159-578: William Joseph Buckner (December 14, 1949 – May 27, 2019) was an American first baseman and left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for five teams from 1969 through 1990 , most notably the Chicago Cubs , Los Angeles Dodgers , and Boston Red Sox . Beginning his career as an outfielder with the Dodgers, Buckner helped the team to the 1974 pennant with a .314 batting average , but
318-504: A free agent and received a standing ovation from the crowd during player introductions at the home opener on April 9. Buckner's last home run was against Kirk McCaskill on April 25, 1990, at Fenway Park , the only inside-the-park home run of his career. Despite being one of the slowest runners in baseball, the 40-year-old Buckner circled the bases in the fourth inning when Angels outfielder Claudell Washington crashed into Fenway's three-foot high right-field wall and somersaulted into
477-762: A pinch hitter for Jim Brewer in the 9th inning of a 4–3 road loss to the San Francisco Giants on September 21 in his only appearance. Buckner spent April 1970 with the Dodgers, picking up his first hit in a 5–2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on April 8, but after batting .121 with no home runs or RBI, he was returned to Triple-A Spokane, where he played 111 games under Lasorda after he was given leave to complete finals at USC. He hit .335 with 3 home runs and 74 RBI, playing alongside Garvey, Valentine, Davey Lopes , Tom Paciorek , Bill Russell , Charlie Hough , and Doyle Alexander , among others. Buckner played most of
636-533: A slugging percentage of .408. Defensively, he recorded a .991 fielding percentage at first base and at left and right field. After Buckner retired from baseball, he moved his family to Idaho where he invested in real estate in the Boise area. One of the housing subdivisions that he developed is named "Fenway Park". He lent his name to and was a minority owner of a local car dealership, Bill Buckner Motors in Emmett , which
795-562: A .273 batting average, two home runs, and 42 RBI in 75 games. Upon his release from the Red Sox, Buckner signed with the California Angels. For the remainder of the 1987 season, Buckner batted .306 and drove in 32 runs in 57 games. In 76 total games with the Angels, Buckner hit .288 with three home runs and 41 RBI. At 38 years old, Buckner was released by the Angels on May 9, 1988 , just before
954-476: A 3–0 score heading into the bottom of the sixth inning when New York rallied again, scoring 3 runs off Bruce Hurst to tie the game, and 3 more off Schiraldi in the seventh to take a 6–3 lead. Buckner was two for four in the game, and scored one of Boston's two runs in the eighth. However, the Mets also scored twice in the eighth, and won 8–5 for their second and most recent World Series championship. Regardless of any of
1113-484: A World Series victory, aided by one of the most memorable home runs of all time by their star outfielder Kirk Gibson coming off the bench, despite having injuries to both knees, to pinch-hit with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning of game 1, in his only appearance of the series. The Dodgers won the pennant in 2017 for the first time since their world series victory in 1988, aided by a Justin Turner walk-off home run on
1272-436: A blue alternate uniform, this time as part of the "City Connect" series in collaboration with Nike . This uniform was similar to the blue alternates they wore in 1999, but with the script "Los Dodgers" in homage to Los Angeles' Latino community. The uniform is also worn with blue pants, and black stripes are added to the sleeves. Initially, the Dodgers wore a special blue cap with the "Los Dodgers" script but switched in 2022 to
1431-401: A blue interlocking "LA" cap with a black brim. The "Los Dodgers" script was then relocated to the right side. In 2023, white pants with blue piping replaced the blue pants previously worn with the "City Connect" uniform. Midway through the 2024 season, the Dodgers unveiled their second "City Connect" uniform. The cream-based uniform paid homage to the city of Los Angeles and various chapters of
1590-460: A cameo appearance at the beginning of the sports parody film The Comebacks and was featured in an episode of the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm . He also made a cameo appearance in the pilot episode of the short-lived sitcom Inside Schwartz , advising the title character to "just let it go". In 1995, Buckner appeared along with Michael Jordan , Stan Musial , Willie Mays and Ken Griffey Jr. in
1749-468: A career-high seven RBI. But when manager Herman Franks resigned late in the season, he made negative comments about several players, including calling Buckner "nuts". In 1980 Buckner won the NL batting title with a .324 average. He also struck out only 18 times – once every 32 at bats – batting in front of Kingman. Keith Hernandez (.321) and Garry Templeton (.319) finished just behind Buckner in
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#17328696744511908-464: A commercial for the shoemaker Nike in which Spike Lee , in character as Mars Blackmon , compares Jordan's baseball skills to Musial, Mays, Griffey and Buckner. The punch line is a visual reference to Buckner's 1986 World Series error. His famous 1986 World Series miscue is also referenced in the films Celtic Pride , Rounders , and Fever Pitch . The play is also referenced in an episode of The Simpsons titled " Brother's Little Helper " and in
2067-479: A drawing of famous clown Emmett Kelly to depict "Dem Bums": the team would later use "Weary Willie" in promotional images, and Kelly himself was a club mascot during the 1950s. Other team names used by the franchise were the Atlantics, Grays, Grooms, Bridegrooms, Superbas, and Robins. All of these nicknames were used by fans and sportswriters to describe the team, but not in any official capacity. The team's legal name
2226-587: A factor. Rickey was a member of The Methodist Church , the antecedent denomination to The United Methodist Church of today, which was a strong advocate for social justice and active later in the American Civil Rights Movement . This event was the harbinger of the integration of professional sports in the United States, the concomitant demise of the Negro leagues , and is regarded as a key moment in
2385-527: A football player, Buckner is still in the Napa record lists for reception yards in a season (579), career reception yards (963), and career receptions (61). At first, Buckner contemplated attending Stanford or USC , but he eventually chose professional baseball instead. Buckner was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 1968 Major League Baseball draft ; his friend Bobby Valentine
2544-477: A gray version with the "Dodgers" script instead of the city name. Since its introduction, however, the road jersey with the "Dodgers" script was used more often than the road jersey with the "Los Angeles" script, so much that the team now considers it as a primary road uniform. In 2018, the Dodgers wore their 60th anniversary patch to honor the 60 years of being in Los Angeles. In 2021, the Dodgers again unveiled
2703-591: A heated rivalry against the former divisional foe Houston Astros after their move to the American League, due in no small part to the controversy of the 2017 World Series . The Dodgers–Giants rivalry is one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in North American sports. The feud between the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants began in the late 19th century when both clubs were based in New York City, with
2862-582: A non-exhibition game until 2004, when they played a three-game interleague series. Their last meeting in the regular season was in June 2024, when the Dodgers won two out of three games in New York. The rivalry between the Dodgers and the Houston Astros had initially begun as a divisional matchup, but hostility waned following Houston's realignment to the American League. In 2017, the two teams played one another in
3021-526: A permanent name, and the writers chose Dodgers on January 22, 1932. The only other nickname seriously considered by the writers was Kings. In 1941, the Dodgers captured their third National League pennant , only to lose to the New York Yankees . This marked the onset of the Dodgers–Yankees rivalry , as the Dodgers would face them in their next six World Series appearances. Led by Jackie Robinson ,
3180-829: A player who played first base because he was not as strong a fielder as hitter. At or near the ends of their careers, good hitters are often moved to first base as their speed and throwing arms deteriorate, a more talented position player was acquired, or their teams become concerned with the likelihood of injury. Such players include Hall of Famers George Brett , Paul Molitor , Mike Schmidt and Jim Thome (third basemen), Ernie Banks (shortstop), Rod Carew (second baseman), Al Kaline (right fielder), Mickey Mantle (center fielder), Johnny Bench , Joe Mauer , and Mike Piazza (catchers), Stan Musial and Willie Stargell (left fielders). In 2023, Philadelphia Phillies all-star Bryce Harper moved from outfield to first base after undergoing Tommy John surgery ; this enabled Harper to return to
