the dodgers moved from brooklyn to la before the 1958 season.
the dodgers moved from brooklyn to la before the 1958 season.
when did the dodgers move from brooklyn to la?
before the 1958 season
perennial losers, the dodgers were called "bums" by their fans, first with derision, eventually with affection. the dodgers greatest achievement came in 1947 when jackie robinson took the field in a dodgers uniform, the first major league african american player of the modern era. the brooklyn dodgers won national league pennants in 1890, 1899, 1900, 1916, 1920, 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, and 1953, but lost the 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952 & 1953 world series to their longtime rival the new york yankees. in 1955, the dodgers won their first and only world series in brooklyn, beating the rival new york yankees, resulting in mass euphoria and celebrations all over brooklyn. just two years later, the dodgers moved to los angeles, after the 1957 season, causing widespread resentment and sorrow. brooklyn's most beloved and cherished institution had left, and the move is cited by some historians as one of the catalysts for the decline of brooklyn in the 1960s and 1970s.
sports in brooklyn
walter o’malley's mission to move the dodgers from brooklyn to los angeles is a narrative of controversial business negotiations and political debates. gaining full control over the dodgers organization in 1950, o’malley instantly had much success with multiple world series appearances and one world series championship during the 1950s, while also breaking the color barrier with jackie robinson in april 1947. however, ebbets field, the home of brooklyn dodgers, was quickly becoming outdated. at first, walter o’malley desired a new state-of-the-art stadium in brooklyn, but due to political strife with local officials, o’malley's plans were rejected. today, many place blame on robert moses and other new york city officials for the dodgers move out of brooklyn, after they rejected o’malley's proposal. o’malley ultimately turned his sights west after it was clear that he would not obtain what he wanted in new york. walter o’malley decided to move the dodgers to los angeles in 1958, almost a decade from the start of the displacement of the chavez ravine residents. his decision to move baseball out west is considered to be o’malley's most influential legacy. not only was o’malley successful in moving the dodgers to los angeles, but he was also instrumental in moving the new york giants to san francisco. the dual move was disheartening for new yorkers, but ultimately proved to be beneficial for both franchises. the migration out west spurred a national trend of teams seeking new homes in previously untapped markets, proving financially beneficial to major league baseball as a whole. walter o’malley's reputation and legacy is ultimately complicated due to both the stealing of brooklyn's team and the battle of chavez ravine. compared to o’malley, the perspective of those living in, and ultimately removed from chavez ravine, is generally unrepresented. for some, o’malley is seen as a pioneer who helped make america's national pastime truly national; for others, o’malley is seen as a fierce and unforgiving business man who orchestrated the destruction and displacement of one of los angeles's historic mexican-american communities.
battle of chavez ravine