History of Dodgers–Yankees rivalry in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 19, 2026

The rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees is one of the most storied matchups in Major League Baseball history. The two franchises have met in the World Series a record 12 times, with the Yankees holding a historical advantage in championships won. The rivalry dates back to the Dodgers' time in Brooklyn, fueled by frequent 'Subway Series' encounters in the mid-20th century. Even after the Dodgers relocated to Los Angeles in 1958, the geographic and cultural contrast between the coasts ensured the tension remained. The rivalry is defined by legendary players, iconic moments, and high-stakes postseason drama, cementing it as a premier spectacle in professional sports. Their frequent collisions on baseball's biggest stage continue to captivate fans, representing a recurring clash of titans between the National and American Leagues.

1903: Establishment of the New York Highlanders

In 1903, the American League relocated the Baltimore Orioles franchise to New York City to establish a presence in the major market, where the team became known as the New York Highlanders and began playing at Hilltop Park.

1912: End of Hilltop Park Era

By the conclusion of the 1912 season, the team known as the New York Highlanders finished their final year playing at their home field, Hilltop Park.

April 5, 1913: Opening Exhibition Game at Ebbets Field

On April 5, 1913, the Brooklyn Dodgers played an exhibition game against the New York Highlanders to inaugurate their new stadium, Ebbets Field. The game was decided by a game-winning hit from Casey Stengel, who at the time played for the Dodgers but would later become a renowned manager for the New York Yankees.

1920: Giants Issue Eviction Notice to Yankees

In 1920, the New York Giants informed the New York Yankees that they were no longer permitted to share the stadium and would need to secure a new home venue by the 1921 season.

1921: Temporary Stay at the Polo Grounds

During 1921, the New York Giants rescinded their previous eviction notice, allowing the Yankees to continue playing at the Polo Grounds for an additional period.

1922: Final Season at the Polo Grounds

The year 1922 marked the end of the Yankees' tenure at the Polo Grounds, a period during which the Giants completed renovations that expanded the stadium's seating capacity to 50,000.

1941: 1941 World Series Game 4 Blunder

During the 1941 World Series, Game 4 saw a pivotal moment when Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Mickey Owen dropped a third strike against New York Yankees batter Tommy Henrich, allowing the Yankees to stay alive in the ninth inning and eventually win the game after trailing by one run.

1947: 1947 World Series Game 6 Defensive Play

During the 1947 World Series, Dodgers outfielder Al Gionfriddo made a spectacular defensive play in Game 6 to rob Joe DiMaggio of a potential game-tying three-run home run, an event that frustrated DiMaggio and forced a Game 7, which the Dodgers ultimately lost.

1947: Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Barrier

In 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Jackie Robinson, a historic move that broke the color line in Major League Baseball and served as a catalyst for the team winning multiple National League pennants.

1952: Billy Martin's Game 7 Defensive Save

In 1952, Yankees player Billy Martin made a crucial defensive play during Game 7 by running outside the camera coverage area to secure a pop-fly, effectively stopping a Brooklyn Dodgers scoring threat.

1953: End of a Pennant-Winning Era

By 1953, the core roster of Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, and Don Newcombe had led the Dodgers to their fourth National League pennant in a seven-year span, though the team continued to struggle with World Series losses, fueling the famous "Wait 'til next year!" sentiment among fans.

1953: Billy Martin's Series Record Performance

During the 1953 World Series, Billy Martin set a series record with 12 hits, ultimately clinching the title for the Yankees with a game-winning hit against Brooklyn pitcher Clem Labine in 1953.

1953: Vin Scully begins his broadcasting career during the 1953 World Series

In 1953, due to a compensation dispute between Gillette and Red Barber, 25-year-old Vin Scully was selected to call the World Series, becoming the youngest person to call a major network World Series game. This event marked the beginning of his legendary six-decade tenure as the voice of the Dodgers.

1955: 1955 World Series Outcome

During the 1955 World Series, the home team successfully won the first six games of the series but ultimately suffered a defeat in Game 7.

1955: Dodgers Win First World Series Title

In 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in a seven-game World Series, marking the team's first and only championship victory while located in Brooklyn. This historic win inspired the famous fan slogan, This IS next year.

1956: 1956 Managerial Fist Fight

During the 1956 season, while playing for the teams they would later manage, Tommy Lasorda and Billy Martin were involved in a physical altercation.

1956: 1956 World Series Conclusion

In 1956, the World Series matchup between the Dodgers and the Yankees marked the final Subway Series of the 20th century, as well as the last time a National League charter franchise would participate in such a series.

1958: Dodgers Relocation to Los Angeles

In 1958, the Brooklyn Dodgers officially completed their move to Los Angeles, marking the start of a new chapter for the franchise in a different city.

1959: First Los Angeles World Series Win

In 1959, the Dodgers secured their first World Series championship since relocating to Los Angeles, establishing their early presence in their new home.

1962: New York Yankees World Series Championship

In 1962, the New York Yankees secured a World Series championship title, a victory that would eventually be revisited when they defeated the Dodgers in the 1977 World Series to capture their first championship since this 1962 win.

