Alston vs Stengel

Lore & Background

The Dodgers' name is a shortened form of Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, a nickname for Brooklyn residents dodging fast trolleys. The team played at Washington Park, Eastern Park, and Ebbets Field. They signed Jackie Robinson in 1947 as the first black player in the modern major leagues.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was thick with anticipation as the 1963 World Series unfolded. On the Dodgers' dugout bench, Walter Alston sat quietly, his hands folded, watching the game with a steady gaze that betrayed no anxiety despite the high stakes. Across the field, in the Yankees' dugout, Casey Stengel paced back and forth, shouting instructions to his players and gesturing wildly at umpires. The contrast was palpable: one manager embodying the serene confidence of the West, the other the frenetic energy of the East, locked in a silent war of wills that would define an era.

Reader's Guide

The Dodgers have a long history in Brooklyn before moving to Los Angeles. Key figures include Charles Byrne, who founded the team, and Charles Ebbets, who accumulated shares. The team won championships in the American Association (1889) and National League (1890, 1899, 1900).

Did You Know?

• The Brooklyn Dodgers had an overall win–loss record of 5,624–5,290–133 (.515) during their 68 years in Brooklyn.
• Eight former Brooklyn Dodgers players were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
• The team was also known as the Bridegrooms, Superbas, and Robins before settling on Dodgers.