Dodgers History: From the Ashes of Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds
The Mets Were Meant to Replace the Dodgers and Giants—But It Was the West Coast That Won
NOTE: The Dodgers face off against the New York Mets six times in the next two weeks
When the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants stunned the baseball world by heading west in 1957, it left a gaping hole in the hearts of New York’s National League fans. Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds were suddenly empty, their teams chasing sunshine and opportunity in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The backlash was swift, emotional, and fierce. To many, it felt like betrayal. The National League had abandoned its birthplace.
To fill the void, the New York Mets were born in 1962—an expansion team draped in the blue of the Dodgers and the orange of the Giants, a symbol of compromise and continuity. Their very existence was meant to patch up a broken baseball city. The Mets weren’t just a new franchise—they were designed to carry the legacy of two titans. But while the Dodgers and Giants blossomed into perennial contenders and cultural institutions on the West Coast, the Mets’ story would become one of brief highs and long, frustrating lows.
The Dodgers quickly made good on their bold relocation, winning the World Series in just their second year in Los Angeles. By the 1970s, they had built a powerhouse, appearing in the Fall Classic four times that decade. Under the leadership of iconic figures like Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Tommy Lasorda, and later Kirk Gibson and Orel Hershiser, the Dodgers cemented themselves as one of the most successful franchises in sports.
The Giants, too, became a West Coast force. Though they suffered through championship droughts, they consistently fielded star power—Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, and later the trio of Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, and Tim Lincecum. By the 2010s, the Giants would win three World Series titles in five years.
And the Mets? They began their existence with comic futility—losing 120 games in their inaugural season. Their 1969 World Series win remains one of baseball’s greatest Cinderella stories, and the 1986 title team, full of swagger and chaos, is rightfully legendary. But in between those brief bursts of greatness have been long stretches of disappointment, dysfunction, and mismanagement. Ownership turmoil, bizarre trades, and front-office blunders became familiar tropes. Even the 2000 World Series appearance came with the sting of losing to their crosstown rival Yankees.
The promise of the Mets as the spiritual heirs to the Dodgers and Giants never truly materialized. While the West Coast teams built dynasties and defined eras, the Mets became synonymous with unmet expectations. For every “Ya Gotta Believe” rally cry, there was a collapse or a punchline.
Today, the Dodgers are a model franchise with a global fanbase, an elite farm system, and regular postseason appearances. The Giants remain one of baseball’s most storied clubs. The Mets, despite recent investments and a new owner with sky-high ambitions, are still chasing the identity they were supposed to inherit.
In the end, the Dodgers and Giants didn’t leave their fans behind—they took the legacy with them. And they’ve been writing new chapters of triumph ever since.
Dodgers vs. Mets in October
When the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets meet in the postseason, the result is rarely forgettable. Although not as frequent as other October showdowns, every time these two National League franchises collide in the playoffs, the stakes are sky-high, the drama real, and the memories lasting. Across four playoff matchups—1988, 2006, 2015, and most recently 2024—the Dodgers and Mets have built a postseason history filled with upsets, controversy, heroics, and heartbreak.
1988 NLCS – Dodgers Win in 7
The rivalry began in earnest during the 1988 National League Championship Series. The Mets were the heavy favorites after winning 100 games and dominating the Dodgers in the regular season (10–1). But the underdog Dodgers—led by manager Tommy Lasorda, MVP Kirk Gibson, and Cy Young winner Orel Hershiser—defied expectations.
The series was intense from the start. Hershiser pitched into the ninth inning of Game 1, but the bullpen faltered and the Mets stole the opener. The Dodgers bounced back in Game 2 behind rookie Tim Belcher. In New York, the Mets took Game 3 on a walk-off hit, but the Dodgers evened it again with a 12-inning Game 4 thriller. Kirk Gibson delivered one of the series’ defining moments with a dramatic home run.
The Mets edged Game 5 to take a 3–2 series lead, but back in Los Angeles, the Dodgers held firm. Belcher kept them alive in Game 6, and in the winner-take-all Game 7, Hershiser returned with a complete game shutout. The Dodgers had stunned the Mets and went on to win the World Series over the Oakland A’s.
2006 NLDS – Mets Sweep in 3
Nearly two decades passed before the Dodgers and Mets met again in October. In 2006, the 88-win Dodgers entered the Division Series as the Wild Card, while the 97-win Mets were seen as a legitimate title contender.
Game 1 at Shea Stadium delivered a demoralizing moment for Dodger fans: Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew were both tagged out at the plate on the same play—a rare double play that symbolized the series. Tom Glavine then stifled the Dodgers in Game 2, and despite starting future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux in Game 3, the Dodgers couldn’t stop the Mets’ momentum. New York completed the sweep in L.A., sending the Dodgers home empty-handed.
2015 NLDS – Mets Win in 5
The 2015 NLDS was the most evenly matched and tension-filled series between these teams. With Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke leading the Dodgers and a young Mets rotation featuring Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, and Noah Syndergaard, the stage was set for a heavyweight showdown.
DeGrom struck out 13 over seven shutout innings to win Game 1 in Los Angeles. The Dodgers won Game 2, but controversy erupted when Chase Utley’s slide fractured Ruben Tejada’s leg—an incident that changed MLB slide rules the following year.
Back in New York, the Mets routed the Dodgers in Game 3, 13–7, but the Dodgers evened the series with a clutch Game 4 win behind Kershaw on short rest. In the decisive Game 5, Daniel Murphy became a thorn in L.A.’s side, homering off Greinke and stealing a critical base. The Mets won 3–2 and advanced to the World Series, while the Dodgers were left lamenting another early exit.
2024 NLCS – Dodgers Win in 6
The 2024 National League Championship Series added a new and triumphant chapter for Dodgers fans. Facing a revamped and aggressive Mets team, Los Angeles returned to the Fall Classic with a commanding series win—and avenged their 2015 heartbreak in the process.
Game 1 at Dodger Stadium was a statement: Jack Flaherty threw seven scoreless innings, and L.A. cruised to a 9–0 win, extending their postseason scoreless streak to a Major League record-tying 33 innings. The Mets responded in Game 2 with a Francisco Lindor leadoff homer and a Mark Vientos grand slam to win 7–3.
In New York, the Dodgers retook control. Walker Buehler dominated Game 3 in an 8–0 win, and the bats exploded in Game 4 for a 10–2 blowout. The Mets, facing elimination in Game 5, kept their season alive with a 12–6 win powered by Pete Alonso’s three-run blast.
Game 6 back in Los Angeles proved decisive. Using a bullpen strategy, the Dodgers deployed seven pitchers to outmaneuver the Mets’ lineup. Tommy Edman starred again, driving in four runs—including a two-run homer—while Will Smith added a bomb of his own. The Dodgers closed out a 10–5 win and claimed the pennant.
Tommy Edman, who tied a franchise record with 11 RBIs in the series, was named NLCS MVP. The Dodgers advanced to the World Series to face the Yankees, reigniting one of baseball’s most iconic rivalries.
Final Thoughts
The Dodgers and Mets have now met four times in the postseason—splitting the series 2–2. Every meeting has been memorable: the Dodgers’ unlikely triumph in 1988, the sting of 2006, the heartbreak of 2015, and the redemption of 2024.
The rivalry may not have the frequency or venom of others, but it has delivered iconic October moments. And as both franchises continue to build rosters worthy of October baseball, another chapter may not be far off. When the Dodgers and Mets meet in the postseason, fans know to expect the unexpected.
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