1963: Dodgers Sweep Yankees in World Series

During the 1963 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the New York Yankees in four consecutive games. This 1963 series was notable for being the first championship meeting between teams from New York City and Los Angeles, with Sandy Koufax earning MVP honors for his dominant performance.

1965: Last Dodgers World Series Title Prior to 1981

The year 1965 marked the final time the Los Angeles Dodgers had won a World Series title before repeating the feat in 1981.

1976: 1976 World Series Outcome

The New York Yankees were defeated by the Cincinnati Reds (The Big Red Machine) in the 1976 World Series, which led owner George Steinbrenner to sign Reggie Jackson to the team.

1977: Reggie Jackson's dominance in the 1977 World Series

During the 1977 World Series, Reggie Jackson delivered a standout performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers, contributing to their loss and leaving manager Tommy Lasorda yearning for a chance at redemption.

1977: 1977 World Series Dodgers vs. Yankees

In 1977, Tommy Lasorda led the Dodgers to the World Series to face off against Billy Martin's Yankees, a matchup marked by the history between the two managers.

1978: Reggie Jackson's continued impact in the 1978 World Series

In 1978, Reggie Jackson continued to play a pivotal role in the New York Yankees' success against the Dodgers, intensifying Lasorda's frustration and his desire for a rematch to avenge the previous years' defeats.

1981: 1981 World Series Dodgers-Yankees Matchup

In 1981, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees faced each other in the World Series, marking the final postseason meeting between the two franchises for over four decades.

1981: Los Angeles Dodgers Win 1981 World Series

In 1981, the Los Angeles Dodgers secured their first World Series championship since 1965 by defeating the New York Yankees in six games after trailing 0-2 in the series, a victory fueled by rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela and first baseman Steve Garvey.

1981: World Series Meeting

In 1981, the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers faced off in the World Series, marking the beginning of a long hiatus before their next championship matchup in 2024.

1982: New York Yankees Planning for 1982 Season

Following a disappointing performance in the 1981 World Series, George Steinbrenner announced immediate plans to reorganize the team for the 1982 season, a move that sparked significant public and media criticism.

1987: 1987 World Series Home Field Dominance

In 1987, a unique milestone was achieved when the home team won all seven games of the World Series for the first time in history.

1988: Dodgers Win 1988 World Series

In 1988, the Los Angeles Dodgers achieved victory by defeating the Oakland Athletics in the World Series, marking a notable contrast to the Yankees' struggles during that decade.

1996: Start of Yankees Championship Run

Beginning in 1996, the New York Yankees entered a highly successful period where they secured four World Series championships within a five-year window.

1997: Introduction of Interleague Play

In 1997, Major League Baseball introduced interleague play, which finally enabled the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees to compete against one another during the regular season.

2000: Conclusion of Yankees Five-Year Run

By the year 2000, the New York Yankees completed an impressive stretch of dominance, having captured four championship titles over the preceding five-year period.

2001: 2001 World Series Defeat for Yankees

In 2001, the New York Yankees became the first American League team to lose a World Series where the home team was victorious in all seven games.

2004: Interleague Series Resumption

In 2004, the Yankees and Dodgers played each other for the first time in a non-exhibition game since their previous encounters, competing in a three-game interleague series.

2008: Joe Torre begins managing the Dodgers

In 2008, former Yankees manager Joe Torre began his tenure as the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, adding a new narrative layer to the historical rivalry.

2010: Dodgers and Yankees 2010 series at Dodger Stadium

On June 25–27, 2010, the New York Yankees faced the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, marking the first time Joe Torre and Don Mattingly managed against their former team, with the Yankees winning the series two games to one.

2011: Don Mattingly begins managing the Dodgers

In 2011, Don Mattingly succeeded Joe Torre as the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, continuing the trend of Yankee icons transitioning to the Dodger organization.

June 2013: Dodgers Doubleheader Sell-out at Yankee Stadium

In June 2013, the Los Angeles Dodgers played a series in the Bronx for the first time since the introduction of interleague play. The resulting doubleheader at the new Yankee Stadium was a sell-out success, highlighting the enduring popularity of the Dodgers–Yankees rivalry.

2013: Mattingly's return to the Bronx

On June 19, 2013, during a doubleheader, Don Mattingly returned to the Bronx as a manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking his first appearance as a game participant in the stadium since his promotion.

2014: 2014 Stanley Cup Final

The 2014 Stanley Cup Final served as a historic meeting between New York City and Los Angeles professional sports teams, the first such championship matchup between the two cities since the 1981 World Series.

2015: End of Don Mattingly's Dodger managerial tenure

The year 2015 marked the conclusion of Don Mattingly's five-year stint as the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2023: Adoption of Universal Interleague Play

The year 2023 marked the implementation of universal interleague play, ending the era where the Dodgers and Yankees had restricted opportunities to play each other during the regular season.

2024: 2024 World Series Dodgers Victory

In 2024, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees faced each other in the World Series for the first time in 43 years, resulting in the Dodgers winning the championship series in five games.

2024: 2024 World Series Dodgers-Yankees Matchup

The 2024 World Series featured a highly anticipated rematch between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, ending their long postseason drought since 1981.

2024: World Series Return

The year 2024 marked the return of the rivalry to the World Series stage, ending a lengthy period since their last meeting in the championship series in 1981.