Los Angeles is home to two major league baseball teams – the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels. The Dodgers are one of the most iconic franchises in baseball with a storied history dating back to their origins in Brooklyn. They have a massive fanbase in LA. It’s very common to see people around the city wearing Dodgers hats and gear. However, some fans of opposing teams may wonder if it’s safe or acceptable to wear hats and apparel supporting other teams, especially division rivals like the San Francisco Giants. This article will examine if you can wear non-Dodgers MLB gear, specifically hats, in Dodgers territory.
Brief history of the LA Dodgers
The Dodgers started as the Brooklyn Dodgers and played in New York from the late 1800s until 1957. After the ’57 season, the team relocated to Los Angeles. In their early LA years, the Dodgers played at the historic Coliseum before moving to Dodger Stadium in 1962. Dodger Stadium is still their home today.
Over the course of their long history in both New York and LA, the Dodgers have become one of baseball’s most iconic teams. Some of the game’s all-time greats have worn Dodger blue like Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Fernando Valenzuela, and Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers last won the World Series in 2020, marking their seventh championship in franchise history.
With their storied past and large market presence, the Dodgers have amassed a huge fanbase in Southern California and across the country. Showing support for the hometown team is a way of life for many LA residents.
Can you safely wear non-Dodgers gear in LA?
In general, it is perfectly safe to wear another team’s cap or apparel in Los Angeles. The city is home to many transplants who have brought their baseball allegiances with them. On any given day, you may see hats representing the Giants, Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, and many other teams being worn around LA.
However, use some caution and common sense when choosing when and where to display non-Dodgers gear. Emotions and alcohol can run high at Dodgers home games against rivals. Wearing Giants apparel to a Dodgers vs Giants game at Dodger Stadium is not recommended. The same goes for wearing any opposing team’s hats or shirts to Dodgers postseason and World Series games.
Additionally, be aware of your surroundings if wearing rival gear in Dodgers strongholds like bars and restaurants around the stadium. Most fans are peaceful, but it’s best not to provoke overly passionate supporters.
Is it frowned upon to wear non-Dodgers MLB gear in LA?
While safety is not generally a concern, social norms suggest it’s wise to largely avoid wearing non-Dodgers MLB apparel in certain scenarios out of respect for passionate Dodgers fans. Here are some guidelines on when to refrain from sporting rival team’s hats and shirts:
– At Dodgers home games, especially against division rivals like the Giants. The majority of fans will be in Dodger blue cheering loudly for the home team. Wearing opponents’ gear risks dirty looks and ridicule. Save those hats for when your team comes to town.
– At sports bars, restaurants, or other hangouts frequented by Dodger fans on game days. Many LA spots become unofficial Dodgers bars during home games. You’ll stick out in enemy colors.
– In Dodger fan majority neighborhoods like Echo Park and El Sereno. Your Giants hat won’t make you many friends.
– At celebrations like World Series victory parades attended overwhelmingly by jubilant Dodger devotees. They don’t want rival logos crashing the party.
– On dates with a Dodgers die-hard. Don your partner’s team colors to score points rather than rep your own team.
– At informal Dodger fan events like meetups organized on social media. Keep the vibe friendly by fitting in with the blue faithful.
Where and when can you safely wear non-Dodgers gear?
While Dodger devotees take over much of LA during games, there are still plenty of times and places around the city where sporting another team’s logo is fine. Here are some of the best scenarios for wearing non-Dodgers hats and apparel:
– At Angels home games when they are not playing the Dodgers. The Angels have a strong butt smaller fanbase than the Dodgers.
– At sports bars and restaurants during non-Dodgers game times or when the Dodgers are on the road.
– At public parks, tourist destinations, shopping areas, and other neutral ground around LA. Just don’t flaunt rival gear right around Dodger Stadium.
– At your team’s away games when they come to town to take on the Dodgers. Get tickets in the visiting fan sections.
– When attending games, bars, or events with fellow fans of your team. Strength in numbers makes it less likely to draw ire.
– While doing everyday activities like getting coffee, running errands, using public transportation, etc. Most fans won’t care what logo you’re wearing going about your business.
– At MLB games that don’t involve the Dodgers, like when the Giants or Padres come to face the Angels.
– During the MLB postseason when the Dodgers get eliminated. Their fans disappear quickly once the team is out.
Smart ways fans of other teams can rep their MLB gear in Dodgers territory
If you live in LA or are visiting and want to proudly support your favorite non-Dodgers MLB team without causing a stir, here are some smart guidelines:
– Only wear hats, shirts, and apparel of rival NL West teams like the Giants when not in Dodger-centric locations. Resist the urge when emotions run high.
