Los Angeles Dodgers

With roots that can be traced back in Brooklyn, New York, the Los Angeles Dodgers was established in the middle of the 1850’s. The team is among the eight out of the sixteen members that dominated the early tournaments. Joined by Excelsior, Atlantic and Eckford, the franchise made a big contribution in making the sport commercialized. The Dodgers were the first to have admission fees to their games. It all started in 1858 with matches that were held in Capitoline Grounds and Union Grounds. Stadiums that were constructed solely for baseball brought amateurism to professionalism.

Amidst the success of the teams based in Brooklyn, New York such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Excelsior, Atlantic and Eckford in the early tournaments, their performance in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NAPBBP) were not admirable enough. With that, the Excelsiors did not continue with their scheduled games and did not even participate in NAPBBP. As for the Atlantics and Eckfords, both still continued but in 1872, they lost their star athletes. As for the featured franchise, it was still observed in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players but did not make noise.

By 1876, the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NAPBBP) became the National League (NL). When the organization’s name was changed, it started to allow exclusive territories to eight of its members including the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the Atlantics were not granted as the NAPBBP granted the Mutuals. Not for long, the said team was out of the union but it was not a big loss though because the Hartford Dark Blues entered the picture. Later on, the said franchise modified its identity to the Brooklyn Hartfords where Union Grounds was its home stadium starting in 1877.

Thirteen years after, the Los Angeles Dodgers participated in the American Association (AA). The team had several names before it finally settled to what it is recognized at this juncture. In the past, the franchise was also called the Atlantics then later on the Grays. In 1888, most of the Dodgers’ athletes tied the knots so the media labeled them as the “Bridegrooms.” Funny it may sound but the club was able to obtain such identity considering that majority of its player were married in the same season. By 1890, the group was the one among the three that won championship titles in AA as well in the National League (NL). The LA Dodgers were joined by Cleveland Browns and Minneapolis Lakers.

Los Angles Dodgers’ championship titles in the American Association (AA) and the National League (NL) were still followed with more successes. Since the Cleveland Browns and Minneapolis Lakers were merged, most of their star athletes were traded to the team. With the move, the franchise became more stronger where it was later recognized as the Superbas. The name originated from then Dodgers’ manager who shared the same identity with a famous acrobatic troupe that period. As the club achieved two pennants in 1899 and 1900, the games were commonly held in the Eastern Park and Washington Park.

As Los Angeles Dodgers history would speak, the team was given the name Trolley Dodgers as it played in the Eastern Park in an 1890 finals game. The franchise was recognized as such because there were a lot of trolley lines scattered all over the area that most of the fans had a hard time reaching the stadium. In that period though, the Dodgers experienced several mergers where they purchased the Metropolitans and Wonders. Later on, the club became one with the Baltimore Orioles. Today, the group is active in the Major League Baseball (MLB) where it gained wild card berth in 2006.