3339-451: A possible trade or a considerable reduction in playing time, a player may opt to move to first base instead. Catchers and corner outfielders sometimes move to first base due to deteriorating health or if their fielding abilities at their original position are detrimental to the team. Unlike the pitcher and catcher , who must start every play in a designated area (the pitcher must be on the pitcher's mound , with one foot in contact with
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#17328696744513498-637: A rather volatile rivalry with divisional foes; the Arizona Diamondbacks during most of the 2010s. Their intra-city rivalry with the Los Angeles Angels dates back to the Angels' inaugural season in 1961. The Dodgers have recently revived an old Southern California-based rivalry with the San Diego Padres dating back to the Padres' inaugural season in 1969. Most recently; the Dodgers have also regrown
3657-568: A road trip that would have brought him to the east coast to face the Yankees and Red Sox. He signed with the Royals shortly after his release and walked into Fenway Park as a player for the opposing team for the first time on July 15. He went one for two off Roger Clemens with a walk. In 168 games with the Royals, Buckner hit .239 with four home runs and 50 RBI. Buckner returned to the Red Sox in 1990 as
3816-533: A row, and was a key member of the team that won the American League East by 5 1 ⁄ 2 games. He entered Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series batting just .111 in the Series, and was zero for three in the game when he singled to start a ninth-inning rally which was capped off by Dave Henderson 's famous home run . He went three for six in the final two games as the Red Sox came back from
3975-678: A season with 184. The record stood for almost 25 years until the St. Louis Cardinals ' Albert Pujols broke Buckner's record with 185 assists in 2009 . On June 5, 1986, Buckner picked up his 1,000th career RBI on a ground out in a 7–5 road loss to the Milwaukee Brewers . On August 21, he again had five hits in a blowout 24–5 road win over the Cleveland Indians . In September, he hit .340 with eight home runs and 22 RBI, while missing just three games in spite of chronic ankle soreness. Dave Stapleton ,
4134-570: A sensation and led the team to a championship; he is the only player to win the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. The Dodgers were once again victorious in 1988 , upsetting their heavily favored opponent in each series and becoming the only franchise to win multiple titles in the 1980s. Next came a 32-year championship drought, despite 12 postseason appearances in a 17-year span and eight consecutive division titles from 2013 to 2020. It
4293-608: A serious ankle injury the next year led to his trade to the Cubs before the 1977 season. The Cubs moved him to first base, and he won the National League (NL) batting title with a .324 mark in 1980. He was named to the All-Star team the following year as he led the major leagues in doubles . After setting a major league record for first basemen with 159 assists in 1982 , Buckner surpassed that total with 161 in 1983 while again leading
4452-430: A tag out at home plate is usually not attempted because of the possibility of the catcher not being able to tag the runner and/or block the plate. If the runner at third base is known as a good or fast baserunner, the first basemen will make considerable effort to make sure the third base runner does not advance to home plate for a run by "looking" him back to third base. The primary goal of the first baseman in this instance
4611-429: Is 11,432–10,068–139 (.532). Since moving to Los Angeles in 1958, the Dodgers have a win–loss record of 5,808–4,778–6 (.549) through the end of 2024. Today, the Dodgers are among the most popular MLB teams, enjoying large fan support both at home and on the road; they are widely seen as one of National League's most dominant teams. They maintain a fierce rivalry with the San Francisco Giants dating back to
4770-483: Is akin to Subway Series which refers to meetings between New York City baseball teams. The term " Freeway Series " also inspired the official name of the region's NHL rivalry: the Freeway Face-Off . Animosity between the team's fanbases grew stronger in 2005, when the Angels' new team owner Arte Moreno changed the name of his ball club from the 'Anaheim Angels', to the 'Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim'. Since
4929-437: Is because the only other positions available to the player (catcher, third base, shortstop or second base) are overwhelmingly held by right-handed throwing players, who can make quicker throws to first base (or, in the case of catchers, third base). The same advantages of being a right-handed throwing catcher, third basemen, shortstop or second basemen apply to the left-handed first baseman. These advantages surface in plays where
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5088-400: Is called a "short hop". Since a ball that strikes the ground is always subject to the possibility of encountering a pebble or a rut or a spike-mark that sends it in a radically new direction, it is best that the first baseman catch the ball on the short hop by swiping or scooping the ball as close to the ground surface as possible. This technique also minimizes the amount of time required to make
5247-501: Is in the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Buckner's funeral service was held at Calvary Chapel in Boise, Idaho. In the 1974 episode of the TV series Emergency! entitled “Nagging Suspicion,” Buckner is mentioned as “batting .300” by one of the fire fighters reading the newspaper. The series is set in Los Angeles and at the time Buckner was playing for the Dodgers. Charlie Sheen purchased
5406-636: Is mentioned in The Areas of My Expertise in a series of New England sports references. In the book, John Hodgman describes a (fictional) radio personality and recounts the premonition she had regarding Buckner's infamous error in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge , in Boston, is colloquially referred to by locals as the Bill Buckner Bridge because traffic goes between
5565-433: Is similar to a catcher's mitt in that it has extra padding and has no individual fingers. (In shape, it is closer to a mitten than a glove.) It is much larger than the other infielders' gloves; it is wide, very deep, and it is crescent-shaped at its edges, allowing the first-baseman to use the mitt like a scoop in catching errant throws from other players on the infield. Since many throws to first base are made in great haste,
5724-408: Is to ensure the runner does not advance and that the team records at least one out, especially in a close game. A 3–6–1 double play is almost like a 3–6–3 or a 3–4–3 double play, but the first baseman is usually playing deep in the infield. Here, the first baseman throws the ball to the shortstop covering second, but the pitcher then has the responsibility of covering first base to receive the throw from
5883-493: The 1976 season, Buckner was traded with Iván DeJesús and Jeff Albert to the Chicago Cubs for Rick Monday and Mike Garman . He had suffered a staph infection in his ankle in 1976, so the Cubs shifted him to first base, the playing position where he remained for the final 14 years of his career. Whereas early indications seemed to lean toward the Dodgers getting the better end of this deal – with Monday becoming one of
6042-504: The 1984 season, the Red Sox were in the market for an upgrade at first base. On May 25, they acquired Buckner from the Cubs for Dennis Eckersley and Mike Brumley . The Red Sox were 19–25 and in sixth place in the American League East at the time of the trade, but improved to 67–51 the rest of the way to finish the season in fourth place. On September 21, Buckner enjoyed the first five-hit game of his career in an 8–0 road win over
6201-533: The 1986 World Series against the New York Mets remains one of the most memorable plays in baseball history; it was long considered part of a curse on the Red Sox that kept them from winning the World Series, and led to years of fan anger and public mockery that Buckner handled graciously before being embraced by Red Sox fans again after their 2004 World Series victory. After spending his last few seasons with
