2008 Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers finished the 2007 season a disappointing fourth place in the NL West and missed the playoffs, but changes made in the off season mean high hopes for 2008. Manager Grady Little resigned and was replaced by former New York Yankees skipper Joe Torre, and Gary Bennett, Andruw Jones and Hiroki Kuroda were added to the roster. It all comes down to how Joe Torre apportions playing time, but if he makes the right moves, the Dodgers are likely to win the division and get a shot at the 2008 World Series. The only sure thing is that tickets to Dodger Stadium won’t last long – get yours now and cheer the Los Angeles Dodgers on to a winning season in 2008!

The Brooklyn Bridegrooms

The Dodgers are one of the oldest teams in the Major Leagues, originating in 1890 as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. Eventually they would adopt the name Dodgers as a reflection of the Brooklyn citizens who would routinely have to dodge the trolleys that converged in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Dodgers were one of the least successful teams in the National League until Branch Rickey came over from St. Louis to transform them into contenders. Most famous for the signing of Jackie Robinson, the first black player in Major League Baseball, Rickey surrounded Robinson with a roster of future Hall of Famers including Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, and Don Newcombe. These Dodgers won the NL Pennant 6 times over a ten year span including one World Series win.

Move to Los Angeles

The Dodgers relocated to Los Angeles in 1958 and continued their winning ways capturing the World Series again in 1959. This was the first of their 5 Championships won in Los Angeles. The Dodgers of Brooklyn were better known for their hitters, but the new Dodgers were led by pitching greats such as Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale who led the team to World Series wins in 1963 and 1965. Later teams captured the World Series with pitching stars like Fernando Valenzuela and Orel Hershiser. The franchise was guided by just two managers in their first 42 years in LA, Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda. Those two combined to bring the Dodgers new hometown 5 World Series titles and 9 NL Pennants. The team currently plays in the National League West along with the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, and century long rival the San Francisco Giants.

Dodger Stadium

The team played their first few years in Los Angeles Coliseum which was transformed from a football and track stadium into a baseball park by altering all the fences. Thankfully that was just a temporary fix and they now play in beautiful Dodger Stadium located in Chavez Ravine. In 1962 the Dodgers moved into their new home, and since then, the beauty of Dodger Stadium has awed spectators.

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the country, so the Dodgers are not the only sports team in town. Across the city the Los Angeles Angels play in Anaheim, a suburb of LA. The city also calls itself home to 2 NBA Franchises, the Lakers and Clippers; as well as 2 NHL franchises, the Kings and the Ducks.