When two teams compete against each other, the level of intensity increases to Rivalry. The San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers are two teams who unquestionably deserve the capital “R.”
This feud goes back hundreds of years and across multiple continents. It’s had its ups and downs, but like any long-term partnership, it’s also had its share of unforgettable experiences.
In keeping with B/Rivalry R’s Week, let’s take a look back at some of the most iconic moments from these long-running shows’ shared history.
Important home runs will be hit. The playoff races will be close. Fights are likely. Not to mention, the traditional Orange and Black versus the Blue.
Baseball’s Dodgers-Giants Hatred
Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants compete against one another in the famous “Dodgers-Giants Rivalry” (MLB).
Some have even called it the greatest sports rivalry of all time. It is one of the most heated and long-running rivalries in American baseball.
Beginning in the late 19th century, when both teams called New York City home, the Giants and Dodgers have been bitter rivals ever since.
The Giants played their home games at Manhattan’s Polo Grounds, while the Dodgers’ venues were in Brooklyn.
Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley relocated the franchise to Los Angeles after the 1957 season for a variety of reasons.
To keep the rivalry alive, he also persuaded Giants owner Horace Stoneham to relocate his team to California from Minnesota.
Giants to Face Rival Dodgers in NLDS for First Time Ever
The Giants and Dodgers have been in a tight race all season, but their first playoff meeting will be in Los Angeles.
Following the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in Wednesday’s NL Wild Card Game, the Giants will face the Dodgers in the NL Division Series.
Chris Taylor, an outfielder for the Dodgers, blasted a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game and advance his team to the next round.
In the regular season, the Giants and the Dodgers had the best records in Major League Baseball, and the race for first place in the NL West lasted to the very end.
The Dodgers’ eight-year division title streak was snapped when San Francisco set a franchise record with 107 victories and won the division.
Conclusion
When the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers meet, one of baseball’s greatest rivalries will be reignited.
Their animosity and the temperature of their relations stretch back to the 19th century, and while much has changed since then, their rivalry remains unabated.
The series opener of the National League divisional round is set for this Friday, and it features two of the league’s most heated rivals.
There has been animosity between them for quite some time, but they have rarely met in competitive situations on the pitch.