6360-452: The 2017 World Series in which the Astros won the championship in 7 games. The rivalry was re-intensified after the Astros' widely publicized sign-stealing scandal , in which it was revealed the team had utilized a complex system to steal pitch signs, including during the 2017 World Series. As a result of the scandal, hostility grew immensely between the two teams and their fans. The Dodgers lead
6519-451: The Arizona Diamondbacks was one of the fiercest divisional matchups for multiple years, particularly during the 2010s as both teams were in regular contention for control of the division. In addition to the elevated competition, animosity rose immensely between both sides resulting in multiple incidents involving either team throwing pitches at one another, occasionally escalating into several bench-clearing brawls. Famously; after eliminating
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6678-661: The Baltimore Orioles . Buckner appeared in all 162 games for the Red Sox in 1985 , and batted .299 with 16 home runs while posting career highs with 110 RBI, 201 hits, and 46 doubles. He was a prototypical contact hitter , and struck out just 36 times in 719 plate appearances to lead the American League in that category in 1985. (He also led the NL in most at bats per strikeout in 1980 , 1982 and 1986 , and placed second in 1979 , 1981 , 1983 , and 1987 .) In 1985, he also extended his own major league record for assists in
6837-518: The Big Red Machine teams clashed frequently with the Tommy Lasorda -era Dodgers teams. Reds manager Sparky Anderson once said, "I don't think there's a rivalry like ours in either league. The Giants are supposed to be the Dodgers' natural rivals, but I don't think the feeling is there anymore. It's not there the way it is with us and the Dodgers." The rivalry ended when division realignment moved
6996-822: The Brooklyn Atlantics , borrowing the name of a defunct team that had played in Brooklyn before them. The team joined the American Association in 1884 and won the AA championship in 1889 before joining the National League in 1890. They promptly won the NL Championship in their first year in the League. The team was known alternatively as the Bridegrooms , Grooms, Superbas, Robins and Trolley Dodgers , before officially becoming
7155-651: The Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1930s. For most of the first half of the 20th century, no Major League Baseball team employed an African American player. Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play for a Major League Baseball team when he played his first major league game on April 15, 1947, as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. This was mainly due to general manager Branch Rickey 's efforts. The deeply religious Rickey's motivation appears to have been primarily moral, although business considerations were also
7314-467: The California Angels , Kansas City Royals , and Red Sox, Buckner became the 21st player in major league history to play in four decades . He ended his career with 2,715 hits and 498 doubles, having batted over .300 seven times with three seasons of 100 runs batted in (RBI). Buckner led his league in assists four times, with his 1985 mark remaining the American League (AL) record. He retired with
7473-558: The Chargers and the Clippers both relocated to Los Angeles after being unable to find a secure future in San Diego. The Dodgers currently lead the series 518–419, with the two teams meeting in the playoffs three times. The Dodgers swept the Padres in the 2020 NLDS , won in five games in the 2024 NLDS , and the Padres won in four games in the 2022 NLDS . The rivalry between the Dodgers and
7632-634: The Detroit Tigers , moved to left field in his 11th major league season (1940) after his team acquired Rudy York , another slugging first baseman who was ill-suited to play anywhere else. Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles . The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division . Founded in 1883 in Brooklyn , New York,
7791-509: The Dodgers won 2–0 over the Pittsburgh Pirates . New York remained a one-team town with the New York Yankees until 1962, when Joan Payson founded the New York Mets and brought National League baseball back to the city. The blue background used by the Dodgers was adopted by the Mets, honoring their New York NL forebears with a blend of Dodgers blue and Giants orange. The Dodgers were
7950-538: The MLB Draft was introduced in 1965 , and have had one top-ten pick ( Clayton Kershaw , No. 7) since 1985. The Dodgers' official history reports that the term "Trolley Dodgers" was attached to the Brooklyn ballclub due to the complex maze of trolley cars that weaved its way through the borough of Brooklyn. In 1892, the city of Brooklyn (Brooklyn was an independent city until annexed by New York City in 1898) began replacing its slow-moving, horse-drawn trolley lines with
8109-539: The Ogden Dodgers of the Rookie Pioneer league in 1968, hitting .344 with 4 home runs and 44 RBI in 64 games. He was teammates with Valentine and Steve Garvey , who also were playing in their first professional seasons. The manager at Ogden was Tommy Lasorda . In 1969, Buckner played with four Dodger teams, as he advanced quickly in the Dodgers' farm system. He hit .350 with 6 home runs and 36 RBI in 46 games with
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#17328696744518268-485: The World Series in 1955 . After moving to Los Angeles, the team won National League pennants in 1959 , 1963 , 1965 , 1966 , 1974 , 1977 , 1978 , 1981 , 1988 , 2017 , 2018 , 2020 and 2024 with World Series championships in 1959 , 1963 , 1965 , 1981 , 1988 , 2020 and 2024 . In all, the Dodgers have appeared in 22 World Series: nine in Brooklyn and 13 in Los Angeles. The Dodgers were founded in 1883 as
8427-414: The pitcher's rubber , and the catcher must be behind home plate in the catcher's box ) the first baseman and the other fielders can vary their positioning in response to what they anticipate will be the actions of the batter and runner(s) once play begins. When first base is not occupied by a baserunner, the first baseman usually stands behind first base and off the foul line. The distance he plays from
8586-433: The putout . The second-most-difficult play for a first baseman is the " tag play ". Whenever an infielder's throw is so far off the mark that the first baseman must abandon their base to catch it, the first baseman is left with only two options. To put the runner out, he must either lunge back to the base before the runner reaches it, or he must tag the runner before the runner reaches the base. A tag involves touching
8745-442: The "Buckner Ball" at auction in 1992 for $ 93,000, and for a long time, it resided in the collection of songwriter and Mets fan Seth Swirsky , who refers to it as the "Mookie Ball". The ball was on loan for a time from Swirsky to the Mets to display in their Hall of Fame and Museum, and it was among the most popular artifacts for fans to see. On May 3, 2012, Swirsky sold the ball through Heritage Auctions for $ 418,250. Buckner made
8904-422: The "legs" of the bridge, like Buckner's 1986 World Series fielding error. The nickname is now spoken fondly, since Buckner and Sox fans thought fondly of each other after the 2004 World Series win. In the season 2, episode 16 episode of Boston Legal , Tom Selleck's fiancé needs to be reminded of a tragedy to break out of uncontrolled laughter. The first time this has to be done he reminds her that Bambi's mother
9063-426: The 1930s. The home jersey is white with "Dodgers" written in script across the chest in royal. The road jersey is gray with "Los Angeles" written in script across the chest in royal. The word "Dodgers" was first used on the front of the team's home jersey in 1933; the uniform was then white with red pinstripes and a stylized "B" on the left shoulder. The Dodgers also wore green outlined uniforms and green caps throughout
9222-403: The 1937 season but reverted to blue the following year. The current design was created in 1939 and has remained the same ever since with only cosmetic changes. Originally intended for the 1951 World Series for which the ballclub failed to qualify, red numbers under the "Dodgers" script were added to the home uniform in 1952 . The road jersey also has a red uniform number under the script. When
9381-460: The 1970 season with a broken jaw and with his jaw wired shut. Spokane finished 94–52, and Buckner was again called up to the Dodgers in September. He batted .257 in the final month, with 4 RBI and 5 runs scored . Buckner earned a starting job with the Dodgers in 1971 as their opening-day right fielder , and hit his first career home run off Don Wilson of the Houston Astros on April 6, providing
9540-461: The 2008 season, the Dodgers had the most Asian players on its roster of any major league team with five. They included Japanese pitchers Takashi Saito and Hiroki Kuroda ; South Korean pitcher Chan Ho Park ; and Taiwanese pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo and infielder Chin-Lung Hu . In 2005, the Dodgers' Hee Seop Choi became the first Asian player to compete in the Home Run Derby . For the 2013 season,
