·The Dodgers were founded in 1883 while in Brooklyn and moved to Los Angeles in 1958.
·They play their games at Dodgers Stadium which is located in the Elysian Park a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
·In the early 20th century the team was known as the Brooklyn Robins who won league pennants in 1916 and 1920, losing the World Series both times. In the 1930s, the team changed its name to the Dodgers, after the Brooklyn pedestrians who dodged the streetcars in the city.
·They have made the playoffs thirty five times with eighteen divisional titles, two wild card berths, one AA Pennant, and twenty three NL Pennants.
·They have won the World Series six times in 1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981 and 1988.
Walt Alston managed the Dodgers for twenty three seasons where he finished with the most wins with 2040 wins, was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1983 and they retired hiss number 24. He guided them to seven NL Pennants and four World Series Championships in 1955, 1959, 1963 and 1976.
Tommy Lasorda managed the Dodgers for twenty one years where he finished with the second most wins with 1599, was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1997 and they retired number 2. He won two manager of the year awards, guided them to seven divisional titles, four NL Pennants and two World Series Championships in 1981 & 1988.
Ned Hanlon managed the Dodgers for seven years where he finished the fifth most wins with 511 and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1996. He guided them to two NL Pennants and is also famous for his coaching tree that included Connie Mack and John McGraw to name some.
Leo Durocher managed the Dodgers for nine seasons where he finished with the fourth most wins with 738 and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1994. He guided them to two NL Pennants but was under suspension when the team went to the 1947 NL Pennant. Durocher played a noteworthy role in erasing baseball’s color line in 1947 by letting itbe known that he would not tolerate the dissent of those players on the team who opposed Jackie Robinson‘s joining the club.
Don Mattingly managed the Dodgers for five seasons where he finished with the six most wins with 446 and guided them to three NL divisional titles. That made him the first manager in the history of the Dodgers franchise, in both Brooklyn and Los Angeles, to lead the team to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.
Bill McGunnigle a former pitcher and outfield managed the Bridegrooms for three seasons where he finished with the eleventh most wins with 267 and guided them to back to back pennants. One in what the AL was back then and then the NL the following year after the team became a part of the NL becoming the first of three professional American sports franchises to do so. He also has the best winning percentage in the history of the Dodgers franchise among those who managed at least one full season. As a manager he employed a tin whistle to signal his players and some local sources indicate that he once wore a pair of bricklayer‘s gloves in a game against Harvard in 1875, becoming the first catcher to wear a glove in a baseball game.
Wilbert Robinson managed the Dodgers for eighteen seasons where finished with the third most wins with 1375 and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1945.The team was known by various nicknames, including Bridegrooms, Superbas, and Dodgers, but during Robinson’s managerial tenure, which lasted until 1931, the club was as often referred to as the “Robins” in honor of their manager, who had acquired the nickname “Uncle Robbie”. He guided them to NL Championships in 1916 & 1920, Brooklyn’s only pennants between 1901 and 1940. His 1375 NL victories were, at the time, the 3rd-highest total in NL history, trailing only the totals of McGraw and Clarke.
There have been fifty five Hall of Famers who have played for them different points in their respective careers. They have ten retired numbers for players and managers.
Duke Snider spent sixteen seasons in the outfield for the Dodgers as their greatest player/greatest outfielder/second longest tenured outfielder where he put him numbers that speak for themselves that got him elected into the Hall of Fame in 1980 and they retired his number 4. He was on seven NL Pennant teams, won two World Series Championships, he led the NL in RBIs once, led the NL in home runs, led the NL in fielding percentage three times, only player to hit four home runs (or more) in two different World Series and made seven of his eight All-Star appearances while there. He also finished in the top 10 for many offensive categories in Dodgers history like having the most homeruns, RBIs, extra bases hits, having the highest offensive WAR, the second in doubles, total bases and the second highest WAR for position players to name some.
