The Los Angeles Dodgers is a professional team based in Los Angeles , California . The team was formed in 1883 and moved to the American Association in 1884. The team adopted its current name in 1958, formerly it was known as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, Brooklyn Suprbas, Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, Brooklyn Dodgers, Brooklyn Robins and Brooklyn Dodgers from time to time. The Dodgers faced the New York Yankees in five World Series from 1949 to 1956, but defeated them only once and capture their first World Series title in 1955. In 1958 the Dodgers played their first game session in the Los Angeles defeating San Francisco Giants with 6-5 score however they ended up the season in 7 th place with a disappointing 71-83 record. The Dodgers played their home games from 1958 to 1961 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In 1958 owner Walter O'Malley moved the club to Los Angeles , and the next year the Dodgers again won the NL pennant. In 1959 the Dodgers were guided to their second World Series against Chicago White Sox.
In 1960 the Dodgers won the first California Championship on 4 th place with 82-72 record. The Dodgers won 102 games and tied the San Francisco Giants for 1st Place forcing a playoff for the pennant in 1962. The Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the World Series and just two years later they swept the Minnesota Twins and captured their fourth World Series title. The Dodgers again won the pennant in 1966, unfortunately the team was swept by the upstart Baltimore Orioles. Due to the retirement of Koufax, the Dodgers faced declining phase as in this period they could not achieve much laurels. After a brief rebuilding period, Alston led the Dodgers to his seventh and final pennant in 1974. Future Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda arrived at the end of the 1976 season and steered the Dodgers to pennants in the next two seasons, but the club could not make it in both World Series. Beginning in 1979 Los Angeles players won the NL rookie of the year award for four seasons: pitcher Rick Sutcliffe in 1979, pitcher Steve Howe in 1980, pitcher Fernando Valenzuela in 1981, and second baseman Steve Sax in 1982. The Dodgers claimed the NL West titles in 1983 and 1985 unluckily they lost the Championship Series in both these years. In 1988 Orel Hershiser pitched 59 consecutive scoreless innings to break a 20-year-old record tha t was set by Drysdale.
Hershiser captivated the Cy Young Award that season and Dodgers outfielder Kirk Gibson earned NL MVP honors. After 1988, the Dodgers did not win another postseason game until 2004, though they did reach the playoffs in 1995 and 1996, and narrowly missed in 1991 and strike-cancelled 1994. Eric Karros, Mike Piazza, Raúl Mondesí, Hideo Nomo, and Todd Hollandsworth were named in the Rookie of the year honours from 1992 to 1996. The Dodgers posted first last-place in 87 years, although they claimed division titles in 1994, 1995 and 1996. The Dodgers lost their manager Lasorda in 1996 after 20 seasons and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997. The team recorded steadiness in early 2000's, with four consecutive winning seasons. Gagne won the Cy Young Award in 2003. The Dodgers won the NL West in 2004. |
