Key Takeaways
- The Dodgers and Giants have played more than 2,500 games, making it one of the oldest and most played rivalries in American professional sports.
- Entering the 2025 season, the Giants hold a slim edge in the all-time head-to-head series by fewer than 10 games.
- The rivalry began in New York in 1889, relocated to California in 1958, and has spanned three centuries.
- The teams met in the postseason for the first time in 2021, with the Giants winning the NLDS 3-2.
- Both franchises rank among the National League leaders in pennants and World Series championships.
The Origins of Baseball’s Defining Rivalry
The Dodgers vs Giants rivalry is the longest continuous rivalry in Major League Baseball. It began in 1889 when the New York Giants faced the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, the early version of the Dodgers. Both teams were founding National League powers, and their geographic proximity fueled intense competition.
From 1889 to 1957, the rivalry was strictly New York versus Brooklyn. When both clubs relocated to California in 1958, the competition followed them west. The rivalry immediately became the backbone of West Coast baseball, reshaping Major League Baseball’s national footprint.
Very few rivalries in sports have survived relocation, generational change, and league expansion with the same intensity.
Dodgers vs Giants All-Time Head-to-Head Record
The Dodgers and Giants have played each other more than 2,500 times across regular season and postseason matchups. Entering the 2025 MLB season, the Giants hold a narrow advantage in the all-time regular season series by fewer than 10 games.
Category Dodgers Giants Notes All-Time Regular Season Series Slightly Behind Slight Edge Over 2,500 matchups since 1889 Postseason Record 2 Wins 3 Wins 2021 NLDS, Giants won series 3-2 First Meeting October 8, 1889 New York era California Era Began 1958 Dodgers to LA, Giants to SF
Who Leads the All-Time Series?
The San Francisco and New York Giants franchises combined hold the historical edge. However, the gap has fluctuated dramatically by era. At several points, the Dodgers erased double-digit deficits. The rivalry has never remained one-sided for long.
Breaking Down the Rivalry by Era
New York Era: 1889–1957
This period established the emotional core of the rivalry. Classic moments include Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ’Round the World” in 1951, which gave the Giants a pennant over Brooklyn in dramatic fashion.
During the New York era:
- Both teams combined for multiple National League pennants.
- Several pennant races were decided in head-to-head series.
- The rivalry became a symbol of borough pride.
The Giants left New York with the overall series advantage.
Early California Era: 1958–1980
When the rivalry moved west, it did not lose intensity. Sandy Koufax and Juan Marichal defined the 1960s battles. Their duels remain some of the most iconic pitching matchups in MLB history.
One infamous moment came in 1965 when Marichal struck Dodgers catcher John Roseboro with a bat during a heated altercation, highlighting the rivalry’s volatility.
1980s–2000s: Divisional Warfare
The creation of divisions placed the Dodgers and Giants in constant NL West competition. Stars such as Orel Hershiser, Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza, and Jeff Kent added fuel to the rivalry.
Barry Bonds’ record-breaking home run seasons in the early 2000s often came against Dodger pitching, intensifying frustrations in Los Angeles.
Modern Era: 2010–Present
The rivalry experienced a renaissance in the 2010s. The Giants won three World Series titles from 2010 to 2014. The Dodgers countered with sustained dominance, including multiple 100-win seasons and a World Series championship in 2020.
The 2021 season delivered the rivalry’s first postseason meeting. Both teams won over 100 games in the regular season before facing off in the NLDS. The Giants captured the decisive Game 5, adding postseason weight to an already historic rivalry.
Notable Games and Milestones
Bobby Thomson’s 1951 Walk-Off
A three-run home run that clinched the pennant for the Giants. It remains one of the most famous moments in baseball history.
Koufax vs Marichal Matchups
Multiple complete-game duels in the 1960s represented pitching excellence at its peak.
2021 NLDS Game 5
Wilmer Flores struck out looking in the ninth inning of the deciding game, sealing the Giants’ series victory and marking the rivalry’s first playoff conclusion.
Statistical Comparisons That Define the Rivalry
Run Production
Across more than a century of games, both teams have scored tens of thousands of runs against each other. Offensive dominance has historically shifted in waves, often depending on generational talent.
Winning Percentages by Decade
- Early 1900s: Giants edge
- 1950s: Intense parity, highlighted by playoff drama
- 1960s: Evenly matched pitching strength
- 2010s: Dodgers gained significant ground in overall record
Postseason Impact
While the teams only met once in the postseason, their regular-season clashes frequently determined playoff access. Several pennants and division titles were indirectly decided by head-to-head series outcomes.
Hall of Famers and Rivalry Legends
No rivalry survives this long without iconic players. The Dodgers and Giants have featured dozens of Hall of Famers who shaped baseball history.
Dodgers Legends
- Sandy Koufax
- Jackie Robinson
- Duke Snider
- Clayton Kershaw
Giants Legends
- Willie Mays
- Willie McCovey
- Juan Marichal
- Barry Bonds
Many of these players delivered defining performances against their rival, reinforcing the emotional weight of every series.
Team Achievements in Context
Part of what makes the rivalry exceptional is sustained excellence. Both franchises rank near the top of National League history in pennants and championships.
- The Giants have won multiple World Series titles spanning New York and San Francisco eras, including three in five years from 2010 to 2014.
- The Dodgers have secured multiple championships, highlighted by sustained division dominance since 2013 and a World Series title in 2020.
Competitive balance keeps the rivalry nationally relevant.
Recent Trends and Current Outlook
Over the past decade, divisional races have often tightened in late summer when the Dodgers and Giants meet. Attendance spikes, television ratings increase, and playoff implications are common themes.
Modern roster construction, analytics-driven pitching rotations, and increased bullpen specialization have reshaped how the teams compete. Yet the fundamentals remain consistent: close games, emotional atmospheres, and playoff stakes.
Entering the current MLB cycle, both clubs continue to invest heavily in player development and star acquisitions. As long as they remain competitive within the NL West, the all-time record will continue to shift by slim margins.
Few rivalries in sports combine longevity, statistical parity, generational Hall of Fame talent, and postseason stakes in the way Dodgers vs Giants does, which is why every new chapter adds measurable weight to an already historic ledger.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Dodgers vs Giants Rivalry
How many times have the Dodgers and Giants played each other?
You can expect that the Dodgers and Giants have played more than 2,500 games against each other in regular season and postseason matchups since 1889, making it one of the most played rivalries in American professional sports.
Who leads the all-time Dodgers vs Giants series?
Entering the 2025 MLB season, you will find that the Giants hold a slim lead in the all-time regular season series, with an edge of fewer than 10 games over the Dodgers.
When did the Dodgers vs Giants rivalry start?
The rivalry began in 1889 in New York, when the New York Giants faced the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, the early version of the Dodgers, and it has continued without a break into the modern era.
When did the Dodgers and Giants move to California?
Both teams moved to California in 1958, with the Dodgers relocating to Los Angeles and the Giants moving to San Francisco, carrying the rivalry from the East Coast to the West Coast.
Have the Dodgers and Giants met in the postseason?
Yes, you can point to the 2021 NLDS as their first postseason meeting, where the Giants won the series 3–2 in a five-game matchup.
Why is the Dodgers vs Giants rivalry considered historic?
You see this rivalry called historic because it spans three centuries, includes more than 2,500 games, survived both teams’ relocation to California, and features many Hall of Famers and multiple World Series–winning eras for each franchise.
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