Like many of its American League counterparts, but unique among the National League clubs, the team which today calls Chavez Ravine home began play as a minor league club in 1883, specifically as the Brooklyn Greys of the Interstate Association which was comprised of clubs from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.  Because they represented the 3rd largest city in the nation at the time, when the American Association went looking for expansion clubs for the 1884 season, the club was a natural choice and they jumped to the A.A.   

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During their time in the A.A., the team played mostly middling ball, but led by stars possessed of unique nicknames such as Adonis Terry and Oyster Burns they captured the league title in 1889, losing the "World Series" to New York.  For 1890, both Brooklyn and Cincinnati bolted the A.A. for the rival N.L. where they have been resident ever since.  Brooklyn took the N.L. crown again their first year in the league, but wound up in a now-unthinkable tie in that year's series to the A.A.'s Louisville Colonels.  1891 began a stretch of general non-competitiveness which would last about 50 years, marked only by improbable pennants in 1899, 1900, 1916 and 1920.   

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In the 1940s, the club, now known as the Dodgers (more on that below), entered a period of their history forever ensconced in a warm, sepia-toned glow which, over 17 years, saw them win 7 N.L. Pennants but, with one exception, fall  to their arch-rival Yankees in each World Series.  The exception, the club of 1955, lives on as "The Boys of Summer" (the title of Roger Kahn's book on that team) - this was the time of Reese, Snider and Campanella, and of Furillo, Newcombe and Podres.  It was also the period during which GM Branch Rickey struck a blow for humanity, and Jackie Robinson demonstrated what dignity and supreme talent truly looked like.  

 

In 1958, owner Walter O'Malley, in concert with his rival Horace Stoneham in Manhattan, broke the hearts of millions and took his club westward to California.  Once in La-La Land the Dodgers entered a period of success like they'd never known - 3 World Series titles in their first 8 seasons on the coast.   All in all, their first 30+ years in L.A. were a success, with stars like Koufax, Drysdale and Snider giving way to Sutton, Garvey and Hershiser.  Through it all they were led on the field by hall of fame managers Walter Alston and then Tommy Lasorda - a record of probably-unparalleled managerial stability.

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Since the mid-90s, the team has been largely competitive, with the period since 2010 seeing them particularly dominant...and yet disappointing - a string of 8 straight division titles, but only 3 pennants, and just one World Series win.  Better than most clubs, yes, but like the Braves of the 1990s and 2000s, they leave many wondering what could have been.          

 

The Dodgers have been called a lot of things during their history, and while 'Dodgers' or "Trolley Dodgers' may have  always been casually used, even back into the 19th century, during their first years they were known 'officially' (as much as that term can have any meaning here, since there were no trademarks or licenses) as the Greys, Atlantics, and some combination of Grooms or Bridegrooms, after several players tied the knot one off-season.  Superbas was a name widely in use in the early part of the 20th century, and in 1914 they adopted the name "Robins" in honor of their manager, future Hall of Famer Wilbert Robinson.  It wasn't until 1932, following Robinson's departure, that the name "Dodgers" became the universally recognized name of the franchise. 

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The main purpose of this page is to illustrate those players, managers and coaches who have been the most prominent in the franchise's history.  Links below will take you to galleries highlighting each, by position.  Generally, an individual is included if he spent at least 2 full seasons (consecutive or cumulative) as a starter, relief pitcher, closer or manager. For coaches, I've generally used 5 years of service as the bar.  None of this is scientific, though, so there are exceptions.  Where possible and practical, I used pictures of actual baseball cards because that it is the medium through which I, and I suppose many others, first discovered the game. Where necessary, I designed my own images.  Images of actual baseball cards were obtained at the Card Cyber Museum, and for my own designs I used photos found at host of different sites, but none moreso than the wonderful forum at Out of the Park Developments.  

 

I claim no rights to, or ownership of, any of the photographic images I've used on these pages.   You are welcome to use them yourself.  All I ask is that that if you use any of my personal creations, you give credit to this site.