A Brooklyn Dodgers jersey is sure to be a talking point of any baseball super fan’s collection. It’s rare to see a Brooklyn Dodgers jersey on the streets today because the team is now located in LA, making LA Dodgers jerseys much more common. The Brooklyn Dodgers have a rich history however, in fact the sport of baseball itself owes a large debt to Brooklyn and its inhabitants. Baseball was played in New York and Brooklyn from the mid 1800’s, long before MLB even existed.
The Brooklyn Dodgers were originally founded as the Brooklyn Grays in 1883, and the New York Brooklyn rivalry with the New York Giants was fueled. The team got the name Dodgers because of their nickname as the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, of the famously dangerous trolley cars that operated around Brooklyn. Pedestrians often had to dodge the speeding trolleys to not be injured, thus coining the nickname. The word “Dodgers” didn’t actually appear on a Brooklyn Dodgers jersey until the year 1932, however.
One of the most important players in baseball history wore a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform- and a Jackie Robinson jersey is still one of the most sought after jerseys for collectors and fans. Robinson was the first African American to play Major League baseball, and his contributions to the sport go far beyond leading the Dodgers to a world championship over the New York Yankees in 1955. The Brooklyn Dodgers had many great players over the years, like Gil Hodges, Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax, so the odds that a Brooklyn Dodgers jersey carries with it some of that greatness are pretty high.
After their move to Los Angeles, the rivalry between the Dodgers and the now San Francisco Giants continued on the other side of the country. Brooklynites, LA Dodgers fans, and fans of baseball in general will all enjoy seeing a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform. While the Dodgers may be gone from Brooklyn, a Brooklyn Dodgers jersey remains timeless.
