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	1 2 4 14 19 20 24 32 34 39 42 53
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)
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 (23)	1974 1977 1978 1981 1983 1985 1988 1995 2004 2008 2009 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 2023 2024 2025
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 a professional baseball team from Los Angeles, California. They play in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) West Division. The Dodgers are one of the most successful teams in baseball history. They have won nine World Series championships and a record 26 National League pennants.

The team started in 1883 in Brooklyn, New York. They joined the NL in 1890, first known as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. They used other names before officially becoming the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932. A very important moment happened in 1947 when Jackie Robinson joined the team. He was the first African American player in the Major Leagues since 1884. This helped break down barriers in sports. The Brooklyn Dodgers won their first World Series in 1955.

After 68 seasons in Brooklyn, the team moved to Los Angeles in 1958. They played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for four seasons. Then, they moved to their current home, Dodger Stadium, in 1962. The Dodgers quickly found success in Los Angeles. They won the 1959 World Series and more titles in 1963 and 1965 with star pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. Later, Fernando Valenzuela led them to a championship in 1981. The team also won the World Series in 1988 and 2020. In 2024, superstar Shohei Ohtani joined the team. With Ohtani, the Dodgers won back-to-back World Series titles in 2024 and 2025.

Many Dodgers players have won major awards. This includes 11 National League MVP awards and 12 Cy Young Awards for pitchers. The Dodgers also have 18 Rookie of the Year Award winners, more than any other team. As of the end of the 2025 season, the Dodgers have a strong overall winning record. They are known for having a large and loyal fanbase. Their rivalry with the San Francisco Giants is one of the oldest and most famous in sports.

Team History and Achievements

Early Days in Brooklyn

Jackie Robinson, who grew up in Pasadena, California, broke baseball's color barrier in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Dodgers started as the Brooklyn Baseball Association in 1883. They joined the American Association in 1884. Then, they moved to the National League in 1890. The team had many informal nicknames over the years. These included the Bridegrooms, Superbas, and Robins.

In the early 1900s, a sportswriter called them the "Trolley Dodgers." This was because people in Brooklyn had to dodge streetcars. In 1932, the team officially became the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Jackie Robinson's Impact

"World Champions" team aircraft, Los Angeles International Airport 1964.

For many years, African American players were not allowed in Major League Baseball. This changed on April 15, 1947, when Jackie Robinson played his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was the first African American to play in the Major Leagues in the modern era. This was a huge step for civil rights in America.

Robinson was an amazing player. He was fast and played with great energy. He won the first-ever Rookie of the Year award. This award is now named the Jackie Robinson Award in his honor. With Robinson and other talented players like Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe, the Dodgers won six pennants between 1947 and 1956. They won their first World Series title in 1955.

Moving to California

The PCL's Hollywood Stars (logo, pictured) and Angels played in L.A. before the Dodgers arrived in 1958.

Former Dodger greats who played in both Brooklyn and Los Angeles adorn the exterior of Dodger Stadium.

After the 1957 season, the Dodgers left Brooklyn. The team's owner, Walter O'Malley, wanted to build a new stadium. He couldn't find a suitable place in New York. Los Angeles offered him a chance to buy land and build his own ballpark. This gave him more control over the team's future.

O'Malley convinced the Giants owner to move to San Francisco. This kept their historic rivalry alive on the West Coast. The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles for the 1958 season. They kept their nickname, even though there were no trolleys to dodge in Los Angeles.

Success in Los Angeles

1959 World Series games were played at the Los Angeles Coliseum while Dodger Stadium was being built.

The Dodgers played their first Los Angeles game on April 18, 1958. They beat the San Francisco Giants 6–5. They played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for four seasons. In 1962, Dodger Stadium was finished. It quickly became a famous ballpark with its beautiful setting.

The Dodgers focused on strong pitching in their new stadium. Star pitchers like Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale helped them win World Series titles in 1963 and 1965. In 1981, rookie pitcher Fernando Valenzuela became a fan favorite. He led the team to another championship. The Dodgers won the World Series again in 1988 and 2020. In 2024 and 2025, with Shohei Ohtani, they won two more World Series titles.

Fernando Valenzuela pitching for the Dodgers.

In-game action at Dodger Stadium, 1978.

Dodgers Rivalries

The Dodgers have several exciting rivalries in baseball. These rivalries often make games more intense and fun to watch.

Giants Rivalry

The rivalry between the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants is one of the oldest in sports. It started when both teams were in New York City. The Dodgers were in Brooklyn, and the Giants were in Manhattan. When both teams moved to California in 1958, the rivalry continued.

Los Angeles and San Francisco have always been rivals in many ways. This made the baseball rivalry even stronger. Both teams have been successful for over a century. The Giants have more wins overall, but the Dodgers have won more National League pennants and World Series titles. In 2021, both teams had over 100 wins. They met in the playoffs for the first time, with the Dodgers winning a thrilling series.