9699-550: The 2021 National League Wild Card Game. The Dodgers' former rivalry with the Cincinnati Reds was one of the most intense during the 1970s through the early 1990s. They often competed for the NL West division title. From 1970 to 1990, they had eleven 1–2 finishes in the standings, with seven of them being within 5½ games or fewer. Both teams also played in numerous championships during this span, combining to win 10 NL Pennants and 5 World Series titles from 1970 – 1990 , most notably as
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#17328696744519858-400: The 2024 season, the Dodgers signed free agent two-way player Shohei Ohtani with a 10-year, $ 700 million contract, the largest ever in professional sports history . The Dodgers' rivalry with the San Francisco Giants dates back to the 19th century when the two teams were based in New York; the rivalry with the New York Yankees took place when the Dodgers were based in New York, but
10017-566: The City considered this an empty threat, and did not believe O'Malley would go through with moving the team from New York City. After teams began to travel to and from games by air instead of train, it became possible to include locations in the far west. Los Angeles officials attended the 1956 World Series looking to the Washington Senators to move to the West Coast. When O'Malley heard that LA
10176-477: The Diamondbacks and clinching the division on September 19, 2013; multiple Dodgers' players celebrated the win by jumping into the pool at Chase Field. rather ironically on December 8, 2015; Zack Greinke would sign a six-year, $ 206.5 million contract with the Diamondbacks in free agency. Both teams met during the 2017 National League Division Series as the Diamondbacks were no match for LA as they were swept 3–0 by
10335-431: The Dodgers en route to their appearance in the World Series . The teams rematched in the 2023 National League Division Series , with the Diamondbacks returning the favor with a 3–0 sweep of their own as they eventually reached the World Series . The Dodgers lead the series 259–193, with the teams tied 3–3 in the postseason. Primarily a playoff rivalry; since 1892, The Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals have met 6 times in
10494-474: The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958, the rivalry retained its significance as the two teams represented the two largest cities on opposite sides of the United States since the 1980s . Although the rivalry's significance arose from the two teams' numerous World Series meetings, the Yankees and Dodgers had gone 40 years without meeting in the World Series from 1981 until 2024 . They would not play each other in
10653-613: The Dodgers playing in Brooklyn and the Giants playing at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan . After the 1957 season, Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley moved the team to Los Angeles for financial and other reasons. Along the way, he managed to convince Giants owner Horace Stoneham —who was considering moving his team to Minnesota —to preserve the rivalry by bringing his team to California as well. New York baseball fans were stunned and heartbroken by
10812-543: The Dodgers signed starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu with a six-year, $ 36 million contract, after posting a bid of nearly $ 27 million to acquire him from the KBO 's Hanhwa Eagles . For the 2016 season, the Dodgers signed starting pitcher Kenta Maeda with an eight-year, $ 25 million contract, after posting a bid of $ 20 million to acquire him from the NPB 's Hiroshima Toyo Carp . For
10971-738: The Dodgers team in the Arizona Instructional League . He then batted .307 with 7 home runs and 50 RBI with the Class AA Albuquerque Dodgers , and .315 with 2 home runs and 27 RBI in 36 games with the Class AAA Spokane Indians of the Pacific Coast League . While at Spokane, Buckner's manager was once again Lasorda. Buckner was called up to the Dodgers late in the season at age 19, popping up to second base as
11130-409: The Dodgers won their second World Series title, beating the Chicago White Sox in six games in 1959. Spearheaded by the dominant pitching style of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale , the Dodgers captured three pennants in the 1960s and won two more World Series titles, sweeping the Yankees in four games in 1963, and edging the Minnesota Twins in seven in 1965. The 1963 sweep was their second victory against
11289-409: The Dodgers, winning a total of 14. Eight Cy Young Award winners have pitched for the club, winning a total of 12—by far the most of any Major League franchise. The Dodgers boast 18 Rookie of the Year Award winners, twice as many as the next club. This includes four consecutive Rookies of the Year from 1979 to 1982 and five consecutive from 1992 to 1996. From 1884 through 2024, the Dodgers' all-time record
11448-609: The Eternals in 2008. Buckner and his wife Jody had two daughters, Brittany and Christen, and a son, Bobby. Bobby was a member of the Texas A&;M–Corpus Christi Islanders baseball team. Buckner died on May 27, 2019, of Lewy body dementia at the age of 69. He was surrounded by his wife Jody and three children at the time of his death. In a statement, Buckner's family said, "Bill fought with courage and grit as he did all things in life. Our hearts are broken but we are at peace knowing he
11607-576: The Giants and Dodgers. However, O'Malley was interested in his park under only his conditions, and the plans for a new stadium in Brooklyn seemed like a pipe dream. O'Malley decided to move the Dodgers to California, convincing Giants owner Horace Stoneham to move to San Francisco instead of Minneapolis to keep the Giants-Dodgers rivalry alive on the West Coast. They were the first MLB teams both west and south of St. Louis . The Dodgers played their final game at Ebbets Field on September 24, 1957, which
11766-415: The Giants following close behind at 23. The Dodgers and the Giants are tied for World Series titles at eight. The 2010 World Series was the Giants' first championship since moving to California, while the Dodgers had won six World Series titles since their move, their last title coming in the 2024 World Series . In 2021 , the Dodgers and Giants both finished the regular season with over 100 wins, with
11925-403: The NL in doubles. Feuds with team management over a loss of playing time resulted in him being traded to the Red Sox in the middle of the 1984 season. During the 1985 season, Buckner started all 162 games and shattered his own record with 184 assists. Toward the end of the 1986 season, he was hobbled by leg injuries and struggled throughout the playoffs. His tenth-inning error in Game 6 of
12084-530: The National League from 1946 to 1957. O'Malley wanted to build a new, state-of-the-art stadium in Brooklyn . But City Planner Robert Moses and New York politicians refused to grant him the eminent domain authority required to build pursuant to O'Malley's plans. To put pressure on the city, during the 1955 season, O'Malley announced that the team would play seven regular-season games and one exhibition game at Jersey City's Roosevelt Stadium in 1956. Moses and
12243-567: The Phillies lost one of the two games played". What is interesting about the use of these two nicknames is that most baseball statistics sites and baseball historians generally now refer to the pennant-winning 1916 Brooklyn team as the Robins. A 1918 New York Times article uses the nickname in its title: "Buccaneers Take Last From Robins", but the subtitle of the article reads: "Subdue The Superbas By 11 To 4, Making Series An Even Break". Another example of
12402-410: The Red Sox first baseman before the acquisition of Buckner, began seeing more playing time as a late-inning defensive replacement in September and October. Meanwhile, Buckner became the first major league player to wear Nike high-top baseball cleats professionally to relieve pressure on his ankles. That season, Buckner hit a career-high 18 home runs, drove in more than 100 runs for the second season in
12561-507: The Reds to the NL Central. However, they did face one another in the 1995 NLDS . This rivalry refers to a series of games played with the Los Angeles Angels . The Freeway Series takes its name from the massive freeway system in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area , the home of both teams; one could travel from one team's stadium to the other simply by traveling along Interstate 5 . The term
