Los Angeles Dodgers Timeline

(1883 - Present)

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball franchise founded in 1883 in Brooklyn, New York. The team relocated to Los Angeles in 1958, becoming one of MLB's most storied and successful franchises with multiple World Series titles and legendary players like Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Clayton Kershaw, and Shohei Ohtani. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Brooklyn Era

Dodgers founded as Brooklyn Atlantics

1883

The franchise that would become the Los Angeles Dodgers was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1883 as the Brooklyn Atlantics. The team played in various minor and major leagues before joining the National League in 1890, beginning a long and storied history in New York baseball.

Image source: Brooklyn Dodgers

Dodgers win their first National League pennant

Oct 1890

In only their first season in the National League, the Brooklyn club captured its first pennant, announcing itself as a serious contender and laying the groundwork for decades of competition in Major League Baseball.

Image source: 1890 Brooklyn Bridegrooms season

Team adopts the Dodgers nickname

1895

The Brooklyn club became popularly known as the 'Trolley Dodgers,' referencing residents who dodged streetcar traffic. The nickname was eventually shortened to 'Dodgers' and officially adopted by the franchise, becoming one of baseball's most iconic team names.

Image source: Los Angeles Dodgers

Ebbets Field opens in Brooklyn

Apr 9, 1913

Ebbets Field opened in Flatbush, Brooklyn, and became the beloved home of the Dodgers for over four decades. Its intimate design and passionate crowds made it one of baseball's most cherished ballparks before the team's departure from Brooklyn.

Image source: Ebbets Field

Branch Rickey signs Robinson, pioneering integration

Oct 23, 1945

Dodgers executive Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson to a minor league contract with Montreal, setting in motion the integration of Major League Baseball. Rickey's bold decision changed the sport and American society forever.

Image source: Branch Rickey

Players and Legends

Jackie Robinson wins Rookie of the Year

1947

In his groundbreaking first season, Jackie Robinson batted .297 and was named the inaugural winner of Major League Baseball's Rookie of the Year Award, proving immediately that he belonged among the game's elite players.

Image source: 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers season

Jackie Robinson breaks baseball's color barrier

Apr 15, 1947

Jackie Robinson made his Major League debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American player in the modern era. His courage and excellence on the field broke baseball's color barrier and became a landmark moment in American civil rights history.

Image source: Jackie Robinson

Duke Snider anchors 'Boys of Summer' outfield

1950

Center fielder Duke Snider emerged as one of baseball's premier sluggers during the early 1950s, starring alongside Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, and Gil Hodges on the celebrated 'Boys of Summer' Dodgers teams.

Image source: Duke Snider

Roy Campanella wins first of three NL MVP awards

1951

Catcher Roy Campanella won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1951, the first of his three MVP honors. A star of the great Brooklyn teams, Campanella's career was tragically cut short by an auto accident in 1958.

Image source: Roy Campanella

Don Newcombe wins first Cy Young Award

Nov 1956

Pitcher Don Newcombe won the first-ever Cy Young Award in 1956 after a 27-win season, also claiming the NL MVP. He remains the only player to win the Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, and MVP awards in his career.

Image source: Don Newcombe

Sandy Koufax throws first no-hitter

Jun 30, 1962

Left-hander Sandy Koufax threw the first of his four career no-hitters, beginning a stretch of dominance unmatched in baseball history. Between 1963 and 1966, Koufax established himself as perhaps the greatest pitcher of his era.

Image source: Sandy Koufax

Koufax pitches perfect game against Cubs

Sep 9, 1965

Sandy Koufax pitched a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs, striking out 14 batters. It was his fourth no-hitter, a major league record at the time, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest pitching performances ever.

Image source: Sandy Koufax's perfect game

Sandy Koufax retires at age 30

Nov 18, 1966

At the height of his powers, Sandy Koufax retired due to arthritis in his throwing elbow. He finished with three Cy Young Awards, four no-hitters, and a legacy as one of the greatest left-handed pitchers in baseball history.

Fernando Valenzuela sparks Fernandomania

1981

Rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela began the 1981 season with eight straight victories and captivated Los Angeles, especially its Mexican-American community. 'Fernandomania' swept the city as the left-hander won both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards.

Image source: Fernando Valenzuela

Orel Hershiser sets scoreless innings record

Sep 28, 1988

Orel Hershiser pitched 59 consecutive scoreless innings in 1988, breaking Don Drysdale's long-standing record. He capped the season by winning the NLCS MVP and World Series MVP awards.

Image source: Orel Hershiser

Clayton Kershaw wins first Cy Young Award

Nov 10, 2011

Clayton Kershaw won the National League Cy Young Award in 2011, the first of three consecutive honors. Widely regarded as the best pitcher of his generation, Kershaw anchored the Dodgers' rotation for more than a decade.

Image source: Clayton Kershaw

Vin Scully announces final broadcast

Oct 2, 2016

Legendary broadcaster Vin Scully called his final game after 67 seasons with the Dodgers. His poetic storytelling and warm voice had defined the franchise for generations of fans, making him one of sports broadcasting's most beloved figures.

Image source: Vin Scully

Move to Los Angeles

Walter O'Malley purchases controlling interest in Dodgers

Oct 26, 1950

Walter O'Malley acquired majority control of the Brooklyn Dodgers, beginning an era of transformation. His ambitions for a new stadium and his eventual decision to relocate the franchise would reshape baseball's geographic landscape.

Image source: Walter O'Malley

Giants also leave New York for San Francisco

Aug 1957

The same year the Dodgers decided to move, the New York Giants announced their own relocation to San Francisco. The rivalries of New York moved west together, preserving the Dodgers-Giants feud and transforming the National League map.