Other National League Rivals

The Dodgers also have rivalries with other teams. Their rivalry with the San Diego Padres has grown stronger recently. The Dodgers have won more games against the Padres, but the Padres won their playoff series in 2022.

The rivalry with the Arizona Diamondbacks was very intense in the 2010s. Both teams often competed for the division title. There were even some heated moments during games. In 2013, Dodgers players celebrated a division win by jumping into the pool at Chase Field, the Diamondbacks' home stadium. The Diamondbacks swept the Dodgers in the 2023 playoffs.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds have also been big rivals for the Dodgers. These rivalries often heated up during playoff games or when teams were fighting for division titles.

American League Rivals

The Dodgers also play against teams from the American League.

Freeway Series with the Angels

The "Freeway Series" is played against the Los Angeles Angels. Both teams are in the greater Los Angeles area. Fans can travel between their stadiums using Interstate 5. This rivalry became more intense when the Angels changed their name to include "Los Angeles."

Yankees Rivalry

The Dodgers and New York Yankees have met 12 times in the World Series. This is more than any other two teams from different leagues. This rivalry started when the Dodgers were in Brooklyn. They played many "Subway Series" games. Even after the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, the rivalry continued. Games between these two big-city teams always draw huge crowds.

Astros Rivalry

The rivalry with the Houston Astros became very heated after the 2017 World Series. The Astros won that series, but it was later revealed they used a sign-stealing system. This caused a lot of controversy and made the rivalry more intense.

Fan Support

A fan waves a rally towel during the 2008 National League Championship Series (NLCS).

Dodgers fans are known for their loyalty and passion. When the team moved to Los Angeles, attendance quickly grew. Dodger Stadium often leads the league in attendance. In 1978, the Dodgers were the first MLB team to have over three million fans in a season. They have done this many times since.

The Dodgers have a huge fanbase in Southern California and beyond. Many fans travel to away games to support the team. The team also has a strong international following. This is especially true in Mexico, thanks to players like Fernando Valenzuela and Julio Urias. Asian players like Hideo Nomo and Shohei Ohtani have also boosted the team's popularity in Asian communities.

Many Hollywood celebrities are also big Dodgers fans. They often attend games at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers Broadcasters

Vin Scully, a Hall of Fame Dodgers broadcaster.

For many years, Vin Scully was the famous voice of the Dodgers. He called almost all games from 1950 to 2016. Fans loved him for his long career and his ability to share interesting details about the players. He was known for being fair and unbiased. Scully was honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame for broadcasters.

Today, Joe Davis is the main TV announcer. Tim Neverett is the primary radio announcer. They work with former players like Orel Hershiser and Rick Monday who provide commentary. The Dodgers also broadcast games in Spanish and Korean. Jaime Jarrín was the Spanish play-by-play announcer for a very long time, from 1959 to 2022.

Team Management

The Dodgers are owned by Guggenheim Baseball Management. Mark Walter is the chairman. Other partners include famous people like Magic Johnson. The team's President and CEO is Stan Kasten. Andrew Friedman is the President of Baseball Operations, and Brandon Gomes is the General Manager.

Honors

Team Captains

• Leo Durocher (1938–1941)
• Pee Wee Reese (1950–1958)
• Duke Snider (1962)
• Maury Wills (1963–1966)
• Davey Lopes (1978–1979)

Baseball Hall of Famers

Walter Alston, a Hall of Fame Manager (1954–1976).

Many Dodgers players and managers have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes the best players in baseball history.

Roy Campanella, a Hall of Fame Catcher (1948–1957).

Don Drysdale, a Hall of Fame Pitcher (1956–1969).

Steve Garvey, a 10-time All-Star First Baseman.

Pedro Guerrero, co-MVP of the 1981 World Series.

Sandy Koufax, a Hall of Fame Pitcher (1955–1966).

Pee Wee Reese, a Hall of Fame Shortstop (1940–1958).

Duke Snider, a Hall of Fame Outfielder (1947–1962).

Don Sutton, a Hall of Fame Pitcher (1966–1980).

Zack Wheat, a Hall of Fame Outfielder (1909–1926).

Maury Wills, the 1962 NL MVP and 6-time stolen base leader.

Legends of Dodger Baseball

The Dodgers also honor "Legends of Dodger Baseball." These are great players who made a big impact on the team. Their names are displayed on plaques at Dodger Stadium.

