Brooklyn and L.A. Dodgers Memorabilia

Though they now reside in Los Angeles, the history, lore, and collectability of the Dodgers began when the team played in Brooklyn. In 1957, the Dodgers were lured to the West Coast along with their archrival, the New York Giants, now the San Francisco Giants. Their departure from one of the United States’ trendiest cities, Brooklyn, immediately made relics of their time there exceptionally popular. Nostalgia aside, the Dodgers have actually had more success as a team in Los Angeles than they ever did in Brooklyn (they have won five World Series on West Coast compared to one on the East), which means there’s no shortage of collectible goods from the City of Angels, as well. While the Dodgers are famous for the bevy of great players that have put on their white-and-blue uniforms, what they are most noted for is the introduction of African Americans to the Major Leagues. In 1947, owner Branch Rickey made Jackie Robinson, an African American, a Dodger. Robinson, a future Hall of Famer and quite possibly the most collected Dodger, would go on to lead the team to its only Brooklyn title in 1955. In addition to Robinson, the Dodgers have had a slew of other players whose memorabilia are coveted by collectors. Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax (perhaps the greatest left-handed pitcher ever), Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Don Drysdale, Don Sutton, and Pee Wee Reese all called Ebbets Field or Dodgers Stadium home. Interestingly, one surprisingly collectible Dodger is little-known Andy Pafko. Pafko’s baseball card was the #1 card in the 1952 Topps set, widely regarded as the greatest set ever printed, and thus collectors will go to great lengths to get their hands on a Pafko, especially in high-grade. Though the Dodgers possess no shortage of great players, their team memorabilia is some of the most collected around, second only to that of the New York Yankees. For example, Brooklyn Dodgers jerseys and hats remain incredibly popular today. Chief among these is the white cap worn by players between 1914 and 1924—it was lined with blue stripes and accompanied by a blue bill. Similarly, ticket stubs and game programs, such as one from the 1947 World Series between the Dodgers and the Yankees, are also in demand. So are pennants, which come in felt, cloth, and plastic. Another source of popular Dodgers collectibles is the now-destroyed Ebbets Field, the former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The stadium was considered one of baseball’s best parks, and anything associated with it—whether it’s a painting, photograph, or porcelain sign—remains collectible today.