– Avoid wearing gear of teams the Dodgers have notable rivalries with like the Giants, Yankees, Astros, Red Sox, and Cubs. Dodgers fans harbor the most distaste for these clubs.
– Opt for more neutral MLB gear from teams with no strong rivalry with LA. Items supporting the Mariners, Marlins, or other distant teams will draw little notice.
– Don’t flaunt or trash talk about your team. Discreetly showing colors is fine, but boasting will irk fans.
– If good-naturedly ribbed by Dodger supporters, take it in stride. Laugh it off rather than talk trash back.
– Consider wearing hats and shirts with only the MLB logo and no team identification. It allows you to support the sport without picking sides.
– Try sporting a Dodgers cap or non-baseball apparel on high-tension game days to better blend in with excited crowds. Temporary camouflage may be prudent.
– If attending a Dodgers game, wear Dodgers gear or non-MLB clothing to show respect for die-hards in their house. Save your home team’s hat for outside the stadium.
Are some MLB fan bases disliked more than others by Dodgers supporters?
Dodgers fans generally harbor more hostility towards gear and fans of certain teams compared to others. Based on regional rivalries and history between the franchises, here are MLB fan bases disliked most by Dodgers supporters from most to least:
| MLB Team | Level of Dislike by Dodgers Fans |
|---|---|
| San Francisco Giants | High |
| Houston Astros | High |
| New York Yankees | Moderate |
| Boston Red Sox | Moderate |
| Chicago Cubs | Moderate |
| San Diego Padres | Moderate |
| New York Mets | Mild |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | Mild |
| Philadelphia Phillies | Mild |
| All other teams | Minimal |
As the table shows, Dodgers fans really only harbor hostility towards gear of their historic and current division rivals. Any other team’s apparel is generally tolerated around LA.
Great times for non-Dodgers fans to visit LA and take in a game
If you want to visit LA to watch your favorite non-LA team take on the Dodgers without undue scrutiny, here are some ideal times:
– When the Dodgers are on a long road trip or have just left town. Their fans will be less prevalent and passionate in their absence.
– During the regular season when the Dodgers are struggling and fan interest has waned. A losing record makes their supporters less rowdy.
– At interleague play games when AL teams like the Yankees are in town. The games have a more neutral atmosphere.
– When the Dodgers play day games on weekdays. Fewer fans attend and the crowd is more low-key.
– For the Giants or other rivals, target mid-week games rather than weekend dates to avoid sellouts.
– When school is in session if possible. Weekend games when schools are out bring more lively audiences.
– At the very beginning of the season in April when fan excitement is just ramping up. Enthusiasm hasn’t reached a fever pitch yet.
– When the Dodgers have already been eliminated from playoff contention in September/October. The fanbase largely checks out once meaningless games hit.
Best practices for LA residents who are fans of other MLB teams
If you live in Dodger territory as a fan of another team, here are some dos and don’ts:
Do:
– Wear your team’s apparel and colors when doing everyday activities aroundneutral parts of town.
– Attend Dodgers home games against your team but be respectful and avoid trash talk.
– Follow coverage of your favorite team using MLB streaming packages or social media.
– Attend LA meetups and watch parties for fans of your team.
– Celebrate your team’s big wins by calling fellow fan friends or private social media groups.
– Stick to Dodgers gear or generic clothing when tensions are highest.
Don’t:
– Gloat or act obnoxious about your team’s success around Dodgers fans.
– Wear rival logos on heavy Dodgers game days at sports bars and public events.
– Trash talk LA fans even if provoked. Be the bigger person.
– Rub salt in the wound during Dodgers losses to your team.
– Display your team flags, banners, or car decals in largely Dodgers fan neighborhoods.
– Interact with unruly Dodgers fans if incidents occur. Safely remove yourself.
How strict are workplaces in LA regarding rival team apparel?
Many offices and workplaces around LA have employees supporting various MLB squads. Employers generally enforce apparel rules loosely except when Dodger team spirit comes into play:
– Generic MLB gear free of team logos is fine year-round for all employers. Hats and shirts with just the MLB logo pose no issues.
– Rival team apparel is commonly permitted outside of Dodgers game days, playoffs, and other key dates.
– Some LA workplaces implement “Dodger Days” on home game dates or big playoff matchups mandating employees wear Dodger blue. Refusal could face reprimand.
– Dodger attire is heavily pushed by LA companies during the MLB postseason whether strict policies are in place or not. Peer pressure comes into play.
– Many bosses and co-workers look down on wearing rival gear on dates the Dodgers are active, especially against hated foes. It can hurt relationships.
– The more casual the workplace environment, the more likely rival logo displays will be tolerated on non-important Dodgers dates.
