Tag: Fred McGriff

The Complete History of the Dodgers: From Brooklyn to Los Angeles Few franchises in Major League Baseball have a history as complicated, influential, and successful as the Dodgers. The franchise began in Brooklyn in the 1880s, became known by a remarkable collection of nicknames, broke baseball’s color barrier with Jackie Robinson, won its first World Series in Brooklyn in 1955, moved to Los Angeles in 1958, and eventually became one of baseball’s most valuable and successful organizations. The Dodgers have played in two of America’s greatest baseball cities, occupied some of the most famous ballparks in baseball history, produced generations of Hall of Famers and Rookie of the Year winners, and occasionally traded away players who later became stars elsewhere. As of the 2026 season, the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers franchise has won nine World Series championships and 27 National League pennants. The Beginning: Brooklyn Baseball The organization that eventually became the Dodgers dates to 1883, when Brooklyn entered the American Association. The club was initially known as the Brooklyn Grays. Over the years, the franchise used numerous names: Brooklyn Grays Brooklyn Atlantics Brooklyn Bridegrooms Brooklyn Grooms Brooklyn Superbas Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers The nickname “Dodgers” eventually became permanent. The famous story behind the name is connected with Brooklyn’s trolley system. When the team played at Eastern Park in the 1890s, fans had to dodge trolley cars on their way to the ballpark. The phrase “Trolley Dodgers” became associated with Brooklyn baseball and was eventually shortened to Dodgers. Every Major Dodgers Home Ballpark The Dodgers have an unusually long ballpark history because of their Brooklyn roots. 1. Washington Park I — Brooklyn 1884–1890 Washington Park Washington Park I — Brooklynwas the original major professional home of the Brooklyn club after it joined the American Association. It was located in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. 2. Ridgewood Park — Queens 1886–1889 — occasional Sunday home games The Dodgers also played Sunday games at Ridgewood Park in Queens during their early years. This was not their principal home field, but it was used for home games. 3. Eastern Park — Brooklyn 1891–1897 Eastern Park became an important part of Dodgers history because it is closely associated with the origin of the Trolley Dodgers nickname. The park was in East New York, Brooklyn, and could accommodate roughly 18,000 spectators in its larger configuration. 4. Washington Park II — Brooklyn 1898–1912 The Dodgers returned to Washington Park, but this was a different ballpark from the original Washington Park. The club had outgrown its earlier facilities, and crowds eventually overwhelmed the park. 5. Ebbets Field — Brooklyn 1913–1957 Ebbets Field is arguably the most beloved home in Dodgers history. Opened in 1913, it became the home of generations of Brooklyn stars, including: Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Don Newcombe, Sandy Koufax It was also the site of the Dodgers’ historic 1955 World Series championship, Brooklyn’s first and only World Series title. The Dodgers played their final game at Ebbets Field on September 24, 1957. The ballpark was demolished in 1960. 6. Roosevelt Stadium — Jersey City, New Jersey 1956–1957 — occasional home games The Dodgers played a small number of home games at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City while still officially representing Brooklyn. They played seven home games there in 1956 and seven in 1957 according to the Dodgers’ official ballpark history. 7. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — Los Angeles 1958–1961 When Walter O’Malley moved the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, the club did not immediately have its own baseball stadium. The temporary solution was the enormous Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Coliseum could seat more than 90,000 people, but its unusual dimensions created one of the strangest home fields in baseball history. The left-field line was only about 250 feet, requiring a huge protective screen. The Dodgers played their first Los Angeles home game there on April 18, 1958. 8. Dodger Stadium — Los Angeles 1962–present Dodger Stadium opened on April 10, 1962. Walter O’Malley privately financed and built the stadium, which became one of the most recognizable ballparks in baseball. More than six decades later, Dodger Stadium remains the Dodgers’ home. The Owners of the Dodgers The ownership history is almost as complicated as the playing history. Because ownership frequently involved partnerships and minority shareholders, it is more accurate to identify the principal ownership groups and controlling owners rather than pretend every small shareholder was the sole owner. 1880s–1890s: The Early Owners Among the early owners and partners were: Charles H. Byrne, Joseph Doyle, Ferdinand A. Abell, Charles H. Ebbets, George Chauncey, Harry Von der Horst, Ned Hanlon Charles Byrne was one of the key founders of the Brooklyn club. Charles Ebbets eventually became the dominant figure and helped establish the franchise as a permanent Brooklyn institution. Charles H. Ebbets 1902–1925 — principal owner Ebbets eventually obtained control of the franchise and became one of the most important owners in early baseball. His greatest physical legacy was Ebbets Field, which opened in 1913. The McKeever and Ebbets Families Following the deaths of Charles Ebbets and Edward McKeever, ownership became divided among their heirs, the McKeever interests and other shareholders. The organization remained a complicated partnership rather than simply belonging to one person. Walter O’Malley Changes Everything Walter F. O’Malley 1944–1979 Walter O’Malley purchased an interest in the Dodgers in 1944. By 1950, he had become the controlling owner. O’Malley became one of the most influential owners in baseball history. He was determined to build a winning organization and eventually concluded that Brooklyn could not provide the modern stadium and parking facilities he wanted. The Dodgers won their first World Series championship under O’Malley in 1955. Then came the controversial decision that changed baseball forever. The Move to Los Angeles After the 1957 season, O’Malley moved the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. The move was enormously controversial in Brooklyn, where the Dodgers were more than a baseball team. They were part of the identity… Continue reading The Complete History of the Dodgers