive championship rings during a ceremony in 2026.

In 2012, Guggenheim Baseball Management purchased the Dodgers for $2.15 billion. The group was led by Mark Walter and included basketball legend Magic Johnson, movie executive Peter Guber, and executive Stan Kasten. Soon after, the team made a blockbuster trade to acquire stars like Adrián González and Carl Crawford.

Under manager Dave Roberts, the team became a regular playoff powerhouse. They won the National League pennant in 2017 with help from a Justin Turner playoff home run. In 2020, during a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 World Series to end a 32-year title drought.

Before the 2024 season, the Dodgers signed superstar Shohei Ohtani, who could both hit and pitch at an elite level. In the 2024 World Series, first baseman Freddie Freeman hit a dramatic walk-off grand slam in Game 1, leading the team to a championship over the Yankees. The Dodgers repeated as champions in the 2025 World Series, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games after a clutch home run by Miguel Rojas. In 2026, the team won 100 games and reached the playoffs for the 14th straight season, matching an all-time major league record.

Famous Team Ballparks

Over their long history, the Dodgers have played in several iconic baseball stadiums across the United States.

Historic Ballparks in Brooklyn

Fans gathering outside the gates of Ebbets Field in 1920.

When the team started in 1883, they played at Washington Park in Brooklyn. Local Sunday laws, known as blue laws, prevented games on Sundays. Because of this, the club played some Sunday home games at Ridgewood Park in nearby Queens.

From 1891 to 1897, the team played at Eastern Park before returning to Washington Park. In 1913, they moved into Ebbets Field in the Flatbush neighborhood. Ebbets Field was famous for its intimate feel and close seating. Fans felt right on top of the action. The Dodgers played their last game there in 1957, and the park was demolished in 1960.

Dodger Stadium in California

Dodger Stadium sits just outside downtown Los Angeles.

When the Dodgers first arrived in California, they played at the massive Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Over 93,000 fans attended a special 1959 exhibition game to honor injured catcher Roy Campanella.

Construction on Dodger Stadium finished in 1962. It was built in an area known as Chavez Ravine. The modern stadium was designed with cantilevered decks, eliminating poles so every fan could see the field clearly. In 2026, the team partnered with the clothing store Uniqlo to name the playing surface UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers also trained for decades at a warm Florida complex called Dodgertown in Vero Beach. It was the first fully integrated spring training site in the American South. In 2009, the Dodgers moved their spring training home to Camelback Ranch in Arizona.

Classic Baseball Rivalries

The Dodgers share famous rivalries with several Major League Baseball teams.

San Francisco Giants

The Dodgers–Giants rivalry is one of the oldest in all of professional sports. It began in the 1880s when the Dodgers played in Brooklyn and the Giants played at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan. Both teams moved to California in 1958, keeping the rivalry alive across the state. In 2021, both clubs won over 100 games and faced each other in an exciting five-game playoff series.

New York Yankees

The Dodgers–Yankees rivalry is the most common matchup in World Series history. The two teams have met in the World Series 12 times. Early on, the Yankees defeated the Dodgers often. Brooklyn broke through with their famous 1955 title, and the teams have played thrilling championship series in California as well.

Other Divisional Rivals

The Dodgers also have strong rivalries with their division opponents, including the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks. They also share an interleague rivalry with the Los Angeles Angels, known as the Freeway Series because fans can drive between the ballparks using Interstate 5.

Team Identity and Uniforms

The clean white Dodgers home jersey has changed very little over the decades.

The name "Dodgers" comes from Brooklyn pedestrians dodging electric trolley lines on busy streets. Sportswriters called the players "Trolley Dodgers" in the 1890s, which was eventually shortened to Dodgers. In earlier years, cartoonists like Willard Mullin also drew a friendly character named "Dem Bums" to represent the team.

The Dodgers' home uniform is world-famous. It features crisp white fabric with the word "Dodgers" written in Dodger blue script across the chest. In 1952, the team added bright red numbers to the front of the home jersey to help fans identifying players on television. On the road, players wear gray uniforms with "Los Angeles" written across the front. The team cap features the famous interlocking "LA" letters.

Celebrating Dodger Legends

The Dodgers have honored many incredible players, managers, and announcers who made lasting contributions to the game.

Retired Numbers

The Dodgers retire numbers to honor players and managers elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

1 – Pee Wee Reese, short stop and team leader
2 – Tommy Lasorda, championship manager
4 – Duke Snider, powerful center fielder
14 – Gil Hodges, star first baseman
19 – Jim Gilliam, versatile infielder and coach
20 – Don Sutton, winning pitcher
24 – Walter Alston, manager of four World Series championship teams
32 – Sandy Koufax, legendary left-handed pitcher
34 – Fernando Valenzuela, beloved Mexican superstar pitcher
39 – Roy Campanella, three-time MVP catcher
42 – Jackie Robinson, baseball pioneer whose number is retired across all of Major League Baseball
53 – Don Drysdale, Hall of Fame power pitcher

The Dodgers also honor legendary broadcaster Vin Scully, Spanish broadcaster Jaime Jarrín, and former owner Walter O'Malley in their stadium Ring of Honor. Scully called games for 67 seasons with an unforgettable, warm voice.

Important Milestones and Team Firsts

The Dodgers franchise has achieved many historic firsts in baseball history:

1890: First team to win championships in two different leagues in back-to-back years.
1939: Played as the home team in the very first televised major league baseball game.
1947: Broke the color barrier by starting Jackie Robinson.
1947: Hired Allan Roth, the first official full-time team statistician.
1952: First team to put uniform numbers on the front of their jerseys.
1956: Don Newcombe became the first player to win the Cy Young and MVP in the same year.
1958: First team to air games on a Spanish-language flagship radio station, featuring broadcaster René Cárdenas.
1978: First MLB club to draw more than three million fans in a single season.
1981: Fernando Valenzuela became the only pitcher to win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young in one season.
2011: Sue Falsone became the first female head athletic trainer in major American sports.
2024: Freddie Freeman hit the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.