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Long may they reign (in my memory)

 
During the 1960s, the Dodgers made the World Series three times, all within a four-year period. Throw in 1959 and they were in the World Series four times in seven years.
 
Currently, the Dodgers have been to the World Series four times in six years. It's a fairly similar run to the 1960s one, although this version of the Dodgers has been more successful winning Series. (Three compared to two).
 
I wonder if these Dodgers will be thought of in the way that the '60s Dodgers are, as a talent-laden team, filled with some of the best pitching talent ever, with some OK offensive talent -- though nothing like what L.A. currently has. They are respected. I don't think people got disgusted with the Dodgers showing up repeatedly in the Fall Classic -- something tells me that if fans then were disgusted by that kind of thing (I have my doubts), it would be toward the Yankees (five straight WS from 1960-64).
 
A lot of fans will jump in and say that the two scenarios are different. Free agency and money has changed things and and the haves and have-nots have fractured the sport (but there were haves and have-nots in the '60s, too).
 
I can't think that way, because I'm a Dodgers fan. All Dodgers World Series teams are equally lovable to me. I won't be around in another 60 years to admire the 2020-25 Dodgers but if I was, I know I'd feel about them the way I do the 1960s Dodgers -- probably more because I was barely alive for those '60s teams. 
 
I've mentioned that I don't need the Dodgers to win the World Series this year. Two straight years has taken care of that desire as a fan. Sure, I'd be happy if they did it again. But some other team getting the chance would be great. Just as long as it isn't the team that makes this guy happy:
 

Leaping out of your seat triumphantly for a warning track fly ball during the seventh inning of a game on May 19 will instantly get you on my list (he did this several times yesterday). Why is everyone so fired up? And can't we go back to seeing no fans behind home plate on our TV screens?
 
Anyway, I'm being very current today because I just received some very current Dodgers from Matt of Cards Over Coffee and his family of blogs. All of the cards were from the last couple of years and all of them, except Sandy Koufax up there, are players who contributed to the last two Dodgers titles.
 
Yeah, modern Dodgers -- don't complain. I do what the cards tell me!! 
 
 

Blake Snell -- this is a 2025 Chrome refractor -- contributed to last year's title. He even contributed indirectly to a Dodgers title while on another team ... well, maybe that was his manager in Tampa Bay.
 
 

Mookie Betts. Fancy parallels. So good to have him back and hitting.
 
 

Clayton Kershaw. Retired, but his cards are as welcome as when he was pitching. The card on the left is the chrome version of Kershaw's 2026 Heritage card. I don't have the base card yet, but it's en route.
 
 

Max Muncy. Seeing him skinnier and more nimble is a strange site. I've already forgotten what parallel this is, and I spent a good while figuring out what it is.
 
 

 Freddie Freeman. Two home runs last night while he was sick. Impressive.
 
 

Justin Wrobleski (rainbow foil parallel). Tied for second in the majors in pitching wins. Nothing anyone would have guessed.
 
 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto. I have the red parallel already, but will probably redistribute it to the Heritage binder.
 
I think Yamamoto has the best chance to be remembered like Koufax and Drysdale decades into the future if he continues on this pace. He's not the same kind of pitcher but what he did in the 2025 World Series was epic and will be recounted forever.
 
So then, long may they reign for as long as it lasts. And it can end right now and that's OK. I will not complain about the memories that I have compiled of my team for over 50 years now, or the 38 binders that contain Dodgers cards. 

Comments

Matt said…
I think it would have been easier to accept dynasties in the 60's because there were only 8 teams in the entire division and no playoffs other than the World Series. One would expect the cream to rise to the top and last awhile. Nowadays, with so many more teams and so many more playoff games, it's harder to accept a team defying the statistical odds so consistently. (Of course, that also makes the accomplishments that much more impressive!)
memories can be a good thing.....for sure.
For what it's worth, it's the Silver Crackle, which has also been called some other things like Crackle Foilboard any maybe something else within the last few years. These cards look way better scanned than they do in had... unless you move your hand around a lot, but even then it doesn't look as good. As long as memories are still being made, we're still on this side of the earth.
I am hoping another team from the National League West wins the World Series this year. I mean the team south on the five. I have been waiting since 1973.
Zippy Zappy said…
If I had to guess, the public perception of this current Dodgers core is probably going to involve some pointless debate about whether this era started after the Mookie Betts trade or if it finally came together after Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers.
Old Cards said…
I watched all three of the Dodgers 1960s World Series appearances. At least as much as I could, considering they played during the day while I was at school. Loved those games that fell on the weekend. Thrilled when they swept the Yankees and surprised when the Orioles swept them. How did they beat Sandy Koufax? He was the best!
Matt said…
I never know if I send you doubles, but i always make sure to send many just in case to cover that. I have a ton more Dodgers sitting here waiting their turn to hit the mail box again.
Fuji said…
I'm with Rod... although I have only been waiting since 1984.
bbcardz said…
I so love your posts featuring lots of Dodgers cards and mentions of past and present Dodgers--guaranteed warm fuzzies for me!
Laurens said…
I really wish I was a fan of a team, that after winning two WS championships in twice as many years, I could be OK with the sentiment that maybe it would be OK if someone else won it. It maybe a case with the Dodgers where it means more to the Japanese fanbase, where their superstars are the key figures in all the success. Your casual American fans would rather pick up apart, rather than celebrate greatness for one or more reasons like $$$.
carlsonjok said…
The current Dodgers are widely hated and deservedly so. But here is the beauty of the situation: you can blame the modern culture on George Steinbrenner. It all flows from him buying those late 1970s super teams.