• Steve Garvey (2019)
• Don Newcombe (2019)
• Fernando Valenzuela (2019; number retired in 2023)
• Maury Wills (2022)
• Kirk Gibson (2022)
• Orel Hershiser (2023)
• Manny Mota (2023)
• Dusty Baker (2024)
• Ron Cey (2025)
• Reggie Smith (2026)

Major Awards Won

Most Valuable Player (NL)

• Brooklyn
  • 1913 – Jake Daubert
  • 1924 – Dazzy Vance
  • 1941 – Dolph Camilli
  • 1949 – Jackie Robinson
  • 1951 – Roy Campanella
  • 1953 – Roy Campanella
  • 1955 – Roy Campanella
  • 1956 – Don Newcombe
• Los Angeles
  • 1962 – Maury Wills
  • 1963 – Sandy Koufax
  • 1974 – Steve Garvey
  • 1988 – Kirk Gibson
  • 2014 – Clayton Kershaw
  • 2019 – Cody Bellinger
  • 2024 – Shohei Ohtani
  • 2025 – Shohei Ohtani

World Series Most Valuable Player

• 1955 – Johnny Podres
• 1959 – Larry Sherry
• 1963 – Sandy Koufax
• 1965 – Sandy Koufax
• 1981 – Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager
• 1988 – Orel Hershiser
• 2020 – Corey Seager
• 2024 – Freddie Freeman
• 2025 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Cy Young Award (NL)

• Brooklyn
  • 1956 – Don Newcombe (MLB)
• Los Angeles
  • 1962 – Don Drysdale (MLB)
  • 1963 – Sandy Koufax (MLB)
  • 1965 – Sandy Koufax (MLB)
  • 1966 – Sandy Koufax (MLB)
  • 1974 – Mike Marshall
  • 1981 – Fernando Valenzuela
  • 1988 – Orel Hershiser
  • 2003 – Éric Gagné
  • 2011 – Clayton Kershaw
  • 2013 – Clayton Kershaw
  • 2014 – Clayton Kershaw

Rookie of the Year Award (NL)

• Brooklyn
  • 1947 – Jackie Robinson (MLB)
  • 1949 – Don Newcombe
  • 1952 – Joe Black
  • 1953 – Jim Gilliam
• Los Angeles
  • 1960 – Frank Howard
  • 1965 – Jim Lefebvre
  • 1969 – Ted Sizemore
  • 1979 – Rick Sutcliffe
  • 1980 – Steve Howe
  • 1981 – Fernando Valenzuela
  • 1982 – Steve Sax
  • 1992 – Eric Karros
  • 1993 – Mike Piazza
  • 1994 – Raúl Mondesi
  • 1995 – Hideo Nomo
  • 1996 – Todd Hollandsworth
  • 2016 – Corey Seager
  • 2017 – Cody Bellinger

Dodgers Personnel

Current Roster

Managers

Tommy Lasorda managed the Dodgers for many years.

The Dodgers have had 31 managers since 1884. Dave Roberts is the current manager, starting in 2016. For over 40 years, from 1954 to 1996, the team had only two managers: Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda. Both are in the Hall of Fame.

The managers of the Los Angeles Dodgers (1958–present) are:

• Walter Alston (1958–1976)
• Tommy Lasorda (1976–1996)
• Bill Russell (1996–1998)
• Glenn Hoffman (1998)
• Davey Johnson (1999–2000)
• Jim Tracy (2001–2005)
• Grady Little (2006–2007)
• Joe Torre (2008–2010)
• Don Mattingly (2011–2015)
• Dave Roberts (2016–present)

Minor League Teams

The Los Angeles Dodgers have several minor league teams. These teams help young players develop their skills before joining the main Dodgers team.

Retired Jersey Numbers

The Dodgers honor special players by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team can wear that number again.

Pee Wee Reese SS Coach Retired July 1, 1984 Tommy Lasorda P Coach, Mgr, GM Retired August 15, 1997 Duke Snider CF   Retired July 6, 1980 Gil Hodges 1B   Retired June 4, 2022 Jim Gilliam 2B, 3B Coach Retired October 10, 1978 Don Sutton P   Retired August 14, 1998 Walter Alston Mgr   Retired June 5, 1977 Sandy Koufax P   Retired June 4, 1972 Fernando Valenzuela P   Retired August 11, 2023 Roy Campanella C   Retired June 4, 1972 Jackie Robinson 2B   Retired June 4, 1972 Don Drysdale P   Retired July 1, 1984 Vin Scully Broadcaster   Honored May 3, 2017 Jaime Jarrín Broadcaster   Honored September 21, 2018 Walter O'Malley Owner   Honored August 11, 2024

Most of these players spent most of their careers with the Dodgers and are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Jackie Robinson's number 42 was retired by all of Major League Baseball in 1997.

See also

In Spanish: Los Angeles Dodgers para niños

• Dodger Dog
• List of Los Angeles Dodgers broadcasters
• List of Los Angeles Dodgers managers
• List of Los Angeles Dodgers seasons
• Los Angeles Dodgers all-time roster
• Los Angeles Dodgers minor league players
• Roy Campanella Award