12720-600: The Tampa Bay Rays in 6 games, after playing a season shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic . The Dodgers share a fierce rivalry with the San Francisco Giants , dating back to when the two franchises played in New York City. Both teams moved west for the 1958 season. The Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers have appeared in the World Series 22 times, while the New York/San Francisco Giants have appeared in
12879-465: The World Series 20 times. The Dodgers and Giants are tied with (8) World Series titles. When the two teams were based in New York, the Giants won five World Series championships, and the Dodgers one. After the move to California , the Dodgers have won seven World Series while the Giants have won three. In Brooklyn, the Dodgers won the NL pennant twelve times ( 1890 , 1899 , 1900 , 1916 , 1920 , 1941 , 1947 , 1949 , 1952 , 1953 , 1955 , 1956 ) and
13038-416: The Yankees, and their first against them as a Los Angeles team. The Dodgers won four more pennants in 1966, 1974, 1977, and 1978, but lost in each World Series appearance. They went on to win the World Series again in 1981, thanks in part to pitching sensation Fernando Valenzuela . The early 1980s were affectionately dubbed " Fernandomania ". In 1988, another pitching hero, Orel Hershiser , again led them to
13197-402: The bag early on close plays to convince the umpire that the ball reached their glove before the runner reached first base. The first baseman also has the responsibility of cutting off throws from any of the three outfield positions on their way to home plate. Though highly situational, the first baseman usually only receives throws from the center or right fielder. The first baseman is usually at
13356-402: The ball while standing passively on the base, this shaves a fraction of a second from the time the runner has to reach base. When it is thrown too low and bounces before reaching the first baseman, catching the ball is difficult, especially while he is in a "stretch position". A throw caught shortly after its bounce, that is, while the baseball's path, rebounding from the turf, is sharply upward ,
13515-421: The base and foul line is dependent on the current hitter and any runners on base. The exact position may also depend on the first baseman's experience, preference, and fielding ability. For a known right-handed pull hitter , the first baseman might position himself further towards the second baseman's normal fielding position. For a known left-handed pull hitter , the first baseman will position himself closer to
13674-418: The batter reaches first base. For a 3–2–3 double play, the bases must be loaded for the force-out at home plate or the catcher must tag the runner coming from third base out. With a force-out at home plate, the first baseman fields the ball, throws to the catcher, the catcher steps on home plate for the first out, then he throws it back to the first baseman to complete the double play. The 3–2–3 double play with
13833-542: The batter. First basemen are not typically expected to have the range required of a third baseman , shortstop , second baseman or an outfielder . As a result, first base is not usually perceived to be as physically demanding as other positions. However, it can also be a very hard position to play; a large amount of concentration and timing is required. Though many play at first base their entire career, occasionally veteran players move to first base to extend their careers or to accommodate other recently acquired players. Facing
13992-463: The brink of elimination to defeat the California Angels and win the American League pennant. The 1986 Red Sox were leading the heavily favored New York Mets three games to two in the 1986 World Series when Game 6 went into extra innings . For his part, Buckner was batting just .143 against Mets pitching, and he was 0–for–5 in Game 6. When the Red Sox scored two runs in the top of the tenth, Boston manager John McNamara chose to have Buckner take
14151-452: The city of Anaheim is located roughly 30 miles from Downtown Los Angeles, the Angels franchise was ridiculed throughout the league for the contradictory nature surrounding the name, especially by Dodgers owner Frank McCourt , who filed a formal complaint to commissioner Bud Selig . Once the complaint was denied, McCourt devised a t-shirt mocking the crosstown rivals reading 'The Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles', which remains popular amongst
14310-411: The city's history that are connected to the team. The "Los Angeles" wordmark was inspired by the signage of the Dodgers' original home of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and was slanted upward. The number font was inspired by the mid-century typefaces that were popular during the team's early years in Los Angeles. The uniform also featured two different shades of blue: cobalt and electric, while "chili red"
14469-529: The decisive Game 5, but would lose in the NLCS to the eventual World Series champions: Atlanta Braves. The Padres' rivalry with the Dodgers has often been lopsided in favor of Los Angeles; however, recent growth between the two teams in competition has added intensity on top of proximity between Los Angeles and San Diego. San Diego fans have often harbored animosity towards Los Angeles due in small part to San Diego being an unstable home for their sports teams as both
14628-460: The end of a double play, though he can be at the beginning and end of a double play. Unusual double plays involving the first baseman include the 3–6–3, 3–4–3, 3–2–3, or a 3–6–1 double play. In a 3–6–3 or 3–4–3 double play, the first baseman fields the ball, throws to second, where the shortstop (6) or second baseman (4) catches the ball to make the first out and then throws back to the first baseman who reaches first base in time to tag first base before
14787-406: The fair side of first base. The first baseman then relies upon the pitcher to cover first base to receive the ball to complete the out. Indications of a good defensive first baseman include a large number of assists and a low number of throwing errors by other infielders. The nature of play at first base often requires first basemen to stay close to the bag to hold runners or to reach the bag before
14946-537: The fanbase to this day. The Dodgers' rivalry with the New York Yankees is one of the most well-known rivalries in Major League Baseball . The two teams have met twelve times in the World Series , more times than any other two teams from the American and National Leagues . The initial significance was embodied in the two teams' proximity in New York City when the Dodgers initially played in Brooklyn . After
15105-691: The fans of Boston, per se, but I would have to say in my heart I had to forgive the media for what they put me and my family through. So, you know, I've done that and I'm over that." On January 4, 2011, Buckner was named the manager of the Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League . The Rox posted a 51–42 record in 2011, but after the season, the Rox dropped the professional format to join the Futures Collegiate Baseball League . In December, Buckner became
15264-454: The faster, more powerful electric trolley lines. Within less than three years, by the end of 1895, electric trolley accidents in Brooklyn had resulted in more than 130 deaths and maimed well over 500 people. Brooklyn's high profile, the significant number of widely reported accidents, and a trolley strike in early 1895, combined to create a strong association in the public's mind between Brooklyn and trolley dodging. Sportswriters started using
15423-460: The fence in an attempt to catch Hank Aaron 's record 715th home run. He also played in his first World Series that year, which the Dodgers lost to the Oakland Athletics in five games; Buckner hit .250 in the Series, including a home run off Catfish Hunter in Game 3, a 3–2 road loss. In his Dodgers career, Buckner batted .289 with 38 home runs and 277 runs batted in in 773 games. Following
15582-559: The field in the bottom of the inning instead of bringing Stapleton in as a defensive replacement for the ailing Buckner, as he had in Games 1, 2, and 5. With two outs and no one on base, New York struck back with three straight singles off Calvin Schiraldi , and tied the game on a wild pitch by Bob Stanley . Mookie Wilson fouled off several pitches before hitting a slow roller to Buckner at first base. Aware of Wilson's speed, Buckner tried to rush
15741-419: The field quicker than expected while also lessening the stress of throwing with his surgically repaired right arm. Only rarely does a player begin his major-league career at first base and go elsewhere, as with Jackie Robinson , a natural second baseman who was played at first base in his rookie season so that he would avoid the risk of malicious slides at second base. Hank Greenberg , a natural first baseman for
