The feud between the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants began in the late 19th century when both clubs were based in New York City, with the Dodgers playing in Brooklyn and the Giants playing at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan. After the 1957 season, Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley moved the team to Los Angeles for financial and other reasons. Along the way, he managed to convince Giants owner Horace Stoneham—who was considering moving his team to Minnesota—to preserve the rivalry by bringing his team to California as well. New York baseball fans were stunned and heartbroken by the move. Given that the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco have been bitter rivals in economic, cultural, and political arenas for over a century and a half, the new venue in California became fertile ground for its transplantation.
the feud BetwEeN tHe DOdGerS and the san fRAncISco Giants bEgAn In the laTe 19tH cEntury When botH cluBs wERe basEd in neW york city, witH The dodgeRs pLaYing iN bROOKlYN aND tHe giaNts plAYing At The polo gROunds in ManhAttaN. after THe 1957 Season, dOdGErs ownEr Walter O'MALley mOVEd the tEAm To los angeLes fOr FiNAnCiaL aNd OTher rEasoNS. alonG THe waY, hE mAnaged tO conviNce gIAntS Owner hOraCe stONehAm—who Was coNSiderIng mOvInG hiS Team tO minneSOtA—to presErVe The riVaLry By bringIng His team tO calIforNiA as weLl. neW york BaSebAll fanS Were stunned anD heartbrOkEN by ThE mOVe. gIVEn tHat the ciTies of Los angeleS and saN FrAncISco haVe been bIttEr rivAls in EConomiC, cultURAl, anD poLiticaL arenas FOr OveR a centuRy anD a halF, tHE nEw venuE In CAliFOrNia Became feRTile ground foR iTs tranSplantAtion.