How much better were OUR Dodgers than the Giants?

[Dodger Deb, too!]

Let us look at this subject from another point of view. A different perspective than the question posted on another forum. We will start by putting OUR Dodgers in the driver's seat where they belong!

m.

[DODGER DEB]

What a fascinating question?

I've noted the Thread on the Giants Forum, in the reverse, and was thinking that I really don't see HOW anyone could really say, with conviction, that the Giants were better than OUR DODGERS.

To me, the Giants always seemed like the "third wheel" in NYC, at least in the years 1947/1957, like they could never "measure-up" to US or that other team in the Bronx.

I will always remember when WE played them, whether at Ebbets Field or the Polo Grounds, how the parks would literally be "split in half", with US on one side and the Giant fans on the other side. It would be suicide to cross that "line" during a game.

Those games were some of the most exciting games WE ever attended.

c.


:radio OUR MOMENT IN TIME - OCTOBER 4, 1955 - 3:43PM

[JACKIE42]

Except for Willie May's we got them beat in every position from 1947-57. I know at this forum we got their fans beat 6023- 363.

[DODGER DEB]

Originally posted by JACKIE42
Except for Willie May's we got them beat in every position from 1947-57. I know at this forum we got their fans beat 6023- 363.

Makes you really wonder WHERE all those LOYAL NY GIANTS fans went. It's like they evaporated.

c.

:radio OUR MOMENT IN TIME - OCTOBER 4, 1955 - 3:43PM

[Paulmcall]

Horace Stoneham wondered the same thing.
Not too many people blamed him for moving out of the Polo Grounds.

I talked to a guy who drove his wife's car out to California after the move and he burned out the clutch. Horace gave him a $50 tip even after he said he was a Dodger's fan.

[shlevine42]

Originally posted by DODGER DEB
Makes you really wonder WHERE all those LOYAL NY GIANTS fans went. It's like they evaporated.

c.

Could be because they've had a lot of practice evaporating.

In '56 and '57, attendance at the Polo Grounds averaged a dismal 8,000 per game -- the LOWEST in the league. And this in a park that held over 50,000 fans!

The Dodgers, playing in a much smaller park, averaged nearly TWICE that number in their final two years.

So, in the stands, the Dodgers soundly beat the Giants.

Note: In '55, the year after the Giants' World Series victory, attendance at the Polo Grounds FELL by over 30%! In contrast, Dodger attendance ROSE by nearly 20% in '56. That tells you all you need to know about fan loyalty.

On the field, and to be fair, the Giants had the edge in head-to-head competition until 1931.

From 1900-1957, the Giants won 15 pennants to the Dodgers' 10. But the Giants finished last FIVE times during that period; the Dodgers only once.

From '32 to '57, however, the Dodgers won more than half the games between the two teams (309-265); from '46-'57, the margin was even greater (151-116).

And in the broadcast booth? No contest.

[Dodger Deb, too!]

Originally posted by shlevine42
Could be because they've had a lot of practice evaporating.

In '56 and '57, attendance at the Polo Grounds averaged a dismal 8,000 per game -- the LOWEST in the league. And this in a park that held over 50,000 fans!

The Dodgers, playing in a much smaller park, averaged nearly TWICE that number in their final two years.

So, in the stands, the Dodgers soundly beat the Giants.

Note: In '55, the year after the Giants' World Series victory, attendance at the Polo Grounds FELL by over 30%! In contrast, Dodger attendance ROSE by nearly 20% in '56. That tells you all you need to know about fan loyalty.

On the field, and to be fair, the Giants had the edge in head-to-head competition until 1931.

From 1900-1957, the Giants won 15 pennants to the Dodgers' 10. But the Giants finished last FIVE times during that period; the Dodgers only once.

From '32 to '57, however, the Dodgers won more than half the games between the two teams (309-265); from '46-'57, the margin was even greater (151-116).

And in the broadcast booth? No contest.

Great answer, shlevine! I applaud you!

m.

[LouGehrig]

Originally posted by shlevine42

Note: In '55, the year after the Giants' World Series victory, attendance at the Polo Grounds FELL by over 30%! In contrast, Dodger attendance ROSE by nearly 20% in '56. That tells you all you need to know about fan loyalty.

The fact that in 1955 the Giants finished 18.5 games out is a factor.

The fact that in 1956 the Dodgers AGAIN won the pennant is a factor.

Those facts do not change the results, but the Dodgers had a much better year after they won the WS than the Giants had after THEY won the WS. That would be reflected in attendance figures.

