MLB Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers

Today we move from the Angels to the Dodgers.

I mentioned yesterday that the Dodgers cast a bit of a shadow over their neighbours.  While Angels’ fans might not agree with that, from an international point of view it is undoubtedly true.  The LA Dodgers are a known name beyond baseball strongholds.  Their team cap can be seen in many countries around the world, including in the UK, atop the heads of people who don’t know the first thing about Manny Ramirez (and where would you begin if you had to describe Manny to somebody who had never heard of him?).

The Dodgers are one of the most iconic sporting brands around as they combine the joys of America’s National Pastime with all the glitz and glamour that is associated with Hollywood.  Stars want to be associated with the team, to the extent that even the ultimate publicity magpie Victoria Beckham could once be seen wearing a Dodgers’ jacket and ‘throwing’ out a ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium (apologies on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and the rest of us Brits for that, by the way). 

Thankfully, away from the superficial side of LA, they are at heart a baseball team that has an incredibly rich history.  

The franchise was formed in Brooklyn as the Atlantics in 1884 and they drifted through various names before finally sticking with ‘Dodgers’ from 1932.  They were the ultimate hard luck story for many years, amassing an impressive regular season record only to be beaten by those Damn Yankees in the World Series.  That particular pain began with a 4-1 series defeat in 1941, but it intensified between 1947 and 1953 when they made it to the Fall Classic four times in seven seasons, only to lose each time to the Yankees.  The joy in Brooklyn when they finally beat the Yanks in 1955 must have been overwhelming for some, although it wasn’t long before the feeling of joy was replaced by the feeling of loss

One can only imagine what it must have felt like in 1958 when the team was picked up and moved to the other side of the country.  Brooklyn had been left high and dry, only to see the team then go on and win a World Series in only their second year in their new home.  The LA Dodgers added two more World Series triumphs during the Sixties and much of their time on the West Coast has involved trips to the postseason. 

The franchise’s success was largely built on the efforts of some outstanding players that any newcomer to the sport needs to learn about.  From the ‘Boys of Summer’ of Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider and more, to great pitchers like Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Don Sutton, there are plenty of heroic feats and epic battles to discover.

The Dodgers’ role in ‘breaking the colour line’ will also forever earn them respect from a newcomer to the sport and they have proved to be more willing than most ballclubs to welcome people of different races and nationalities into their hearts.  The Japanese sensation Hideo Nomo’s first season in the Majors in 1995 is another story that deserves your attention and it further highlights the part the Dodgers have played in making baseball a more global game.

As for the team’s current position, their roster is a good mix of exciting youngsters (Chad Billingsley, Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, James Loney, Clayton Kershaw etc) and quality veterans, notwithstanding Manny Ramirez’s absence at the moment.  With veteran manager Joe Torre at the helm, they look like the team to beat in the National League and their early season form suggests that is the case.

Supporting the Dodgers allows you to become part of a famous franchise with a rich history and a promising present.  Add in the delight of Vin Scully’s announcing and you have a very appealing package for a Brit to consider.