15900-497: The fielder is wearing the first-baseman's mitt rather than another type of glove. Every ground ball hit to an infielder becomes a race between the batter-runner and the team in the field; the fielder must catch the batted ball and throw it to first before the batter can reach the base. Consequently, part of the first baseman's job is to step toward the incoming ball and stretch their body so that their catching hand makes contact with it as soon as physically possible. Compared to catching
16059-476: The first Major League Baseball team to ever play in Los Angeles. On April 18, 1958, the Dodgers played their first LA game, defeating the former New York and now new San Francisco Giants , 6–5, before 78,672 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum . Catcher Roy Campanella , left partially paralyzed in an off-season accident, was never able to play in Los Angeles. Construction on Dodger Stadium
16218-416: The first baseman are to their right, so that a right-handed first baseman fielding them backhanded does not need to turn after fielding a batted ball to throw it. In addition, a majority of plays only require the first baseman to receive a throw, not to field or throw himself. This is attributed to the overall majority of baseball players batting right-handed, and therefore, a majority of batted balls are hit to
16377-410: The first baseman is assigned the number 3. Also called first sacker or cornerman , the first baseman is ideally a tall player who throws left-handed and possesses good flexibility and quick reflexes. Flexibility is needed because the first baseman receives throws from the other infielders , the catcher and the pitcher after they have fielded ground balls. In order for the runner to be called out,
16536-588: The first baseman must be able to stretch towards the throw and catch it before the runner reaches first base. First base is often referred to as "the other hot corner"—the "hot corner" being third base —and therefore, like the third baseman, he must have quick reflexes to field the hardest hit balls down the foul line, mainly by left-handed pull hitters and right-handed hitters hitting to the opposite field. Good defensive first basemen, according to baseball writer and historian Bill James , are capable of playing off first base so that they can field ground balls hit to
16695-439: The first baseman must be prepared to catch balls that are either high or low, as well as balls thrown quite a distance to either side, all while maintaining contact with the base (using one foot or the other). This requires a fair amount of agility and physical coordination. Among the most difficult plays a first baseman is normally required to make are the "short hop" and the " tag play ", both of which are far easier to execute when
16854-447: The first baseman will position himself behind the runner and appropriate for the current batter. When waiting for a throw from another player, the first baseman stands with their off-glove foot touching the base, then stretches toward the throw. This stretch decreases the amount of time it takes the throw to get to first and encourages the umpire to call close plays in favor of the fielding team. Veteran first basemen are known to pull off
17013-491: The first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era; and three-time National League Most Valuable Player Roy Campanella , also signed out of the Negro leagues, the Dodgers captured their first World Series title in 1955 by defeating the Yankees for the first time, a story notably described in the 1972 book The Boys of Summer . Following the 1957 season the team left Brooklyn. In just their second season in Los Angeles,
17172-520: The first major league team to open an office in Asia. The Dodgers were the second team to start a Japanese player (first in nearly 30 years), pitcher Hideo Nomo , the first team to start a South Korean player , pitcher Chan Ho Park and the first Taiwanese player , Chin-Feng Chen . In addition, they were the first team to send out three Asian pitchers, from different Asian countries, in one game: Park, Hong-Chih Kuo of Taiwan, and Takashi Saito of Japan. In
17331-447: The first time since 1944 (when all-blue satin uniforms were introduced). These 1999 alternate jerseys had a royal top with the "Dodgers" script in white across the chest, and the red number on the front. These were worn with white pants and a new cap with a silver brim, a top button, and a Dodger logo. These alternates proved unpopular and the team abandoned them after only one season. In 2014, the Dodgers introduced an alternate road jersey:
17490-406: The foul line to stop a ball hit down the line. To protect against a bunt on the first base side of the infield, the first baseman will position himself in front of the base and move towards the hitter as the pitch is thrown. As soon as the pitcher commits to throwing towards home plate, the first baseman will charge towards the hitter to field the bunt. During these plays, it is the responsibility of
17649-536: The fourth time in Chicago, picked up a career-high 201 hits, drove in 105 runs – the first time he had topped 75 – and recorded 159 assists at first base, breaking Mickey Vernon 's 1949 major league record of 155. In 1983 he again led the NL with 38 doubles, but saw his batting average drop to .280, his lowest mark in eight years. During the 1984 season, Buckner saw a loss of playing time at first base to Leon Durham . Because of his lack of playing time, Buckner
17808-662: The fourth-most assists by a first baseman (1,351) in major league history despite not playing the position regularly until he was 27 years old. After retiring as a player, Buckner became a real estate developer in Idaho . He coached a number of Minor League Baseball (MiLB) teams before leaving baseball in 2014. Buckner was born in Vallejo, California , and grew up in nearby American Canyon . He and his brothers Bob and Jim, and Jim's twin sister Jan, were raised by their parents, Leonard and Marie Katherine Buckner; his father died in 1966, when Bill
17967-496: The franchise to Los Angeles before the 1958 season. The team played their first four seasons at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before moving to their current home of Dodger Stadium in 1962. The Dodgers found immediate success in Los Angeles, winning the 1959 World Series . Success continued into the 1960s; their ace pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale were the cornerstones of titles in 1963 and 1965 . In 1981 , rookie Mexican phenom pitcher Fernando Valenzuela became
18126-415: The franchise moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, the city name on the road jersey changed, and the stylized "B" was replaced with the interlocking "LA" on the caps in 1958. In 1970, the Dodgers removed the city name from the road jerseys and had "Dodgers" on both the home and away uniforms. The city script returned to the road jerseys in 1999, and the tradition-rich Dodgers flirted with an alternate uniform for
18285-623: The franchise's first title in 1955 . The Dodgers made history by breaking the baseball color line in 1947 with the debut of Jackie Robinson , the first African American to play in the Major Leagues since 1884. Another major milestone was reached in 1956 when Don Newcombe became the first player ever to win both the Cy Young Award and the NL MVP in the same season. After 68 seasons in Brooklyn, Dodgers owner and president Walter O'Malley moved
18444-409: The front row of seats. His return was short-lived; he retired on June 5 with a .186 batting average, one home run, and three RBI that season. In 526 career games with Boston, Buckner hit .279 with 48 home runs, 112 doubles, and 324 RBI. Buckner was a speedy baserunner until his ankle surgeries in 1975 and 1976 for a severe ankle sprain and bone chips, respectively. He twice finished in the top 10 in
18603-474: The help of Robinson, three-time MVP Roy Campanella , Cy Young Award winner Don Newcombe , Jim Gilliam and Joe Black . Robinson would eventually go on to become the first African-American elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Real estate investor Walter O'Malley acquired majority ownership of the Dodgers in 1950 when he bought the 25 percent share of co-owner Branch Rickey and became allied with
18762-618: The history of the American Civil Rights Movement. Robinson was an exceptional player, a speedy runner who sparked the team with his intensity. He was the inaugural recipient of the Rookie of the Year award, which is now named the Jackie Robinson Award in his honor. The Dodgers' willingness to integrate, when most other teams refused to, was a key factor in their 1947–1956 success. They won six pennants in those 10 years with
18921-747: The hitting instructor for the Boise Hawks for the 2012 season. The Hawks were the Chicago Cubs affiliate in the Class A-Short Season Northwest League . Buckner announced his retirement from baseball on March 3, 2014. Buckner was inducted into the Napa High School Hall Of Fame in 1997 and the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2010. Buckner was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary 's Shrine of
