50 Years in Los Angeles for Major League Baseball’s Dodgers
In 2008, the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated the 50th anniversary of their 1958 move from Brooklyn to Southern California. Their current home, Dodger Stadium, has welcomed over 125 million spectators since it opened in Chavez Ravine in 1962. The 56,000-seat ballpark has seen World Series action on eight different years, as well as hosting the Major League All-Star Game and the Olympic baseball competition during the 1980s. From Kirk Gibson’s legendary home run to sandy Koufax’s perfect game, the historic venue has seen its fair share of spectacular moments.
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Dodger Stadium
This familiar Los Angeles landmark is known for its stunning views. The surrounding green hillsides, the San Gabriel Mountains and the towering skyscrapers of downtown L.A. all provide a scenic backdrop for the stadium and its grounds. Spectators who attend an evening game are often treated to views of a picturesque sunset or a full moon. The Dodgers first opened the doors to their new park in the middle of April 1962, winning their inaugural game against the Cincinnati Reds. Since then they have lifted the championship trophy 4 times, most recently in 1988. Not just a venue for baseball, the arena has staged concerts for many music greats, including The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and The Three Tenors.
Memorable Moments
The events of October 15th, in the first game of the 1988 World Series, hold a special place in the memories of many a Dodger fan. The Los Angeles team was trailing the Oakland Athletics 4-3 with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning. Up to the plate limped Kirk Gibson for his only appearance of the series. He was a surprising choice of pinch hitter, because of the injuries that had been troubling him in both of his legs. Facing an All-Star pitcher, ALCS MVP Dennis Eckersley, Kirk Gibson sent the Dodger stadium crowd wild when he blasted an unlikely game winning two-run homer to secure a 5-4 victory for the home team. The Dodgers went on to win the series, and images of Gibson hobbling around the bases while pumping his fist in celebration have become legendary in the world of sports.
On September the 9th, 1965, fans at Dodger stadium witnessed perfection. Sandy Koufax struck out 14 Chicago Cub batters on his way to achieving a perfect game, the fourth no-hitter of his career. Koufax went on to win the Cy Young Award later that year, and was also named MVP of the World Series as the Dodgers beat the Twins to capture another title.
Famous Faces
Tommy Lasorda
Manager of the Dodgers from 1976 to 1996, Tommy Lasorda lead the Los Angeles team to 2 World Series triumphs in the 1980s. He was also named National League Manager of the Year twice during that decade. One of the most recognizable Dodger personalities, Lasorda was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a manager in 1997, and his number 2 jersey was retired by the team that same year.
Mike Piazza
After being drafted by Tommy Lasorda in 1988, Mike Piazza, played 6 full seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 1990s. A 12-time All-Star and 1993 National League Rookie of the Year award winner, the catcher hit a total of 427 home runs, while also posting an impressive career batting average of 308.
Vin Scully
Since joining the team in 1950, announcer Vin Scully has become known as the “voice of the Dodgers”. Scully began broadcasting games for the Dodgers in Brooklyn, before following the team to their new West Coast home. He has witnessed first hand many of the legendary Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodger players in action, including the first African-American player to don a Major League Baseball uniform, Jackie Robinson. Beloved by many fans, Scully was voted “most memorable personality” in Los Angeles Dodger history in 1976. His long list of accolades includes being inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1995 and being presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1982.
The Present Team
Despite not winning a championship since 1988, recent success will no doubt have many Dodger fans believing that another World Series appearance could be around the corner. In 2008, the Dodgers secured a postseason berth by winning the National League Western Division title and made it as far as the NLCS before being eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies. The recent acquisitions of acclaimed manager Joe Torre and All-Star slugger Manny Ramirez, as well as the promising play of some of the team’s up-and-coming younger members, suggest that the outlook is bright for the Los Angeles squad.
