Los Angeles Dodgers

This picture may be one of the most famous in sports history. And no team in Los Angeles has more history than the Dodgers. With Dodger Stadium sitting high atop Los Angeles overlooking the entire city, the Dodgers have been the most popular team in the area ever since they moved here from Brooklyn in 1958.

History
The Los Angeles Dodgers already had plenty of history before they even got to L.A. The Brooklyn Dodgers had won the world series only three seasons before their move, with baseball legends (pictured below, l-r) Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese, and Gil Hodges (arguably the greatest player not to be in the Hall of Fame.) But the Dodgers have had no problems establishing themselves in L.A., winning the World Series in their second year and twice in the next eight years. The Dodgers have won the World Series a total of 5 times, the last under Tommy Lasorda in 1988. Sandy Koufax, Orel Hershisher, Mike Piazza, Don Sutton, and Steve Garvey all made their careers in Dodger Stadium.

Current Situation
Since 2003, the Dodgers have made the playoffs twice but have failed to reach the National League Championship Series. Last season they finished 2 games over .500so they brought in Joe Torre from the New York Yankees to manage them to greatness - unfortunately, the only thing he's managed to do is start the year with only eight wins in 20 games. The Dodgers also brought in Andruw Jones to bring some power, but he's hitting .156 with only one home run. Now he's riding the bench. So basically, the Dodgers look like they are headed to another year hovering around .500, leaving fans upset and anxious to be a factor in the post-season once again.

Fun Fact
A Dodger's player won Rookie of the Year every year from 1992 to 1996, an unprecedented five times in a row! They were Eric Karros, Mike Piazza, Raul Mondesi, Hideo Nomo, and Todd Hollandsworth. No Dodger has won it since then.

Why People Like Them
History and tradition. If your Grandpa was a Dodger fan, that means your dad is a Dodger fan, which makes you a Dodger fan. There's no if, and, or buts about it. You're a Dodger for life. Tommy Lasorda is one of the most beloved men in all of sports, and he is a God in Los Angeles. And Vin Scully? He's been the voice of the Dodgers since 1453. Thats over 500 years being the play-by-play announcer for the Dodgers! The guy is a legend. Scully called Hank Aaron's 715th career home run, which broke Babe Ruth's record.
Unfortunately I can't find a video of the home run anywhere. But it was one of the greatest calls in the history of baseball. When Aaron hit the ball, Scully called it until it went over the wall. Then - he was silent. Twenty-five seconds passed before he said the now famous words, "A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol." He made that up on the spot. What a legend.

Why People Hate Them
A lot of people may dislike the Dodgers for moving the team from Brooklyn. Sixty years later, and it's still a sore subject for a lot of people. Imagine being a huge fan of a team that just won the championship. Now imagine one year later, they move to the opposite end of the United States. Moving the Dodgers out of Brooklyn would be like moving the Lakers to New York. It would never happen, right? Well, it happened in 1957. Apart from that, there really is no reason to hate the Dodgers. I guess you can hate their fans. They are loud, cocky, obnoxious, and have huge illusions of grandeur. At Dodgers games, opposing fans aren't allowed to turn around and high-five each other if they are facing the crowd. Dodger's security considers this 'taunting.' Trust me, you don't want to be accused by Dodgers fans of taunting. Dodgers fans all come to the games with a 40 oz. of Old English and a butterfly knife in their glove compartments. Below me is the picture I took of the Dodger fans that were sitting behind me at the game I went to last week. Yes, those are real fans outside the stadium. And yes, they are absolutely terrifying.

#1 Fan
Robert Wuhl. I'm serious. The man best known as "Arli$$" is the Dodger's number one fan. But someone else is challenging Wuhl for the #1 spot - Alyssa Milano. Best known for her work on "Charmed," she writes a blog about the Dodgers in her free time. She may not have the comedic chops that Wuhl has, but she's definitely better to look at. All you have to do is see is see Embrace of the Vampire and my point is made. How the academy failed to nominate this movie for "Best Picture" is beyond me. I demand a recount.

Best Player
Two years ago, it was Nomar Garciaparra. Last year, it was Russell Martin. This year, it's too early to tell, but I'm going to go with Jeff Kent, based strictly on his mustache. He hit .302 last season, but he's kind of off to a slow start this year. I am sure with the help of his mustache, he will find his form and return to greatness.

Venue
Dodger Stadium. Sitting high atop Los Angeles in Chavez Ravine, Dodger Stadium is a landmark in Los Angeles. The stadium is pretty awesome for the fact that it's pretty much NEVER been remodeled. It looks nearly the exact same way as it did when it opened in 1962. For some, this may be a headache, but to baseball purists, it's the way it should be. Minimal luxury boxes, plenty of cheap seats, and troughs in the men's bathroom. Baseball the way it was meant to be. Dodger Dogs are a crowd favorite. Best of all, the outfield seats (pavillion seating) cost only $13! The only problem is they don't serve beer out there. But trust me - you don't want those fans drinking beer. Hell, you don't even want them at the game, much less getting drunk at the game.

Simers Says
One of most interesting stats in sports---Dodgers have one playoff win since 1988, a 3-0 shut out by Jose Lima. So where's the statue for Lima at Dodger Stadium?

Dwyre Says
Can the presenceof Joe Torre holld things together for an entire season?

Verdict
The Dodgers are beloved. Anyone can have a good time at a Dodger game. I don't even like the Dodgers, but I would never turn down an invitation to a Dodger game. If baseball is an American past time, then Dodger games are a Los Angeles past time. If you don't mind if your team wins or loses, and you just want to have a good time, be a Dodger fan. You won't regret it.