Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Francisco Giants MLB Rivalry
The rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants is one of the most potent and enduring in professional sports. It has spanned parts of three centuries and a cross-country move, from knickerbocker era New York City to modern California, with both teams’ continued dominance only serving to intensify the rivalry. Read on to learn all about the rivalry between the Dodgers and the Giants.
Rivalry Overview
The rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants is one of the oldest and strongest in the history of sports, beginning in 1899 when both teams were located in New York City. There was a natural animosity between the working-class residents of Brooklyn and the rich elites who populated Manhattan, where the Giants played. The first signs of the rivalry emerged in the 1899 World Series, in which the Giants defeated the Dodgers. The next year, Brooklyn joined the Giants in the National League, ensuring as many regular-season meetings as possible.
In 1957, the owners of both teams agreed to move their organizations to California, in part to preserve the rivalry. By this time, the rivalry had heated up with the Giants winning the 1951 National League pennant in a tiebreaker series. When the Giants repeated this performance in 1962, the rivalry was cemented as an opposition between Los Angeles and San Francisco. In 2021, the Dodgers’ claimed victory over San Francisco in the National League Division Series, marking their first postseason meeting in the modern era.
The Dodgers-Giants rivalry is passionately felt by both fans and players, and, several times, it has led to violence between the two sides both on and off the field. A notable occasion of violence was the Marichal-Roseboro incident of 1965, in which a Giants pitcher attacked a Dodgers catcher with his bat. Several brawls among fans have also occurred as a result of this rivalry, both in old New York and modern California.
Famous Moments
Dodgers at Giants on October 3rd, 1951
The Dodgers faced the Giants in the third and final game of a tiebreaker series for the National League pennant. Bobby Thompson won for the Giants with a walk-off home run. This event was nicknamed “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” in reference to the astronomical viewership it received at the time.
Giants at Dodgers on October 3rd, 1962
The Giants once again defeated the Dodgers in the third and final game of a tiebreaker series to win the National League pennant.
Dodgers at Giants on August 22nd, 1965
Juan Marichal, a Giants pitcher, struck Dodgers catcher John Roseboro over the head with his bat, initiating a bench-clearing brawl.
Dodgers at Giants on October 14th, 2021
The Dodgers defeated the Giants in the fifth and final game of the National League Division Series. This series was their only postseason meeting in the Modern Era.
Important People
Barry Bonds
One of the greatest baseball players ever, Barry Bonds was a left fielder for the Giants during the 1990s and 2000s.
Madison Bumgarner
Two Dodgers home runs have caused conflict against Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner: one by Yasiel Puig in 2014 and one by Max Muncy in 2019.
Sandy Koufax
Koufax was a dominant pitcher for the Dodgers during the 1950s and 60s. He was on the mound at the time of the Marichal-Roseboro incident.
Juan Marichal
A pitcher for the Giants and later the Dodgers, Juan Marichal hit opposing catcher John Roseboro of the Dodgers over the head with his bat during a game in 1965.
Yasiel Puig
A Dodgers outfielder during the 2010s, Yasiel Puig added to the rivalry by performing a bat flip after hitting a home run against Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner.
John Roseboro
One of the best defensive catchers of the 1960s, John Roseboro, was catching for the Dodgers when Juan Marichal struck him over the head with a bat during a game.
Helpful Links
FAQ
Why are the Dodgers and Giants rivals?
The Dodgers and Giants are rivals because the two teams have always been based in nearby locations (first in New York City, then California). Both teams have also enjoyed repeated success throughout their histories, often at the expense of the opposing team in the rivalry. Both teams have been continuously dominant in the National League, facing each other in three memorable playoff series for the pennant and spoiling each other’s playoff chances many more times through victories late in the regular season.
When did the rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants start?
The rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants started with the 1889 World Series. At that time, the teams were called the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and the New York Giants; and they represented the only two professional baseball teams in New York City. The Giants defeated the Dodgers 6-3 in the best-of-11 game series. The following season, the Dodgers joined the Giants in the National League, ensuring 22 regular-season games opposing each other, and the rivalry was born.
Did the Giants and Dodgers rivalry start before moving to California?
The Giants and Dodgers rivalry started long before both teams moved to California in 1957. In fact, the Dodgers’ owner at the time, Walter O’Malley, persuaded Giants owner Horace Stoneham to move his team to California along with the Dodgers, in part, to preserve the rivalry. Both owners had been considering moving their teams, with Stoneham leaning toward Minnesota as a destination for the Giants. Thanks to Stonaham’s intervention, the Giants instead moved to San Francisco, allowing the rivalry to continue.