los angeles dodgers history
los angeles dodgers history
The sunny skies of California will host another exciting year of baseball. Los Angeles Dodgers tickets at scenic Dodger Stadium will earn fans entrance to watch one of the most successful teams in baseball find their way back to the elite teams of the National League. The 2005 Dodgers suffered through their first losing season in seven years as left-hander Odalis Perez’ shoulder injury left the team with a weak starting rotation. Jae Weong Seo and Aaron Sele will compete for the final spot in the Dodgers’ rotation, and newly acquired Tim Hamulack will provide a boost for the team’s bullpen.
Originally based in Brooklyn, the Dodgers are most famous for the integration of professional baseball. Before 1947, no African Americans played Major League Baseball, but the Dodgers’ acquisition of Jackie Robinson shattered the racist barrier of America’s pastime. The first baseman’s performance with the Dodgers altered general management of other teams, allowing some of the most talented players to compete in the game after years of unfair absence. His number, 42, is retired by all MLB teams.
Robinson’s speed and offensive power provided the Dodgers with another boost at the plate, and the team won the National League Pennant in four of his first five years in the league. However, the team did not win their first World Series until 1955 when they defeated the cross-town rival New York Yankees, the team that had shut the Dodgers down in the previous four attempts to win the championship. Despite the team’s dominance, the franchise moved to Los Angeles in 1958 and has played in Dodger Stadium since its completion in 1962. The move reinforced the team’s tradition of success; fans in Los Angeles welcomed a team that appeared in four World Series in its first decade in California. Hall of Fame pitchers Sandy Coufax and Don Drysdale combined to form one of the best pitching duos of all-time, and Claude Osteen and Johnny Podres contributed to the best starting rotation in baseball.
After the departure of Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston in 1976, Tommy Lasorda inherited the Dodgers’ leadership role, guiding the team to more success, and the Dodgers’ continued to be regulars in the postseason. Lasorda helped the team win two World Series Championships in 1981 and 1988; however, since his retirement in 1996, the Dodgers have enjoyed mild success. Although the team has posted numerous winning records, they have only appeared in the postseason twice in the last decade.
Despite the team’s recent mediocrity, the 2006 season promises to be an exciting year for fans in southern California. All-Star shortstop Cesar Izturis looks to make an early return to the lineup after elbow surgery, and All-Star Nomar Garciaparra joins the team where he will most likely fill the first base position. Recently acquired veterans Bill Mueller, Kenny Lofton, and Sandy Alomar, Jr. add more experience and more offensive firepower to the Dodgers’ roster. With these recent additions, watch for Los Angeles Dodgers tickets to be among the most exciting seats in professional baseball.
