Established
1889
City
Brooklyn – Los Angeles
League History
2000 – Present / Major League Baseball
1889 – 1999 / National League
Team History
1958 – Present / Los Angeles Dodgers
1932 – 1957 / Brooklyn Dodgers
1914 – 1931 / Brooklyn Robins
1911 – 1912 / Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers
1899 – 1910, 1913 / Brooklyn Superbas
Nickname
Dodgers—The Brooklyn Dodgers are one of the most iconic teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). They have a long and storied past that dates back to 1884 when they were known as the Grays and later as the Bridegrooms. But it wasn’t until 1932 that they adopted their famous nickname: The Brooklyn Dodgers.
So, how did this beloved team get its unique name? It all began with an incident involving a famous sports writer from New York City named Ernest J. Lanigan, who was covering a game between two rival teams, The Superbas and Robins, which both hailed from Brooklyn at the time. During his coverage of this particular game, he noticed something interesting about these two teams – their players seemed to dodge each other's hits! He jokingly referred to them as “dodgers” in his article, which caught on quickly among fans and eventually became part of baseball culture for years afterward.
From then on, any team hailing from Brooklyn was often referred to by locals or even nationally known journalists as “the Dodgers." Eventually, this nickname stuck with our beloved franchise we know today simply because many felt that no nickname could better represent such an iconic group than one derived directly from its home city—"Brooklyn Dodgers."
Championship
World Series 1
2024, 2020, 1988, 1981, 1965, 1963, 1959, 1955
Stadium
1962 – Present / Dodger Stadium
1958 – 1961 / Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
*Brooklyn*
1913 – 1957 / Ebbets Field
1898 – 1912 / Washington Park II
1899 – 1897 / Eastern Park
Owner
2012 – Present / Guggenheim Baseball Partners
2005 – 2012 / Frank McCourt
1998 – 2005 / News Corporation
1970 – 1997 / Peter O’Malley
1950 – 1970 / Walter O’Malley
1945 – 1950 / Branch Rickey, Walter O’Malley, Andrew J. Schmitz
1925 – 1945 / Stephen McKeever, Brooklyn Trust Company
1912 – 1925 / Charles Ebbets, Ed McKeever, Stephen McKeever
1907 – 1912 / Charles Ebbets, Henry Medicus
1905 – 1906 / Charles Ebbets, Ferdinand Abell, Henry Medicus, Ned Hanlon
1899 – 1904 / Charles Ebbets, Ferdinand Abell, Harry Von der Horst, Ned Hanlon
- 1895
- 1947
- 1955
-
Brooklyn Team Nickname
The team name, Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, was coined in 1895. The nickname was still new enough in September 1895 that a newspaper could report that “‘Trolley Dodgers’ is the new name which eastern baseball cranks [fans] have given the Brooklyn club.” In 1895, Brooklyn played at Eastern Park, bounded by Eastern Parkway (now Pitkin Avenue), Powell Street, Sutter Avenue, Van ... -
Breaking the Color Barrier
For most of the first half of the 20th century, no Major League Baseball team employed a black player. A parallel system of Negro Leagues developed, but most of the Negro League players were denied a chance to prove their skill before a national audience. Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play Major League baseball in the 20th Century ... -
World Series Winner 1955
The 1955 World Series matched the Brooklyn Dodgers against the New York Yankees, with the Dodgers winning the Series in seven games to capture their first championship in franchise history. It would be the only Series the Dodgers won in Brooklyn the team relocated to Los Angeles after the 1957 season.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers, previously known as the Brooklyn Robins, have a long and storied history in Major League Baseball. For more than 60 years, the team was one of the most iconic franchises in baseball, playing their home games at Ebbets Field from 1913 to 1957. During that time, they won seven National League pennants and two World Series titles (1955 & 1959).
Real estate magnate Charles Ebbets founded the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1883 as part of the newly formed American Association. They joined Major League Baseball's National League three years later as an expansion franchise. The team quickly established itself among MLB's elite teams, with its first NL pennant coming just four seasons after joining the league—in 1890—and another championship following shortly after that in 1899 under manager Ned Hanlon (who also managed future Hall-of-Famers Joe Kelley and Wee Willie Keeler).
In 1916, Wilbert Robinson took over managerial duties for what would be his final season before being replaced by Casey Stengel before the 1917 campaign; during this period, several stars emerged, including Zack Wheat, who led all hitters with a .335 batting average while Dazzy Vance set numerous pitching records en route to winning 28 games that year alone! This era marked some of the best times for Dodger fans until tragedy struck when beloved owner Charles Ebbets died suddenly on April 18th, 1925, leaving behind only his legacy, which continues today through various initiatives such as "Ebbet’s Fields Forever" – dedicated to preserving historic sites associated with baseball’s past like those found within Flatbush Avenue area where the stadium once stood proudly hosting generations worth cheering crowds every summer night game or Sunday doubleheader!
After moving into their new home at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum ahead of the 1958 season - becoming the “Los Angeles Dodgers" - Brooklynites still fondly remember the days spent watching ‘Dem Bums' play ball despite having been gone now nearly six decades since relocation westward across the country... Indeed, no matter how much time passes, memories remain strong amongst many former residents who grew up rooting hard each inning, hoping against hope that maybe THIS YEAR will finally bring them back the glory they so desperately sought but never attained during their lifetime tenure there!
Sports Fan Products
The Rise and Fall of the Brooklyn Dodgers Baseball Team
This video chronicles the rise and fall of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team. It highlights their significance beyond sports, including their role in breaking racial barriers with players like Jackie Robinson. The video discusses the emotional impact of the team's relocation to Los Angeles in 1957, leaving Brooklyn fans devastated. Despite their departure, the legacy of the Dodgers endures, symbolizing the power of sports to unite communities and inspire change.
Retired Number
1 / Pee Wee Reese
2 / Tommy Lasorda
4 / Duke Snider
19 / Jim Gilliam
20 / Don Sutton
24 / Walter Alston
32 / Sandy Koufax
39 / Roy Campanella
42 / Jackie Robinson
53 / Don Drysdale
*Blue is this team’s history