68th National League opener in LA matches Brooklyn mark
by Mark Langill
The new kids on the Southern California baseball block are now distinguished citizens.
The Dodgers’ Thursday home opener marks their 68th season in Los Angeles, the same number as their Brooklyn predecessors after the franchise joined the National League in 1890. After playing most of their home games at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field between 1913 and 1957, the Dodgers spent four seasons at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum while planning and constructing Dodger Stadium.
Vin-tage Memories — This is the 75th anniversary of Vin Scully’s first season with the Dodgers. Scully, who passed away at age 94 in 2022, threw out the ceremonial Opening Day first pitch on four occasions at Dodger Stadium in 1978, 1999, 2009 and 2016.
The Fordham University graduate’s big career break occurred after the 1949 season when broadcaster Ernie Harwell left the Dodgers for the New York Giants. Harwell would later make a name for himself as the voice of the Detroit Tigers for 42 seasons and join Scully in Cooperstown.
Scully’s Dodger career began April 18, 1950 in the press box at Shibe Park in Philadelphia on Opening Day.
Hold that Tiger! — Since interleague play began in 1997, this is the first time the Dodgers have faced an American League opponent in their home opener.
Snell game — Left-hander Blake Snell is the first Dodger pitcher to start a home opener after winning a Cy Young Award during his career with another team. Snell has won the award in each league with Tampa Bay (2018) and San Diego (2023).
Familiar foe — Six months after helping them win a World Series title, Detroit right-hander Jack Flaherty could become the sixth member of a championship who pitched against the Dodgers the following season.
The first was right-hander Russ Meyer, a member of the 1955 champion Dodgers who was traded to the Cubs during the offseason. Meyer appeared in two games against Brooklyn in 1956.
After the Dodgers won the 2020 title, four pitchers who appeared in the Fall Classic against Tampa Bay faced LA with their new 2021 teams: Alex Wood (Giants), Dylan Floro (Marlins), Jake McGee (Giants) and Adam Kolarek (Athletics).
Did You Knows: The 2025 Dodger home opener was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.