Whether you live in Brooklyn or not, baseball fans know something about the great Brooklyn Dodger teams

of the
1940s and 50s. They know about Jackie Robinson and the color barrier, the magic of Ebbets Field, or maybe the
meteoric rise of Brooklyn's own Sandy Koufax after the Dodgers moved west. In the tradition of Gotham
SideWalks, we discuss context of these events and their place in the evolution of baseball. We take you from the
roots of "base ball" in New York City, through the Civil War, and into the modern era. As teams, leagues, and
stadiums were formed in New York City, debates raged between amateur and professional, women and men, and
between black and white players. This bike tour examines social and economic conditions... all while rolling along
one of the finest circuits of urban bike paths in the country. Remnants of the sport's storied past litter Brooklyn,
and we will find them on this winding and scenic 10 mile route.

Gotham SideWalks………….... Bike Brookyn Baseball

Dodgers
2 years before Brooklyn
Dodgers beat & Giants
Excelsiors star Jim Prospect Park's incorporates
National Assoc. of Charles Ebbets Yanks in the move to
Creighton dies; the inauguration, there Flatbush and other New York City
Base Ball Players Ebbets Field dies; Dodgers Walter O'Malley World Series California
Bedford "Atlantics" are 20 ballfields at towns; Trolley lines incorporates
forms in New York opens enter an era of becomes sole Championship 1957
dominate baseball the Parade span the city Brooklyn 1955
1857
Grounds 1913 rebuilding owner of Dodgers
through the 1860s 1894 1898
1872 1925 1945
1862

1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950

National Brooklyn Club Brooklyn Club Yankees beat 150+ Negro

Yankee
The Jolly Bachelors Assoc. of wins National wins consecutive Brooklyn in 1941 Jackie Leaguers
Stadium
"Excelsiors" Club Professional League National League World Series Robinson integrate
opens; Yanks
begins games at site of Base Ball Pennant Pennants (& again in '47, breaks color Major
beat Giants
Washington Park Players forms 1899; 1900 '49, '52, '53, & '56) barrier, wins Leagues,
1890 in World
1855
in New York Series 1941 Rookie of Negro
1871 1923 the Year League folds
1947 1952

Excelsiors Ballfield in Park Slope,1855 Washington Park I, 1883-90 Washington Park II, 1898-1915 Ebbets Field 1912-1960 Parade Grounds Ballfields, 1869-present
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