The Highland Mint

Los Angeles Dodgers

Whether based on the East Coast or the West Coast, the Dodgers have been one of the most successful teams in baseball history. On 24 occasions, the Dodgers have qualified for the postseason, and their 20th century win total was third behind only the New York Yankees and New York/San Francisco Giants.The Bridegrooms, as they were then known, won their first National League pennant in 1890.  Now called the Superbas and featuring stars such as Hughie Jennings, Joe Kelly and Willie Keeler, the club claimed another pair of pennants in 1899 and 1900. The team name was changed to the Dodgers and a move to Ebbets Field occurred in 1913. Jack Pfeffer won 25 games in 1916 while Burleigh Brimes posted 23 wins in 1920, but the Robins (another name change) lost the World Series both years.  Brooklyn captured an N.L. flag in 1941 with Dolf Camilli belting 34 homers and driving in 120 runs, Pete Reiser leading the league in batting (.343), and Kirby Higbe and Whit Wyatt winning 22 games each.  But the first in a parade of Fall Classic losses to the Yankees followed. Breaking the color barrier in 1947 was Jackie Robinson, followed by the Dodgers winning six pennants and a World Series over the next 10 years. Pitcher Don Newcombe, outfielder Duke Snider and first baseman Gil Hodges were among the many heroes in this golden era.  In 1955, Roy Campanella corralled his third Most Valuable Player award and the Dodgers finally knocked off the Yankees in the World Series. A move to the West Coast in 1958 was followed the next season by the Dodgers garnering the pennant and defeating the Chicago White Sox in the World Series.  Sandy Koufax won 25 games in 1963 and starred in a World Series sweep of the Yankees, then combined with Don Drysdale to win 49 games and another Fall Classic in 1965. In 1988, Orel Hershiser won 23 games and pitched 59 consecutive scoreless innings on the way to a World Series conquest of Oakland. The turning point in this series was Kirk Gibson's dramatic pinch-hit homer to win Game 1. Thrilling the Los Angeles faithful over the next couple of decades were Hideo Nomo, Mike Piazza, Kevin Brown, Gary Sheffield and Shawn Green. Eric Gagne saved 55 games in 2003 to earn the Cy Young Award, and in 2006 the Dodgers claimed a Wild Card berth for their 24th postseason appearance.