– Startups and tech companies generally have more lax policies than law, finance, and traditional corporate offices. Read the room.
– If employment rights protected, disciplining workers for rival gear displays during non-crucial Dodgers game days faces legal issues.
– Government and public service jobs must allow various MLB team displays outside of limited Dodgers events per First Amendment rights.
Are Dodgers fans or LA residents generally welcoming of other team’s fans?
The majority of Dodgers supporters and LA locals are friendly, welcoming, and respectful of fans wearing other team gear and cheering rival squads. However, these factors impact local attitudes:
– Fans of Giants, Yankees, Cubs and other historic Dodger rivals may face extra scrutiny or negative reactions. Tensions run high.
– Bandwagon supporters of teams only good in recent years like Astros or Braves fans may be dismissed as frontrunners.
– Dodger fans who also heavily root for NBA’s Lakers and NFL’s Rams care more about baseball rivalries and enforcing team loyalty.
– Locals sensitive about LA being deemed less passionate than other baseball cities like New York, Boston, and Chicago push Dodger pride hardest.
– Transplants to LA clinging to old team allegiances remind longtime Dodger devotees of years when the fanbase was smaller. Old wounds get opened.
– The tech boom bringing many non-natives to LA escalated an “us vs them” attitude among Dodger faithful protecting their turf.
– Taunting, rude displays, or talking trash by rival fans provokes greater pushback. Respectful presence usually breeds goodwill.
– Winning visiting fans who loudly cheer defeating the Dodgers but don’t get obnoxious are generally tolerated. Their happiness is short-lived.
Wearing Dodgers gear in rival National League team’s cities
Just as Dodgers fans defend home turf, wearing LA logos in rival National League team’s cities also carries risks. Here’s the reception Dodgers fans can expect on the road:
| City | Treatment of Dodgers Gear |
|---|---|
| San Francisco | Highly antagonistic |
| Phoenix | Moderately unwelcome |
| San Diego | Mild animosity |
| New York | Mild annoyance |
| Chicago | Mild annoyance |
| Other cities | Indifferent or welcome |
As shown in the table, the only places particularly hostile to Dodgers fans are San Francisco and Arizona. Elsewhere, Dodgers gear may draw some boos and ribbing from home fans but nothing too malicious. Just use common sense on when to flaunt team pride based on the scenario.
Violent incidents against MLB fans in Los Angeles history
Though nearly all interactions between rival baseball fans in LA stay peaceful, unfortunately violence has occurred before:
– Two Giants fans severely beaten by Dodgers fans in the Dodger Stadium parking lot after a game in 2011. One fan sustains serious brain damage.
– A Mets fan attacked in the Dodger Stadium restroom in 2015 leaving him in a coma and with brain damage.
– A Giants fan stabbed to death by a Dodgers fan in the SF Giants’ AT&T Park parking lot after a heated argument in 2013.
– Several fights between rowdy fans during Dodgers-Angels interleague matchups over the years at both Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium resulting in arrests, injuries, and bans.
– A Brooklyn Dodgers fan shot dead by a New York Giants fan in argument at bar in Brooklyn in 1953. Another such shooting occurred in 1956.
Thankfully such disgraceful acts of violence are extremely rare in the heated Dodgers-Giants rivalry and other MLB fan bases matchups. They get heavily condemned. Most heated modern incidents end at verbal arguments or minor scuffles.
How to responsibly enjoy MLB rivalries in Los Angeles
Rivalries and trash talk make baseball fandom more passionate and fun but shouldn’t cross into hurtful or danger. Here are tips for keeping it friendly:
– Avoid excessive heckling, insults, profanity, and physical contact. Keep it clean and creative.
– Don’t allow alcohol to turn friendly ribbing into angry bile. Stay sober minded.
– Respect fans in their home stadiums. Visiting rivalry games is fine but don’t instigate trouble.
– Leave overt rival gear at home during tense games and opt for subtle displays like logo undershirts or wristbands.
– Travel in groups and look out for each other if tensions rise. Use strength in numbers.
– Report unruly behavior to security and staff early before things escalate.
– Know when good-natured ribbing has gone too far. Shake hands and make peace if so.
– Keep families and children in mind. Set a good example and keep foul language away from kids’ ears.
– Respect passion on both sides. Every fan cares deeply and deserves enjoyment.
Conclusion
Wearing a Dodgers hat or any other MLB team logo is generally safe across Los Angeles. LA is a melting pot full of diverse baseball allegiances peacefully co-existing thanks to respect and common sense. However, Dodgers fans are fiercely protective of their home turf, so repping your team requires awareness of surroundings and game day intensity. With sound judgment, people of all loyalties can enjoy America’s pastime in harmony.
