The Mets are in L.A. at the moment and today will play the third of a three a game series. The past two nights I've been staying up late to watch the Mets lose to the Dodgers (What fun?!). During the broadcast there's been much talk about how this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Dodgers moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, and how Dodger Stadium has remained virtually unchanged since it opened in 1962.
For many baseball fans the move of the Dodgers (and the Giants) to the west coast marked the end of an era in baseball. The old style of playing was replaced with more teams, expanded rosters, and the commercialization of the game. Like with many aspects of modern society the expansion of professional baseball, while a seemingly minuscule event, marked an obvious choice that society as a whole was making.
The Dodgers (of Brooklyn) were a beloved team that united the whole Brooklyn community. The local stadium of Ebbets Field was representative of the traditional baseball stadium. Much like Fenway and Wrigley, Ebbets was an integral part of the local community. The 1950's saw an end to these local centers of culture as more people decided to leave urban centers and expand out to the suburbs. The move of the Dodgers to L.A. goes hand in hand with the move of people to greener pastures.
The Dodgers organization were in search of a new, rejuvenating life which they found in the sun of Southern California. The Dodgers have thrived in California, more so than they did when they played in Flatbush. Part of their success has been attributed to their home field, Dodger Stadium, which has often been considered one of the best pitchers parks in the league with the likes of Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Fernando Valenzuela, and Orel Herschiser all thriving within the confines of the expansive field.
On a deeper level the success of the Dodgers represent the success, or mirage of success that American society has experienced. The idea of the suburban American dream with a nice home, two car garage, and steady job go hand and hand with the image that the Dodgers emit. Dodger Stadium was the first stadium of its kind. The setup of the stadium allowed a more relaxed fan experience within the expansive seats of the stadium, but more important was the location of the stadium.
Built on a hillside overlooking downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium became the first ballpark that was only accessibly by a modern freeway. Unlike the stadiums of the past that were easily accessibly by public transportation, Dodger Stadium was the sports complex for the modern-suburban-automobile age. It set the stage for the creation of a series of huge, expensive concrete structures that would be surrounded by a sea of concrete parking lots.
America's pastime was adhering to the growth of society and giving into the demands of urban sprawl. The fifty years of the Dodgers on the west coast creates a certain insecurity for many people. For my grandfather it's the pain that he's felt since his beloved Bums left his Brooklyn home. He still tells me stories about how right fielder Carl Furillo would throw out lazy runners going to first base. But for others, the move west by the Dodgers has a different meaning. It means gridlock, expensive hot dogs and beer, aggravation with finding a parking spot. It means driving your car everywhere. It means some modern version of manifest destiny.
It's the epitomy of expansion, urban sprawl and unsustainable life.
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