19080-529: The in-coming runner's head or shoulder, often in one fluid motion that is integrated with the act of catching the ball. Performed properly, the tag play can be spectacular to see. First basemen are typically not the most talented defensive players on a major-league team. Someone who has the agility, throwing arm, and raw speed to play another fielding position usually plays somewhere other than first base. Great-hitting catchers may play some games at first base so that they can hit in some games without having to absorb
19239-473: The key centerpieces of the Dodgers clubs that went to the 1977 and 1978 World Series – Buckner soon emerged as something of a star for the beleaguered Cubs. On May 17, 1979, in a famous slugfest at Wrigley Field in which the Cubs lost 23–22 to the Philadelphia Phillies , with three homers by Dave Kingman and two by Mike Schmidt , Buckner went 4–for–7 with a grand slam off Tug McGraw and
19398-623: The latter clinching the division with a record of 107–55. The Dodgers were one game behind with a record of 106–56, relegating them to the NL Wild Card Game , in which they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals. This resulted in the first postseason matchup between the Dodgers and Giants in the NLDS . With a combined 213 regular season wins, this is the most number of regular season wins between competing teams in any MLB postseason series. The Dodgers ultimately won in
19557-423: The league in stolen bases ( 1974 and 1976) and twice led the league in doubles (1981 and 1983). After moving to first base, he played 1,555 regular-season games and made only 128 errors in 13,901 chances. In 2,517 games over 22 seasons, Buckner batted .289 (2,715–for–9,397) with 1,077 runs scored, 498 doubles, 49 triples, 174 home runs, 1,208 RBI, 183 stolen bases, 450 walks, an on-base percentage of .321, and
19716-429: The left side of the infield and fielded by the third baseman or shortstop. Left-handed first basemen are also advantageous in attempting to pick off baserunners at first, as the left-hander can catch and tag in one motion, often doing both at the same time, while right-handed first baseman must sweep their glove across their body, costing them a crucial fraction of a second in applying the tag. The first baseman's mitt
19875-506: The many popularized names of the team were used are available from newspaper articles before 1932. A New York Times article describing a game in 1916 starts out: "Jimmy Callahan, pilot of the Pirates, did his best to wreck the hopes the Dodgers have of gaining the National League pennant", but then goes on to comment: "the only thing that saved the Superbas from being toppled from first place was that
20034-474: The move. Given that the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco have been bitter rivals in economic, cultural, and political arenas for over a century and a half, the new venue in California became fertile ground for its transplantation. Each team's ability to endure for over a century while moving across an entire continent, as well as the rivalry's leap from a cross-city to a cross-state engagement, have led to
20193-501: The musical Johnny Baseball . On October 23, 2008, during former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan 's testimony in House hearings on the economic crisis of 2008 , Representative John Yarmuth referred to Greenspan as one of "three Bill Buckners". Buckner and Mookie Wilson appeared in an MLB Network commercial for the 2016 postseason, "Catching Up", marking the 30th anniversary of the 1986 World Series and their roles in it. Buckner
20352-513: The name "Trolley Dodgers" to refer to the Brooklyn team early in the 1895 season. The name was shortened to, on occasion, the "Brooklyn Dodgers" as early as 1898. Sportswriters in the early 20th century began referring to the Dodgers as the "Bums", in reference to the team's fans and possibly because of the "street character" nature of Jack Dawkins, the "Artful Dodger" in Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist . Newspaper cartoonist Willard Mullin used
20511-423: The only scoring in a 2–0 road win. Buckner also played some first base with the Dodgers, making 87 starts at first in 1973 . However, when Steve Garvey emerged as a Gold Glove first baseman and the National League 's Most Valuable Player the following season, Buckner was shifted to left field permanently. Buckner played a supporting role in a baseball milestone on April 8, 1974 . Playing left field, he climbed
20670-462: The other perceived shortcomings that led to Boston's loss in the 1986 World Series, Buckner's error epitomized the " Curse of the Bambino " in the minds of Red Sox fans, and he soon became the scapegoat for a frustrated fan base. Buckner began receiving death threats and was heckled and booed by some of his own home fans, often with the false belief or implication that his play alone could have instantly won
20829-406: The play. As a result, the ball rolled to the left side of his glove, through his legs, and into shallow right field, allowing Ray Knight to score the winning run from second base. Had Buckner fielded the ball with Wilson safe at first, the score would have remained tied for the next Mets batter. Had Buckner put out Wilson at first base, Game 6 would have gone to an 11th inning. Boston led Game 7 by
20988-455: The player is required to throw to another infielder after fielding a batted ball. In these instances, a right-hander will be required to turn more towards their target before throwing whereas a left-hander will usually already be positioned to make a throw. However, compared to the advantage for the right-handed throwing third baseman, shortstop, or second baseman, these advantages for the left-handed first baseman are minor because many balls hit to
21147-506: The postseason with 2 meetings in the NLCS won by the Cardinals. Both teams have recently grown a history of animosity towards one another since the late 2000s as both teams often met frequently in the postseason. The Dodgers have not fared as well against the Cardinals in the postseason. In five prior postseason series matchups, the Cardinals have won four with the Dodgers winning only the 2009 NLDS and
21306-458: The race for the NL batting title. In the strike -interrupted 1981 season, he batted .311 while tying Cecil Cooper for the major league lead with 35 doubles; he was the Cubs' sole representative at the All-Star Game , where he grounded out to first base pinch hitting for Manny Trillo in the 9th inning of a 5–4 NL victory, their 10th consecutive All-Star win. In 1982 Buckner batted over .300 for
21465-442: The right when there is a runner on first, tagging the runner and returning to the first base in time to get the man running towards him. A left-handed throwing non-pitcher is often converted to or begins their career playing at first base. A left-handed throwing baseball player who is not particularly fast or has a weak arm (and therefore not well suited for playing in the outfield) will usually be relegated to playing first base. This
21624-409: The rigor of catching every game. According to Bill James, aside from pitchers and catchers, the most difficult defensive position to play is shortstop, followed by second base, center field, third base, left or right field (depending upon the ballpark), and finally first base as the easiest position. Anyone who can play another position on the field can play first base. Lou Gehrig is an example of
21783-522: The rivalry being considered one of the greatest in American sports history. Unlike many other historic baseball match-ups in which one team remains dominant for most of their history, the Dodgers–Giants rivalry has exhibited a persistent balance in the respective successes of the two teams. While the Giants have more wins in franchise history, the Dodgers have the most National League pennants at 24, with
21942-415: The runner with the ball (or with the gloved hand holding the ball) before the runner reaches the base. At first base, the typical tag play occurs when the infielder's throw is high and to the left of the first baseman, causing him to jump and stretch their long mitt to catch the ball before it sails into the dugout or the grandstand . The tag is made, after the catch, by swiping the mitt downward, toward
22101-527: The same night of Gibson's iconic walk-off home run 29 years earlier. They went on to face the Houston Astros and lost in 7 games; however, the series became embroiled in controversy due to the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal . The Dodgers won the pennant in 2018 for a second year in a row, moving on to lose to the Boston Red Sox in 5 games. They went on to win the World Series again in 2020 by defeating
