The 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers season was the team's 65th season of play overall and its 58th season of play in the National League (NL) of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Dodgers finished in first place in the National League with a record of 94–60, five games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals. They advanced to the 1947 World Series against the American League champion New York Yankees, but lost the series in seven games. The Dodgers played their home games at Ebbets Field.
On April 15, Jackie Robinson started at first base for the Dodgers, breaking the baseball color line and becoming the first black player in MLB since Moses Fleetwood Walker in the 1880s. Robinson went on to bat .297, score 125 runs, steal 29 bases, and win MLB's inaugural Rookie of the Year award. This season was dramatized in the movie 42.
Due to the suspension of Leo Durocher for a year for "conduct detrimental to baseball", coach Clyde Sukeforth managed the first 2 games of the season on an emergency basis, but declined to manage for the full season, so Burt Shotton took over as manager for the rest of the season.
The Dodgers had a home attendance of 1.8 million paying fans, a National League record at the time.[6] On the road, the Dodgers drew 1.9 million paying fans, also a National League record at that time.
On Opening Day, Jackie Robinson made his debut as the Dodgers' first baseman. He went 0-for-3, scoring a run. He also had one sacrifice hit and grounded into a double play before being replaced late in the game by Howie Schultz. In the field, he had 11 putouts without an error.[7] During a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 22, Robinson committed an error for the first time in his major league career.[8]
On May 13, Robinson played in his first game in Cincinnati. The Reds won the game 7–5. Despite the loss, Robinson had a walk, a single, and a run.[9] Various racial slurs were hurled at Robinson by the fans. Pee Wee Reese put his hand on Robinson's shoulder to hush the crowd.[10] 46,572 paying fans (while there were 20,000 fans outside) on May 18 came to Chicago's Wrigley Field to see Robinson play against the Cubs. The Dodgers won by a score of 4–2.[11]
Against the Pirates on June 24, Robinson stole home plate for the first time in his career.[12] The Pirates catcher was Dixie Howell, who had started the season in Brooklyn's farm system.
The Dodgers had five players selected to the All-Star Game: Dixie Walker, Ralph Branca, Bruce Edwards, Eddie Stanky, and Pee Wee Reese.
On August 20, St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Enos Slaughter stepped on Robinson’s foot and it got injured. He fell down to the ground and all of his teammates stood up for him and shouted back at the Cardinals.
On September 11, Cardinals catcher Joe Garagiola and Robinson were involved in an incident at home plate. Garagiola stepped on Robinson's foot and the two started arguing. Umpire Beans Reardon held back Garagiola while Robinson clapped.[13] The incident was later part of a children's book titled In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord. Against the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 17, Robinson hit a home run off Fritz Ostermueller. The Dodgers won the NL Pennant, sending them to the World Series.
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Mobile, Pueblo, Nashua, Spokane, Greenwood, Zanesville
