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The Los Angeles Dodgers began their history in Brooklyn in 1883. The team tried a number of names, including the Robins, Superbras, and Bridegrooms, but returned to a shortened version of their first nickname, the Trolley Dodgers, in 1932.The Dodgers by any name have ha a run of success. Though the first 50 years were not a dominant era, the team did win five pennants in the National League and a pennant in the American Association (AA).
The early history of the team did involve the start of the rivalry with the Giants. The Giants and the Dodgers used both play in New York City, the Giants in Manhattan and the Dodgers in Brooklyn. A third team was in the city, the Yankees, but the Giants and the Dodgers played in the National League. The season play resulted in a heated rivalry.
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About The Los Angeles Dodgers
Later on, both teams would move to California in the same year and to cities (Los Angeles and San Francisco) whose natural economic and cultural rivalry on the West Coast would only add to the existing hatred between the clubs.
The Dodgers became increasingly competitive in the ‘40s, taking the NL Pennant in 1941 and finishing in the top three in the NL in every year but 1944. The ‘40s also marked a historic year in 1947 when Jackie Robinson became the first African-American player allowed to play in Major League Baseball.
Second baseman Robinson won the Rookie of the Year Award that year. He would go on to win the NL MVP in 1949 and become a six-time All Star. The All Star was one of the keys to a team that took home the NL Pennant in 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956.
The Dodgers string of pennants meant World Series appearances, which meant series with the New York Yankees. The Yankees beat them four times-in 1947, 1949, 1952, and 1953-each time having the Dodgers say wait till next year.
Next year came in 1955 when the two met again in the World Series. Pitcher Johnny Podres, outfielder Sandy Amoros, and shortstop Pee Wee Reese finally put down the Yankees in seven games.
The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958 in a controversial move that left many Dodgers’ fans feeling betrayed. The cross town rival Giants moved that year as well, to San Francisco, keeping the rivalry intact.
The Dodgers continued to remain competitive after the move, winning a World Series in 1959, 1963, and 1965.The club won with pitching, defense, and speed. Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale won four of five Cy Young Awards from 1962 to 1966. Shortstop Maury Wills led the league in steals from 1960 to 1965. The rest of the offense sputtered along.
The team always seemed to be near the top with Walter Alston as manager, but he eventually stepped down leaving a hole he had filled for over two decades with incredible success. His successor was Tommy Lasorda.
Lasorda had similar success winning pennants in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s with players like pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, pitcher Don Sutton, and infielders Steve Garvey, Dave lopes, Bill Russell, and Roy Cey. The team finally won a World Series in 1981 after two losses in 1977 and 1978.
Lasorda would repeat the magic in 1988 with NL MVP Kirk Gibson and NL Cy Young winner Orel Hershiser. The Dodgers were underdogs that year in the World Series, but a hobbled Gibson would come out in the first game to pitch hit and hit the walk-off home run that gave the Dodger a 5-4 win over the A’s and set the tone for a series the Dodgers dominated on the way to a 4-1 series victory.
The Los Angeles Dodgers made a great run to come from behind and catch the Arizona Diamondbacks and win the NL West title. They destroyed the Chicago Cubs in the first round. They even kept the NL Championship Series losses close. Still they ended up losing in a mere five games. Much of these accomplishments last season are thanks to the mid-year trade for Manny Ramirez.
In 2009, there will be no more Manny though. Jeff Kent, absent for a large chunk of last season is now retired, too. What will the Dodgers do without the dynamic outfielder to jumpstart the offense? It seems that the Dodgers fate lies in the hands of right fielder Andre Ethier, center fielder Matt Kemp, first baseman James Loney, catcher Russell Martin, and third baseman Casey Blake. Apart from Blake, all these guys are young and the next generation of Dodgers payers.
They need to make that jump that star players make to take control of this team. Left fielder Juan Pierre will do his best to throw the pitcher off by threatening to steal second when he is on base, but these guys have to grow up and make the addition of a Manny-type player needless.
The pitching was perhaps the best in all of MLB last season. The only trend-setting starter they have left is Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda. While the front office is still pursuing other free agent pitchers, young pitchers Clayton Kershaw and James McDonald and veteran Jason Schmidt are penciled in as the rest of the rotation.
Jonathon split time as closer last season, but looks to be the main guy this year. The rest of the bullpen looks pretty strong, especially with Hong-Chih Kuo and Corey Wade as the leading left-handed and right-handed options. For this Dodgers squad to repeat in the postseason at Dodger Stadium the front office will need to find another pitcher or two and somebody will have to emerge among the young batsman.