Pee Wee Reese spent sixteen seasons for the Dodgers as their longest tenured/greatest shortstop where he put numbers that speak for themselves that got him elected into the Hall of Fame in 1984 and retired his number 1. He was on seven NL Pennant teams, was on two World Series Championship teams in 1959 & 1959, led the NL in stolen bases once, led the NL in walks once, led NL shortstops in putouts four times and made all ten of his All-Star appearances while there. He also finished in the top 10 for many offensive categories in Dodgers history like having the highest WAR for a position player, highest defensive WAR, the most walks, runs scored, second highest offensive WAR, second most at bats, plate appearances, hits and singles to name some.
He is also famous for accepting his black teammate Jackie Robinson when Robinson was breaking the color barrier. There was a petition amongst the team that essentially said, “If you bring up the nigger, trade us. We won’t play.” However, the popular Reese refused to sign the petition and it died.
Jackie Robinson spent ten seasons for the Dodgers playing first base, third base, leftfield and second base where he put numbers that speak for themselves that got him elected into the Hall of Fame in 1962 and they retired his number 42. He was on six NL Pennant teams, was on the 1955 World Series Championship team, made all six of his All-Star appearances, won the NL MVP once, won Rookie of the year, won a batting title once, led the NL in stolen bases twice, and was the first black player to break the color barrier in baseball and in the Hall of Fame while there. He also finished in the top 10 for a many offensive categories in Dodgers history like having the third highest WAR for position players, third highest offensive WAR, fourth highest on base percentage, the seventh most walks and runs scored to name some.
Roy Campanella spent ten seasons behind the plate for the Dodgers as their greatest catcher/second longest tenured catcher where he put up numbers that speak for themselves that got him elected into the Hall of Fame in 1969 and they retired his number 39. He made all eight of his All Star appearances, won three NL MVPs, led the league in RBIs once, was on five NL Pennant teams and was on the 1955 World Series Championship team while there. He also finished the top 10 for many offensive categories in Dodgers history like having the four most homeruns and the eight most RBIs to name some.
Zack Wheat spent eighteen seasons in the outfield for the Dodgers as their second greatest outfielder/longest tenured outfielder/greatest left fielder where he put up numbers that speak for themselves that got him elected into the Hall of Fame in 1959. He was on two NL Pennant teams, won a NL batting title once, led the NL in total bases once and led the NL in slugging percentage once while there. He also finished in the top 10 for many offensive categories in Dodgers history like having the most hits, at bats, games played, plate appearances, total bases, doubles, triples, singles, the second most extra base hits, runs scored and third most RBIs to name some.
Sandy Koufax pitched twelve seasons for the Dodgers as their greatest pitcher where he put numbers that speak for themselves that got him elected into the Hall of Fame in 1972 and they retired his number 32. He won three NL CY Young awards, won three pitching Triple Crowns, led the majors in wins three times, led the NL in ERA five times, led the majors in strikeouts four times, pitched four no-hitters, pitched a perfect game, made all seven of his All-Star appearances, won the NL MVP once, was on six NL Pennants teams, was on four World Series Championship teams in 1955, 1959, 1963 & 1965 and was the World Series MVP twice while there. He also finished in the top 10 for many pitching categories in Dodgers history like having the fourth most strikeouts, fourth highest four pitchers, third most shutouts and the six most wins to name some.
Don Drysdale pitched fourteen seasons for the Dodgers as their second greatest pitcher where he put numbers that speak for themselves that got him elected into the Hall of Fame 1984 and they retired his number 53. He won the NL CY Young award once, led the majors in wins once, led majors in strikeouts three times, made all nine of his All-Star appearances, was on five NL Pennant teams and was on three World Series Championship teams in 1959, 1963 & 1965 while there. He also finished in the top 10 for many pitching categories in Dodgers history like having the second most wins, strikeouts, shutouts, games played, innings pitched and the third highest WAR for pitchers to name some.
Don Sutton pitched sixteen seasons pitching for the Dodgers as their third greatest pitcher where he put numbers that speak for themselves that got him elected into the Hall of Fame in 1998 and they retried his number 20. He made all four of his All-Star appearances and led the majors in ERA once while there. He also finished in the top 10 for many pitching categories in Dodgers history like having the most wins, strikeouts, shutouts, games started and innings pitched to name some.
