The Rivalry Heard 'Round the World

Games between the Dodgers and Giants are never just another day at the ballpark. Dating back to the late nineteenth centurywhen the teams embodied the competitive spirit of rival metropolises of New York and Brooklynthe GiantsDodgers rivalry gained intensity throughout the early twentieth century. The cheering and jeering continued unabated until 1957, when the clubs backed the moving vans up to the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field, and took their rivalry to new venues in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Indeed, BrooklynNew York baseball was a tough act to follow, but the West Coast version didnt take long to fire up the emotions. Only six games into the first West Coast season, the clubs had their first beanball dustup. The venue had changed but the venom remained, and the rivalry became author Joe Kontes obsession. Fifty-five years ago, he attended one of the first GiantsDodgers games ever played outside of New York. A longtime newspaper editor and baseball fiend, Konte understands what is so special about what is one of the most significant rivalries in American sports. And sovia statistical analysis, game summaries, roster scrutiny, manager matchups, season recaps, and morehe has put together a rivalry bible. Focusing primarily on the California years, but also providing background on the origins and the New York years, The Rivalry Heard Round the World captures the spirit and intensity of one of the greatest rivalries in American sports.