Dodger Stadium Opens

Early Stadium History

On September 17, 1959, the Dodgers staged a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction on their new ballpark at Chavez Ravine.

These artifacts represent the early stages of the project, including

• A view of the construction area which required moving more than eight million yards of cubic earth.
• Team president Walter O'Malley and lead architect Emil Praeger used this portable model to plan and promote the future Dodger Stadium, which opened on April 10, 1962.
• The Dodger Stadium painting includes the original plans for cascading fountain behind center field with spotlights that would be activated whenever a Dodger hit a home run.
• The "Dodgers" wooden panel was part of the Stadium Club decor and the frequent background of a podium during press conferences.

from Digout to Dugout

View of Construction Area

Moving more than eight million yards of cubic earth

Portable Model

Team president Walter O'Malley and lead architect Emil Praeger used this portable model to plan and promote the future Dodger Stadium

Dodger Stadium Painting

Includes the original plans for cascading fountain behind center field with spotlights that would be activated whenever a Dodger hit a home run.

Key to Dodgers Stadium

April 10, 1962
Commissioner Ford Frick and NL President Warren Giles present Walter O'Malley with the key to Dodger Stadium at it's opening ceremonies.

Key to Dodgers Stadium

Los Angeles, April 12 1962
Presented to Walter F. O'Malley
Dodger Stadium Erected for the loyal Los Angeles baseball fans by Walter O'Malley and Associates. The first major league park in four decades. Built through private enterprise in the United States

Opening Day at Dodger Stadium

April 10, 1962

1962 Pavilion Coins
When Dodger Stadium opened in 1962, fans in the left and right field pavilions used these coins, similar to subway tokens, for entry. This saved the cost of printing tickets. But the pennant race in 1962 produced "coin hoarders", which meant enterprising fans would purchase extra coins to ensure seating for a Dodgers-Giants game in late July. When overflow crowds appeared around the pavilion box offices, the coin concept was scrapped by the fall of that first season.

1962 Pavilion Tokens

Wood Carving

The "Dodgers" wooden panel was part of the Stadium Club decor and the frequent background of a podium during press conferences.

City of Los Angeles Seals

Dodger Logo Tiles

The grand opening of Dodger Stadium on April 10, 1962 featured special artistic touches throughout Southern California's new baseball showplace. These ceramic tiles were original to the 1962 Dodgers clubhouse and served as a "watermark" when placed alongside the regulat tiles. When the home clubhouse was enlarged for the 2013 season, the original Dodgers script tiles were removed and replica tiles with the current team logo were installed in the new areas.

Tenth Anniversary

Autographed Engraved Plate

1962

Behind Center Field Plaza Stage