As we know, the Dodgers currently reside in Los Angeles, California. But did you know that before the 1958 season they were located in Brooklyn, New York? Why did they move?

Let's answer that very question. 

First, let's get some background information. The Brooklyn Dodgers, originally known as the Brooklyn Atlantics, were established in 1883 by Charles Ebbets as a part of the newly formed American Association. The Dodgers started out playing at Washington Park. They won their first pennant in 1890 under the management of Bill McGunnigle. 

The Dodgers moved to legendary Ebbets Field in 1912, named after of course their founder Charles Ebbets. When their beloved  founder Charles Ebbets died on April 18th, 1925, he left behind his legacy through initiatives such as “Ebbets Field Forever” preserving the historic field on Flatbush Avenue. Legendary Dodgers passed through that field such as: Pee Wee Reese, Gil Hodges, Roy Campenella, Jackie Robinson, and Duke Snider. 

“Dem Bums” finally won a World Series beating their crosstown rivals the New York Yankees in 1955  after being beaten by them in the World Series five times before. But, that's not why they left.  They were either second or first in attendance for seven seasons between 1949 and 1957. So then why did they leave? 

The owner of the Dodgers, Walter O’Malley, wanted to build a new stadium, because Ebbets Field was rickety and small and short on parking spaces when automobiles were on the rise. He wanted to build a massive 55,000 seat domed stadium, with an automated ticket system and a movie theater. But to fund the stadium, he needed to ask the most powerful man in New York City, Robert Moses, for financial help. Robert Moses was having none of it. He saw that cars were the future of transportation in New York City, so he wanted the Brooklyn Dodgers to move to nearby Queens. 

Walter O’Malley did not see eye to eye with Robert Moses, so he started to look elsewhere for a place for the Dodgers to call home. Los Angeles, California was offering hundreds of acres in the city to build the new Dodger Stadium. O’Malley bought the L.A Stars in 1956, and the deal was sealed. Walter O’ Malley convinced New York Giants owner Horace Stoneham to move his team to San Francisco. On May 28, 1957 NL owners voted that the teams could move out west if they did it together. 

“Dem Bums” moving still stings the hearts of Brooklyn Dodger fans (just ask my grandpa), but the fame that the Dodgers are having out West shows that the franchise move was successful. 

Citations: https://www.mlb.com/cut4/why-did-the-dodgers-and-giants-move-to-california-c303090362

https://dodgerblue.com/this-day-dodgers-history-owner-walter-omalley-announces-plans-move-brooklyn-to-los-angeles/