[westsidegrounds]

Originally posted by shlevine42
[B

The Dodgers, playing in a much smaller park, averaged nearly TWICE that number in their final two years.
So, in the stands, the Dodgers soundly beat the Giants.


From 1900-1957, the Giants won 15 pennants to the Dodgers' 10. But the Giants finished last FIVE times during that period; the Dodgers only once.


From '32 to '57, however, the Dodgers won more than half the games between the two teams (309-265); from '46-'57, the margin was even greater (151-116).


And in the broadcast booth? No contest. [/B]

1) Hey, there were a lot more Mexicans at the Alamo than Texans - so does that make them the heroes?

2) Seems like a very acceptable trade-off.

3) Ahhh - the ebb and flow of history ...

4) Well, Russ Hodges was certainly no Mel Allen ...

[The Commissioner]

Originally posted by westsidegrounds
1) Hey, there were a lot more Mexicans at the Alamo than Texans - so does that make them the heroes?

No, but they did turn out to be better.

[D6+]

What a fascinating question?

I've noted the Thread on the Giants Forum, in the reverse, and was thinking that I really don't see HOW anyone could really say, with conviction, that the Giants were better than OUR DODGERS.

To me, the Giants always seemed like the "third wheel" in NYC, at least in the years 1947/1957, like they could never "measure-up" to US or that other team in the Bronx.

I will always remember when WE played them, whether at Ebbets Field or the Polo Grounds, how the parks would literally be "split in half", with US on one side and the Giant fans on the other side. It would be suicide to cross that "line" during a game.

Those games were some of the most exciting games WE ever attended.

c.


:radio OUR MOMENT IN TIME - OCTOBER 4, 1955 - 3:43PM

DODGER DEB, invaluable info once again. Your description of when the Dodgers played the Giants reminds me of some College and High School Football games when fans of one team would be on one side of the field and fans of the other team would be on the other side of the field. I've never envisioned something like this at a baseball game.

Some so called baseball fans, who never saw the Dodgers and Giants play against each other in Ebbets Field or the Polo Grounds, say the rivalry between Los Angeles and San Francisco is better than Brooklyn Dodgers vs New York Giants rivalry. It's very evident that they are totally clueless. You definitely helped illustrate this. Getting the LA Imposter fans to stay for an entire game against their number one rival wouldn't even be realistic.


Do you recall what side of the field each fan base was on at Ebbets Field and/ or the Polo Grounds? Thanks.

[musial6]

But, then, there will ALWAYS be 1951.

[DODGER DEB]

DODGER DEB, invaluable info once again. Your description of when the Dodgers played the Giants reminds me of some College and High School Football games when fans of one team would be on one side of the field and fans of the other team would be on the other side of the field. I've never envisioned something like this at a baseball game.

Some so called baseball fans, who never saw the Dodgers and Giants play against each other in Ebbets Field or the Polo Grounds, say the rivalry between Los Angeles and San Francisco is better than Brooklyn Dodgers vs New York Giants rivalry. It's very evident that they are totally clueless. You definitely helped illustrate this. Getting the LA Imposter fans to stay for an entire game against their number one rival wouldn't even be realistic.

Do you recall what side of the field each fan base was on at Ebbets Field and/ or the Polo Grounds? Thanks.

Generally, BROOKLYN DODGER FANS were situated on the rightfield side of OUR Ebbets Field.

At the Polo Grounds, WE were mostly on the the leftfield side. For those fans who got caught with seats in the "wrong" section, well, the fights (and I do mean fights) that ensued sometimes rivaled those on the field.

Even in their dreams, those left coasters will never come close to this kind of rivalry. It was "one of a kind", that will never be duplicated.

c.

[DODGER DEB]

But, then, there will ALWAYS be 1951.

1951???? Wasn't that the year Baseball decided to skip!

c.

[D6+]

Generally, BROOKLYN DODGER FANS were situated on the rightfield side of OUR Ebbets Field.

At the Polo Grounds, WE were mostly on the the leftfield side. For those fans who got caught with seats in the "wrong" section, well, the fights (and I do mean fights) that ensued sometimes rivaled those on the field.

Even in their dreams, those left coasters will never come close to this kind of rivalry. It was "one of a kind", that will never be duplicated.

c.

Thanks, DODGER DEB.

As intense as the Mets and Yankees games against each other are for most of the fans of both teams, I agree with you that the games between the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants will never be duplicated. Mets fans almost always end up in the same sections as Yankees fans, in the respective ballparks. Chances are, many Dodgers and Giants season ticket holders had to change their seats when the two teams faced each other.