Dazzy Vance pitched eleven seasons pitching for the Dodgers where he put numbers that speak for themselves that got him elected into the Hall of Fame in 1955. He won the NL MVP once, the pitching Triple Crown once, led the majors in wins twice, led the NL in ERA three times, pitched a no hitter and as is the only pitcher to lead the NL in strikeouts seven consecutive seasons while there. He also finished in the top 10 for many pitching categories in Dodgers history like having the third most wins, complete games and second highest WAR for pitchers to name some.
Gil Hodges spent sixteen seasons for the Dodgers at first base where won three gold gloves, was on seven NL Pennant teams, made all eight of his All-Star appearances, was on two World Series Championship team in 1955 & 1959, led the NL in double plays four times, led the NL in putouts three times, led the NL in assists three times, led the NL fielding percentage three times while there and he ranks second in NL history with 1,281 assists and 1,614 double plays. He also finished in the top 10 for many offensive categories in Dodgers history like having the second most homeruns, RBIs, third most walks, total bases, extra base hits and the fourth most games played to name some.
Steve Garvey spent fourteen seasons for the Dodgers at first base, outfield and some third base where he was on four NL Pennant teams, was on the 1981 World Series Championship team, made eight straight All-Star appearances, won the NL MVP once, won the NLCS MVP once, won four straight gold gloves and won the MVP in the All Star game twice while there. He holds the National League record for consecutive games played (1,207).He also finished in the top 10 for many offensive categories in Dodgers history like having third most doubles, fifth most hits and RBIs to name some
Ron Cey is the longest tenured third basemen and is the best in their history as he spent twelve seasons for them as he was on four NL Pennant teams and the was on 1981 World Series Championship team winning the World Series MVP. He made all six of All Star appearances in Los Angeles and is in the top 10 for many offensive categories in their history like having fifth most walks and home runs. Other long tenured third basemen in Dodgers history were Billy Cox for seven seasons and Adrian Beltre who also spent seven seasons there.
Dusty Baker spent eight seasons in the outfield for the Dodgers where he was on three NL Pennant teams, was on the 1981 World Series Championship team, won the NLCS MVP in 1977, made both of his All-Star appearances, won his only gold glove and won both of his silver sluggers while where. Many believe that Baker played an integral part in the first ever high five, which occurred between Baker and Dodgers teammate Glenn Burke on October 2, 1977, at Dodger Stadium.
Orel Hershiser pitched thirteen seasons pitching for the Dodgers where he was on three divisional title teams, was on one NL Pennant team, was on the 1988 World Series Championship team, won the NLCS MVP, won the World Series MVP, made all three of his All-Star appearances, won the NL CY Young award once, won his only gold glove, won his only silver slugger, led the NL in wins once and has the record for 59 consecutive scoreless innings pitched while there. He also finished in the top 10 for many pitching categories in Dodgers history like having the seventh most strikeouts and the seventh highest WAR for a pitcher to name some.Other notable starting in Dodgers history have been Hall of Famers Burleigh Grimes, Rube Marquard, Don Newcombe, Fernando Venezuela , Johnny Podres, Bob Welch, Claude Osteen, Van Mungo, Whit Wyatt, Jerry Reuss, Chan Ho Park, Hideo Nomo, Derek Lowe, Ralph Branca, Hiroki Kuroda, Brad Penny and their current ace Clayton Kershaw.
Willie Davis spent fourteen seasons in the outfield for the Dodgers as their second greatest/second longest tenured center fielder where he made both of his All-Star appearances, led the NL in putouts for an outfielder twice, led all NL center fielders in assists twice, led all NL center fielders in fielding percentage twice, led center fielders in fewest errors five times, won three straight gold gloves while there, was on three NL Pennant teams and was on two World Series Championship teams in 1963 & 1965 while there. He also finished in the top 10 for many offensive categories in Dodgers history like having the second most triples, third most hits, at bats, stole bases, the fifth highest defensive WAR, fifth highest WAR for position players and the fifth highest offensive WAR to name some.
