This Day in Los Angeles History: April 10, 1962—First Game at Dodger Stadium

Racing for Seats on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium, April 10, 1962 
Photograph by John Malman/Los Angeles Times; framework.latimes.com 

It wasn’t the Dodgers’—or Los Angeles’s—first Major League Baseball game on the West Coast. But the match between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds on April 10, 1962, marked a new beginning for the transplanted New York team: the first game at their newly built Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine north of downtown Los Angeles.

52,564 spectators attended, kicking off a season that drew 2.7 million fans, the most in baseball history up to then. Still, despite the city’s excitement over the new stadium, that auspicious start was tainted by earlier events leading to an entire community’s dissolution.

Hooray for Opening Day!

Obak Mouthpiece Cigarettes Base Ball Series, 1910
Dick Dobbins Collection on the Pacific Coast League, California Historical Society

Spring is here and soon the crack of the bat will echo throughout California’s four Major League Baseball parks—from San Diego to Los Angeles to San Francisco. To celebrate Opening Day we’ve delved into our archives locker room and “dug out” some of our truly favorite things.

CHS is home to the amazing Dick Dobbins Collection of memorabilia from the Pacific Coast League. The PCL - sometimes called the Third Major League - is not connected to the Majors, but has sent some mighty fine players there, including Joe Di Maggio, Ted Williams, and Tony Lazzeri. The collection is primarily made up of material from the Oakland Oaks, San Francisco Seals, and Los Angeles Angels.

So, in the words of one of our local favorites, San Francisco Giants broadcaster, Mike Krukow, “Grab some pine, Meat!” and let’s play ball!

Selections from the Obak Mouthpiece Cigarettes Base Ball Series, 1910

Elmer Criger, Los Angeles Angels
Position: Pitcher; Bats: Left; Throws: Left; .276 Lifetime ERA

Joseph Briggs, Sacramento Sacts
Position: Outfielder; Bats: Right; Throws: Right; .267 Lifetime Batting Average

Harry “Fighting Harry” Wolverton-Oakland Oaks
Positions: Third Baseman & Second Baseman; Bats: Left & Right; Throws: Right; .278 Lifetime Batting Average

Nick Williams, San Francisco Seals

Position: Outfielder; Bats: Right; Throws: Right; .241 Lifetime Batting Average

Walter “Rosy” Carlisle, Vernon Tigers
Position: Outfielder; Bats: Left & Right; Throws: Right; .260 Lifetime Batting Average

Alison Moore
Strategic Initiatives Liaison
amoore@calhist.org

Tim Evans
Graphic Designer
tevans@calhist.org