The Dodgers in New Jersey
In 1956 and 1957, Brooklyn Would Play Seven Games in Jersey City
May 9, 2008
On August 16, 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers announced that they would play seven regular season games and one exhibition game at Jersey City’s Roosevelt Stadium in 1956. The New York Times reported that the decision did NOT foreshadow a shift to another city, but did acknowledge that the team could move at some future date. Dodgers’ owner Walter O’Malley emphasized that his team intended to play almost all of its home games at Ebbets Field in 1956 and 1957, but he warned, “…we’ll have to have a new stadium shortly thereafter.”
A New Ballpark in Downtown Brooklyn?
New York politicians reacted quickly. A meeting that included the city’s mayor, Brooklyn’s borough president, the New York City’s Construction Coordinator, and the Dodgers’ owner was scheduled to investigate how to acquire the land just to the east of the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues in downtown Brooklyn for a new ballpark. O’Malley declared that the Dodgers’ had $6 million available to purchase land and build a new ballpark.
O'Malley Was Unperturbed By Fans' Reactions
It is impossible to determine what a person is thinking. O’Malley’s statements seemed sincere and made sense, but doubt exists. He was unperturbed by Brooklyn fans’ reactions to playing seven games in New Jersey. “I don’t believe our followers will hold this experiment against us. Only seven games are involved. There still will be plenty of opportunity to watch the Dodgers at Ebbets Field.”
What Might the Move to Jersey City Produce?
Most Brooklyn Dodgers’ fans were not concerned primarily with playing seven games in New Jersey. They were extremely concerned with what the move might lead as well as resenting the Dodgers playing seven games in another state. One precognitive fan expressed the fears. “Sure, I know they need a new ballpark. But they’re just too cheap to get one here in Brooklyn.” Perhaps the fan should have replaced “cheap” with “greedy.” Another fan was right on target. “When the Dodgers play there (New Jersey), they won’t be the Dodgers to me.”
All or Nothing at All
On August 31, it was announced that tickets for the exhibition game and the seven regular season games at Roosevelt Stadium would be sold in blocks of eight. It would be all or nothing at all. The months passed and in December, the now World Champion Dodgers announced that the Jersey City deal was complete. The Dodgers would play their first two 1956 home games against the Phillies in Brooklyn, with the third game scheduled for Jersey City.
The Championship Flag Would Be Raised in Brooklyn
Walter O’Malley generously indicated that if inclement weather prevented the first two games from being played, the game at Roosevelt Stadium would be moved to Brooklyn. After all, Brooklyn fans shouldn’t be deprived of seeing the only World Championship flag raised at Ebbets Field. O’Malley then dropped the bombshell. If there were no new stadium in Brooklyn, the Dodgers might play the entire 1958 season in Jersey City. That never happened, because the new ballpark was never built in Brooklyn and the Dodgers were not too close to Jersey City in 1958. We all know what happened, but none of us will ever know exactly what happened.
References:
- Haff, Joseph O. “Dodger ‘Package’ Irks Jersey City; Plan Would Require Buying Tickets for All 8 Games.” New York Times. 31 August 1955, p. 23.
- McGowen, Roscoe. “Dodgers Will Play 7 League Games Plus Exhibition at Jersey City in 1956.” New York Times. 2 December 1955, p. 33.
- Sheehan, Joseph M. “Dodgers to Play in Jersey City On Seven Home Dates Next Year.” New York Times. 17 August 1955, p. 1.
- Sheehan. Joseph M. “City Officials to Help Dodgers Get New Stadium and Stay Here.” New York Times. 18 August 1955, p. 1.
- “Fans Are Frantic Over Game Shifts.” New York Times. 18 August 1955, p. 26
- “Trouble in Brooklyn.” New York Times. 19 August 1955, p. 18.