Image source: San Francisco Giants

O'Malley announces Dodgers move to Los Angeles

Oct 1957

Unable to secure land for a new domed stadium in Brooklyn, Walter O'Malley announced the relocation of the Dodgers to Los Angeles for the 1958 season, stunning fans and marking the westward expansion of Major League Baseball.

Image source: Dodger Stadium

Dodgers play first game in Los Angeles

Apr 18, 1958

The Los Angeles Dodgers debuted at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, defeating the San Francisco Giants before a massive crowd. The Coliseum's unconventional dimensions, including a short left-field fence, became part of Dodgers lore.

Image source: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Dodger Stadium opens in Chavez Ravine

Apr 10, 1962

Dodger Stadium opened in the Chavez Ravine area of Los Angeles. With its sweeping views of the San Gabriel Mountains, it became one of baseball's most beautiful ballparks and has served as the Dodgers' home ever since.

Championships

Dodgers win first modern World Series title

Oct 10, 1955

The Brooklyn Dodgers finally defeated their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees, to win the 1955 World Series in seven games. Johnny Podres' shutout in Game 7 delivered Brooklyn's first championship, ending years of heartbreak for devoted fans.

Image source: 1955 World Series

Koufax strikes out 15 Yankees in World Series Game 1

Oct 2, 1963

Sandy Koufax struck out a then-record 15 batters in the opening game of the 1963 World Series against the Yankees. The Dodgers swept the series in four games, announcing Los Angeles as a baseball powerhouse.

Image source: 1963 World Series

Dodgers win World Series in first season at Dodger Stadium

Oct 15, 1963

Fresh off moving into brand-new Dodger Stadium earlier that year, the Dodgers swept the New York Yankees to claim the franchise's second World Series title and first in Los Angeles.

Dodgers win 1965 World Series behind pitching staff

Oct 14, 1965

Despite a weak offense, the Dodgers' dominant pitching carried them to the 1965 World Series title over the Minnesota Twins in seven games. Koufax famously sat out Game 1 in observance of Yom Kippur, then returned to dominate.

Image source: 1965 World Series

Dodgers defeat Yankees to win 1981 World Series

Oct 28, 1981

Led by Fernando Valenzuela, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, and Pedro Guerrero, the Dodgers lost the first two games to the Yankees, then rallied to win four straight and capture the franchise's fifth World Series championship.

Image source: 1981 World Series

Kirk Gibson's dramatic walk-off home run

Oct 15, 1988

Hobbled by injuries, Kirk Gibson hit a legendary two-run walk-off home run off Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the World Series. His fist-pumping trot around the bases became one of the most iconic moments in baseball history.

Image source: 1988 World Series

Dodgers upset Athletics to win 1988 World Series

Oct 20, 1988

Heavy underdogs against the powerful Oakland Athletics, the Dodgers won the 1988 World Series in five games behind Orel Hershiser's pitching and Gibson's heroics, capturing their sixth championship.

Dodgers win first World Series since 1988

Oct 27, 2020

In a pandemic-shortened season played largely without fans, the Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in six games to win their seventh World Series championship, ending a 32-year drought and fulfilling years of high expectations.

Image source: 2020 World Series

Corey Seager named World Series MVP

Oct 27, 2020

Shortstop Corey Seager earned World Series Most Valuable Player honors after batting .400 with two home runs in the 2020 Fall Classic, capping a remarkable comeback from injury during his breakout postseason.

Modern Era

Frank McCourt buys the Dodgers

Feb 2004

Real estate developer Frank McCourt purchased the Dodgers from News Corporation, ushering in an era marked initially by increased payroll but ultimately by financial turmoil and controversy over the ownership of the franchise.

Image source: Frank McCourt (executive)

MLB takes control of Dodgers amid financial crisis

Apr 20, 2011

Commissioner Bud Selig took control of the Dodgers after Frank McCourt's divorce battle and mounting debts jeopardized the franchise. McCourt filed for bankruptcy later that year, leading to a court-supervised sale of the team.

Guggenheim group purchases the Dodgers

May 1, 2012

A group led by Magic Johnson and Guggenheim Partners bought the Dodgers for approximately $2 billion, then a record price for a sports franchise. The new owners committed to aggressive spending and restored the team's status as a perennial contender.

Dodgers lose seven-game World Series to Astros

Nov 1, 2017

The Dodgers reached the World Series for the first time since 1988 but fell to the Houston Astros in seven thrilling games. The Astros were later found to have engaged in a sign-stealing scheme during their championship season.

Image source: 2017 World Series

Dodgers fall to Red Sox in 2018 World Series

Oct 28, 2018

For the second consecutive year, the Dodgers advanced to the World Series but came up short, losing in five games to the Boston Red Sox despite strong performances throughout the postseason.

Image source: 2018 World Series

Mookie Betts traded to the Dodgers

Feb 10, 2020

The Dodgers acquired superstar outfielder Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox in a blockbuster trade. Betts signed a major contract extension and became a cornerstone of the Dodgers' championship core.

Image source: Mookie Betts

Key Facts

The franchise was founded in 1883 in Brooklyn, New York, where they were known as the Dodgers before relocating.
Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, an iconic moment in American history.
The team moved to Los Angeles before the 1958 season, playing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until Dodger Stadium opened in 1962.
The Dodgers have won multiple World Series championships, including titles in Brooklyn (1955) and in Los Angeles (1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988, 2020, 2024).
In December 2023, the Dodgers signed superstar Shohei Ohtani to a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract, the largest in professional sports history.

Source

This Los Angeles Dodgers timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

Want a timeline like this one?

Generate yours with AI or build it from scratch, for free.

Try It for Free