22260-420: The second baseman to cover first base. With a base runner present at first base, the first baseman stands with their right foot touching the base to prepare for a pickoff attempt. Once the pitcher commits to throwing towards home plate, the first baseman comes off the bag in front of the runner and gets in a fielding position. If the bases are loaded, or if the runner on first base is not a base stealing threat,
22419-470: The series for the Red Sox. Meanwhile, he was the focal point of derision from the fans of opposing teams on the road—especially when he faced the Mets in spring training of 1987—and during his first regular-season at bat at Yankee Stadium . He made his 2,500th career hit on May 19, an RBI single in a 4–1 road loss to the Kansas City Royals , but the Red Sox released Buckner on July 23 after he recorded
22578-428: The shortstop. A first baseman can theoretically also make an unassisted double play. There are two ways to achieve this. The first is by catching a line drive and returning to first base to tag the base before a baserunner can return. This is rare because the first baseman is usually slower than most baserunners who generally return to their bases on line drives near any fielder. The second is by getting an infield hit to
22737-399: The stadium's spacious dimensions, along with other factors, gave defense an advantage over offense and the Dodgers moved to take advantage of this by assembling a team that would excel with its pitching . Since moving to Los Angeles, the Dodgers have won twelve more National League Championships and seven more World Series rings . The Dodgers have had only three top-five draft picks since
22896-463: The team joined the NL in 1890 as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and used other monikers before settling as the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932. From the 1940s through the mid-1950s, the Dodgers developed a fierce crosstown rivalry with the New York Yankees as the two clubs faced each other in the World Series seven times, with the Dodgers losing the first five matchups before defeating them to win
23055-495: The team's earliest years, then the Superbas around the turn of the century, and then the Robins (named after manager Wilbert Robinson ). In the early 1900s, sportswriter Charles Dryden nicknamed the team the Trolley Dodgers after the Brooklyn pedestrians who dodged streetcars in the city, and the Dodgers nickname was used contemporaneously with Superbas and Robins. In 1932, the team allowed the Brooklyn baseball writers to select
23214-559: The two clubs' start in New York City, as well as a more recent rivalry with the American League 's Houston Astros due to the controversy over the Astros' sign stealing scandal in the 2017 World Series . As of 2024, Forbes ranked the Dodgers second in MLB franchise valuation at $ 5.45 billion. Although the team had no official nickname until 1932, they were informally nicknamed the Bridegrooms in
23373-462: The use of the many nicknames is found on the program issued at Ebbets Field for the 1920 World Series , which identifies the matchup in the series as "Dodgers vs. Indians" despite the fact that the Robins nickname had been in consistent use for around six years. The "Robins" nickname was derived from the name of their Hall of Fame manager, Wilbert Robinson, who led the team from 1914 to 1931. The Dodgers' uniform has remained relatively unchanged since
23532-401: The widow of another equal partner, Mrs. John L. Smith . Shortly afterwards, he was working to buy new land in Brooklyn to build a more accessible and profitable ballpark than the aging Ebbets Field . Beloved as it was, Ebbets Field was no longer well-served by its aging infrastructure and the Dodgers could no longer sell out the park even in the heat of a pennant race, despite largely dominating
23691-474: Was a teenager. His mother was a stenographer for the California Highway Patrol . He graduated from Napa High School in 1968 after playing on the school's baseball and football teams. While playing football, he was a two-time All-State receiver and also achieved All-America honors twice. As a baseball player at Napa High School, Buckner hit .667 in 1967 and .529 in 1968 under coach Dale Fisher. As
23850-544: Was at odds with the Cubs management; in protest, he vowed not to shave until he played two games in a row at first base. Buckner finally shaved between games of a doubleheader on May 24, because he found out he was going to be traded the next day to the Boston Red Sox ; the Cubs went on to win their division, reaching the postseason for the first time in 39 years. In eight seasons with the Cubs, Buckner hit .300 with 81 home runs, 235 doubles, and 516 RBI in 974 games. Early in
24009-820: Was based on the chest number colors the team had worn since the 1950s. The cobalt blue cap featured the "interlocking LA" and script "D" from the "Dodgers" logo merged to form the LAD team code; the said logo also appears as a sleeve patch. Above the manufacturer's tag is the hashtag #ITFDB, a reference to broadcaster Vin Scully 's catchphrase "It's time for Dodger baseball!". The Dodgers have been groundbreaking in their signing of players from Asia; mainly Japan , South Korea , and Taiwan . Former owner Peter O'Malley began reaching out in 1980 by starting clinics in China and South Korea, building baseball fields in two Chinese cities, and in 1998 becoming
24168-433: Was broken when the Dodgers won the 2020 World Series. The Dodgers signed global sensation Shohei Ohtani in 2024, who set league and franchise records with the team en route to their eighth World Series title that season. One of the most successful and storied franchises in MLB, the Dodgers have won eight World Series championships and a record 25 National League pennants . Eleven NL MVP award winners have played for
24327-401: Was completed in time for Opening Day 1962. With its clean, simple lines and its picturesque setting amid hills and palm trees, the ballpark quickly became an icon of the Dodgers and their new California lifestyle. O'Malley was determined that there would not be a bad seat in the house, achieving this by cantilevered grandstands that have since been widely imitated. More importantly for the team,
24486-407: Was in business from 2006 to 2008. On April 8, 2008 , Buckner threw out the first pitch to former teammate Dwight Evans at the Red Sox home opener as they unfurled their 2007 World Series championship banner. He received a two-minute standing ovation from the sell-out crowd. After the game, when asked if he had any second thoughts about appearing at the game, he said, "I really had to forgive, not
24645-534: Was looking for a club, he sent word to the Los Angeles officials that he was interested in talking. LA offered him what New York would not: a chance to buy land suitable for building a ballpark, and own that ballpark, giving him complete control over all revenue streams. When the news came out, NYC Mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr. and Moses made an offer to build a ballpark on the World's Fair Grounds in Queens that would be shared by
24804-415: Was revived with their East Coast/West Coast World Series battles in 1963, 1977, 1978, and 1981. The Dodgers' rivalries with the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals also dates back to their days in New York, but were most fierce during the 1970s, 1980s, and 2000s. The Dodgers also shared a heated rivalry with the Cincinnati Reds during the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. The Dodgers had even shared
24963-426: Was shot. The second time Selleck simply says, "Bill Buckner." First baseman A first baseman , abbreviated 1B , is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majority of plays made at that base. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays,
25122-545: Was the Brooklyn Base Ball Club. However, the Trolley Dodger nickname was used throughout this period, simultaneously with these other nicknames, by fans and sportswriters of the day. The team did not use the name in any formal sense until 1932 when the word "Dodgers" appeared on team jerseys. The "conclusive shift" came in 1933, when both home and road jerseys for the team bore the name "Dodgers". Examples of how
25281-561: Was the Dodgers' first-round pick. Upon signing with the Dodgers, Buckner was assigned to the Ogden Dodgers of the Pioneer League . He also briefly attended Los Angeles Valley College , USC and Arizona State University . He became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity while a farmhand with the Dodgers, and roomed with Valentine while attending USC after his first professional season. At age 18, Buckner made his professional debut playing with
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