Brooklyn Dodgers

Founded in 1883, the Brooklyn Dodgers (now the Los Angeles Dodgers) are one of the most storied professional sport franchises in American history. Noted for their mid-20th-century exploits both on and off the baseball diamond, the Brooklyn Dodgers were the quintessential sports franchise to epitomize equal rights. No other sports team has been so lauded for its front-office decisions, talent scouting, player selection, frugality, and community support during the postwar years than the Brooklyn Dodgers. They were symbolic of the changing face of American sport and society through their social integration and westward migration.

Much of the Dodgers’ success can be attributed to their administration and the shrewd business acumen of Branch Rickey, the part owner and general manager of the team in 1947. Although the Dodgers were somewhat successful prior to Rickey's arrival, they became a national phenomenon under his leadership. Rickey's prescient vision and stealth-like negotiations enabled him to build the organization into a perennial contender, facilitate social change, and create a sustainable national brand that has endured for over a half-century after the team relocated.

Transcript

• Of course you know who this is. What other team could run the bases so nimbly, so adroitly, so alertly and so much finesse? And this is their colorful manager, ‘Lippy’ Leo Durocher. Why, sure. It's the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Ebbets Fielders. The Bums. The most colorful team in the Major Leagues. And now let's watch the way Leo gets the team into shape and into the headlines.
• You look great. Come on, Savina. Well, talk about your [inaudible]. I've got one here. Why, we oughta' – come on Brzezinski. Where ya' playing? Get over there. Get those two out of the way and get over to shortstop. How ya' gonna get over here? Somebody'll pile [inaudible].
• ho's got the ball, Johnny?
• You've got to move around. Come on, Sandlot, how do you go this way. Come on. You look great.
• Leo's always at his charming best during infield practice. If you play for Durocher, you've got to have pepper and plenty of moxie. He'll ride the pants right off a greenhorn.
• You look great. Try again. Oh, those big hops. You always get those big hops. Come on, Brownie. The Sandlot Wonder.
• Come on, kid. Come on.
• Call all this a league? Come on. Now, pick it up.