History

60 years of cheering on the Dodgers in Los Angeles

#ThisTeam #TheseFans

By Adrian Glick Kudler and Jenna Chandler Updated Oct 17, 2018, 12:24pm PDT

Los Angeles may arrive in the third inning and leave in the seventh, but that doesn’t mean we’re not good fans to the Dodgers.

Starting even before Walter O’Malley relocated the team to Los Angeles in 1958, Angelenos have been cheering for and supporting the Boys of Summer, from Sandy Koufax to Fernando Valenzuela to Orel Hershiser to Yasiel Puig, first at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and then, starting in 1962, at Dodger Stadium.

In honor of the 2018 playoffs, here’s a look back at Dodgers fans through the ages:

Frances Hambelton, 15, of Canoga Park, gathers signatures for a petition to bring Dodgers to Los Angeles in the fall of 1957.

Dodgers fans celebrate at bar at Seventh and Broadway; “Bartender John Wixted had misfortune to be a White Sox fan.”

“Here’s [a] portion of wild-eyed throng that set a new National League night game record in the season debut of the Dodgers” on April 13, 1960.

“No, this isn’t an on-ramp to a toll road. Nor is it a traffic jam. It’s an auto lineup of anxious baseball fans waiting at Solano Street entrance to new Dodger Stadium” in 1962.

April 10, 1962: On opening day of the first season at Dodger Stadium, “Fans lined up to see the new ballpark, then awaited the first pitch.”

April 18, 1958: “The team rides in a motorcade parade down Broadway, en route to its first game in Los Angeles: A 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants before 78,672 fans at the Coliseum.”

1988: “Los Angeles hailed its world champion Dodgers with a parade down Broadway. Fans packed the sidewalks as floats made their way up the street.”

June 2, 1958: “Never in the history of baseball did a team—a last place team—receive such a welcome as that accorded the Dodgers last night at International Airport, where some 7,500 rabid fans met the club.”

Premiere Of 'Bluetopia' - Arrivals — A Dodger fan's tattoo of sportscaster Vin Scully is seen at the premiere of 'Bluetopia' at the Pacific Design Center on April 18, 2009 in West Hollywood, California.

October 3, 1959: “Here are some of the 5,000 greeters at airport last night as the Dodgers returned from Chicago where they evened the series yesterday. What a day it’ll be at the Coliseum tomorrow!”

Dodger Fan Club enthusiasts at the airport on October 3, 1959. “They and all Southern Californians are ready for the very first World Series Game ever to be played in Los Angeles. Coliseum will be rocking tomorrow!"

Fans camp outside the Dodgers ticket office to await the sale of Series tickets on October 8, 1977.

Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser and his son meet fans at the player's parking lot in 1988.

San Francisco Giants v Los Angeles Dodgers — Fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers hold up a sign intended for Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on July 31, 2007.

Fernando Valenzuela pennants for sale outside Dodger Stadium in 1981.

Dodgers float moves down Broadway as fans turn out to honor 1981 World Champion Dodgers.

The backside of a Dodger fan's head at a Sunday afternoon baseball game in 2000 held at Dodger Stadium.

Giants v Dodgers X — A young fan in face paint at a game versus the Giants.

Valley residents board buses to watch the Dodgers beat Cincinnati in 1959.

A Dodger player handing out balls to fans at Dodger Stadium.

October 8, 1963: “Mrs. Green simply held out her Dodger apron!” Mrs. Green’s apron reads “The heck with housework, let’s see the Dodgers play!”