What happened to the Brooklyn Dodgers? All you need to know about why one of baseball's most iconic teams left for Los Angeles
The Brooklyn Dodgers got their start back in 1883 as the Brooklyn Grays after real estate star Charles Byrn convinced his brother-in-law to start a team. They played in the Interstate Association of Professional Baseball Clubs that first season, winning the league title.
They found much success after moving to the American Association and the National League the year after. The club would be a staple in Brooklyn until they moved to Los Angeles where they remain today.
During the 1950s, Walter O'Malley acquired majority ownership of the Brooklyn Dodgers. With Ebbets Field starting to take a turn, O'Malley was looking to build a new field for his beloved team.
O'Malley wanted to build a modern stadium not just for his club but also the fans. While looking for land for the new stadium, he ran into some trouble.
O'Malley wanted New York City Construction Coordinator Robert Moses to give him a good deal on a piece of land, but it never went through. Moses was not looking to cut a deal, and that led O'Malley to look for land outside of Brooklyn.
The Brooklyn Dodgers move to Los Angeles
Non-stop transcontinental airline travel was becoming increasingly more popular following the Second World War. With this, the possibility of a professional baseball team in California came to fruition.
O'Malley, angry about his situation in Brooklyn, spoke to Los Angeles officials about his desire to move the club. Los Angeles officials were interested in the idea and offered O'Malley a chance to buy land for a ballpark he could own.
However, the league was unwilling to approve the move unless O'Malley found another team to join him out west. That is where the Giants came into the picture.
Looking to move out of Polo Grounds, they were also enticed by the idea of a move, especially when that move would deepen the rivalry between these two historic clubs.
The Brooklyn Dodgers played their last game in Brooklyn on September 24, 1957, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Giants would follow suit, playing their final game at Polo Grounds that same year.
After changing locations, the two teams would open up the season against each other. The Dodgers would go on to win their first game in Los Angeles by a score of 6-5. 78,672 fans showed up in attendance to watch the two newly relocated teams square off.