- 1899
-
Brooklyn Team Formation and Many Nicknames
The Dodgers were originally founded in 1883 as the Brooklyn Atlantics, taking the name of a defunct team that had played in Brooklyn before them. The team joined the American Association in 1884 and won the AA championship in 1889 before joining the National League in 1890. They promptly won the NL Championship their first year in the League. The ...
History of the Superbas
The Brooklyn Superbas, now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers, has a long and storied history in Major League Baseball. The team was founded in 1883 as an independent minor league based in Brooklyn, New York. They joined the National League (NL) for their inaugural season in 1890 and were among eight founding members of today's MLB.
The franchise experienced its first taste of success during the turn of the century when it won four NL pennants between 1899 to 1912 under manager Ned Hanlon who had previously managed the Baltimore Orioles to three consecutive championships from 1894–1896. During this period Hall-of-Famers such as Wee Willie Keeler, Joe Kelley, and Hughie Jennings made up part of one of baseball’s most feared lineups at that time, earning them nicknames such as “Hanlon's Superbas” or “Brooklyn Bridegrooms."
In 1916 they changed their name to "Robins" after manager Wilbert Robinson but kept it until 1931 when new owner Steve McKeever renamed them "Superbas." From 1932 onwards, however, it was all downhill for Brooklyn with no more NL titles coming their way despite having some great players like Dazzy Vance and Jackie Robinson on board throughout those years before eventually moving westward after the 1957 season; after that, they became known simply by LA Dodgers which has been there ever since then till date.
Although not much is remembered about this once proud franchise nowadays, they remain essential to MLB history. They are credited with introducing many innovations into the game, including batting helmets, pitching machines, etc. So next time you hear someone talking about Dodger Blue, remember deep down somewhere lies a bit of forgotten legacy called Brooklyn Superbas!
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
Superbas – The Brooklyn Superbas may be one of the most iconic nicknames in Major League Baseball, but few people know where it came from. The team was initially known as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms when they joined the National League in 1890. This name was derived from a combination of two players on their roster who had recently gotten married: Harry Von der Horst and Ned Hanlon (both former members of Baltimore's "Old Orioles").
In 1899, however, new owner Charles Ebbets changed his team's nickname to something more fitting for baseball—the Superbas! He chose this name because he thought it sounded like a powerful athletic term and would help market his club better than its old moniker.
Ebbets also liked how catchy “Superbas” sounded, so much so that he even named his ballpark after them – Ebbetts Field! The nickname stuck with the franchise until 1913 when they officially became known as “Brooklyn Dodgers” due to an influx of Irish immigrants living in New York City.
While we no longer have our beloved Brooklyn Superbas today, their legacy lives on through nostalgic fans and modern-day historians, who continue to honor this unique MLB history daily by keeping its story alive!
Championship
World Series 0
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
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