Tommy Davis during eight seasons in the outfield for the Dodgers where he made all three of his All-Star appearances, won the NL batting title back to back years, led the NL in RBIs once, was on three NL Pennant teams and was on two World Series Championship teams in 1963 & 1965 while there. To date, Davis’ back-to-back batting titles are the only two in the Dodgers’ Los Angeles history. Other notable outfielders in Dodgers history have been Carl Furillo, Reggie Smith, Gary Sheffield, Shawn Green, Raul Mondesi, Dixie Walker, Rick Monday, Babe Herman, Andre Ethier, Manny Mota, Kirk Gibson, Hall of Famers Joe Medwick and Willie Keeler.
Bill Russell spent eighteen seasons for the Dodgers as their second greatest shortstop where he was on was on six NL division title teams, was on four NL Pennant teams, was on the 1981 World Series Championship team and made all three of his All-Star appearances while there. He was a coach on the 1988 World Series Championship team and he managed them for three seasons. He also finished in the top 10 for many offensive categories in Dodgers history like having the second most games, the second highest defensive WAR, third most singles and the four most at-bats to name some.
Davey Lopes spent ten seasons for the Dodgers as their second best second basemen where he was on the four NL Pennant teams, was on the 1981 World Series Championship team, he made all four of his All-Star appearances, won his only gold glove and led the NL in stolen bases twice while there. He spent five seasons as a coach for them too. He also finished with the second most stolen bases, eight most walks and has the highest stolen base percentage in Dodgers history. Other notable infielders in Dodgers history have been Bill Buckner, Eric Karros, Wes Parker, Jake Daubert, Steve Sax, Jeff Kent, Jim Gilliam, Tony Cuccinello, Eddie Stanky, Adrian Beltre, Billy Cox, Jose Offerman, Rafael Furcal and Maury Wills.
Mike Scioscia spent thirteen seasons behind the plate for the Dodger as their second best/longest tenured catcher where he was on four NL divisional title teams, was on two NL Pennant winning teams, was on two World Series Championship teams in 1981 & 1988 and he made both of his All-Star appearances while there. He also finished with the fourth highest WAR for defense and the tenth most walks in Dodger history. He caught two no-hitters and 136 shutouts during his career, ranking him fourth all-time among major league catchers. Other notable catchers in Dodgers history have been Hall of Famer Mike Piazza, Steve Yeager, John Roseboro, Paul Lo Duca, Mickey Owen and Al Lopez.
Eric Gagne spent eight season as the Dodgers closer where he made three of his All-Star appearances, won the NL CY Young as a reliever the first in eleven years, won NL reliever of the year twice and led the NL in saves once while there. He also set a major league record by converting 84 consecutive save opportunities. The phrase “Game Over” was heavily used by the Dodgers and the media in connection with his appearances to finish close games. He has the record for most saves in NL history for a season with 55. He also finished with the most saves and the seventh most games finished in Dodgers history.
Jim Brewer spent twelve seasons as the Dodgers closer where he made his only All-Star appearance, was on three NL Pennant teams and was on one World Series Championship team in 1965 while there. He also finished with the second most games finished, fourth most games, fifth most saves and has the ninth lowest ERA in Dodgers history.
Ron Perranoski spent eight seasons as the Dodgers closer where he was on three NL Pennant teams and was on two World Series Championship teams in 1963 and 1965 while there. He also finished with the third most games finished, fifth most games played, sixth most saves, and had the seventh lowest ERA in Dodgers history. He was the pitching coach for fourteen seasons after he retired and was on the staffs that won the 1981 and 1988 World Series Championships.
Charlie Hough spent eleven seasons mostly as a reliever for the Dodgers where finished with 60 saves for them, the six most games finished and the seventh most games played in Dodgers history.
Jay Howell spent five seasons as the Dodgers closer where he made one of his All-Star appearances and was the closer for the 1988 World Series Championship team while there. He also has the seventh most saves and had the tenth most games finished in Dodgers history.
Steve Howe spent five seasons as the Dodgers closer where he made his only All-Star appearance, won NL rookie of the year and was the closer of the 1981 World Series Championship team while there. Other notable relievers in Dodgers history have been Jonathan Broxton, Jesse Orosco, Jeff Shaw, Todd Worrell, Mike Marshall and Clem Labine.
