|
The Brooklyn dodgers were famous in baseball history because they broke the color barrier in baseball and by extension all professional sports, by admitting a colored person in the person of Jackie Robinson and playing in the newly established national league by 1890. Founded in 1883, their first AA Pennant was won six years later in 1889.
As with all naming, it took time before the dodgers settled for just one name. Initially, they went by the names Brooklyn Atlantics and later on, Brooklyn Grays. Other names they were given included Trolley dodgers, The Brooklyn Bridegrooms -owing to the fact that at a time, the guys were getting married in quick succession- among many others. Before they got the Ebbets Field, they played their games in Washington and Eastern Park.
IN 1955, dodgers won the World Series title and won five pennants prior to that time. After winning the pennants, they proceeded to the World Series where they were constantly beaten by the Yankees until they won in 1955. This die-hard attitude resulted in the famous “Wait Till Next Year” Slogan.
The dodgers weren’t always this successful and well known. In the past, they had suffered losses and were not really successful until they hired Branch Rickey who was then known as a Player Development Genius. With his consulting, the team was able to consistently win the National League Pennant. The Brooklyn Dodger stayed in Ebbets field until they moved to LA in 1958 resulting in the demolishing of Ebbets Field in 1960.
It is possible that the reason the Brooklyn dodgers became so popular and well known was because of their bold move to sign a black baseball player by name of Jackie Robinson in 1947. With this single step, the doors were opened to all young, highly talented black players not only in baseball, but also in all professional sports. Also, Jackie Robinson went ahead to win the Rookie of the year award. Jackie Robinson was no ordinary player. When he was in UCLA, he so excelled at football, baseball, track and basketball that he earned varsity letters in all of them. He also served the country by joining the U.S Army. During all of his careers, Jackie played second base throughout with the exception of his first season in major league baseball where he played first base. During his career, he was able to be part of the team that played for the World Series, was nominated for the All Star game six times and was awarded the Most Valuable Player award in 1949. Jackie Robinson stopped playing baseball professionally in 1957, and spent the rest of his life as a political activist until he died on the 24th of October, 1972. Owing to his efforts and participation in the American Civil Rights Movement, he was honoured with the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. In 1997, Major league Baseball retired number 42, his jersey number.
Since their move to loss Angeles, the Brooklyn dodgers are now referred to as the LA dodgers and have gone on to win the World Series title 5 times.
|