Los Angeles Dodgers
From Wrigley's ivy to Dodger Stadium's blue: A championship rivalry spanning three time zones.
For Chicago Cubs fans, the Los Angeles Dodgers represent more than just a West Coast opponent; they are the modern barrier standing between Wrigley and the World Series. This rivalry has evolved from a distant National League footnote into the central axis of NL playoff history. It is defined by two franchises with deep roots and massive followings colliding in high-stakes environments, creating a narrative arc built on shared heartbreak and eventual triumph.
- League Affiliation
- National League
- Rivalry Status
- Active and Historic
- First Postseason Meeting
- 2016 National League Championship Series
- Notable Era
- 2016-2017 Playoffs
- Geographic Span
- Midwest to West Coast
Lore & Background
The connection traces its roots to the National League's charter days in 1876 with the Chicago White Stockings (now the Cubs), but the fire was truly lit when the Dodgers joined the league in 1890 and eventually moved west in 1958. Far from being kept apart by geography, these two giants were frequent National League opponents during the regular season for decades prior to the 1994 realignment. The rivalry's modern heartbeat is defined by October collisions: the dramatic 2016 National League Championship Series (NLCS). In that classic, the Cubs rallied from a 3-1 deficit to reach the World Series, ending their title drought before meeting again in the 2017 National League Division Series (NLDS), where Los Angeles' pitching staff ultimately prevailed.
In Their Own Story
Inside Wrigley Field, the air during these October clashes is heavy with humidity and the scent of roasted peanuts. The bleachers often become a sea of blue and white as Dodger fans travel east to challenge the home crowd, creating a tense contrast against the red seats. On the mound, the tension is palpable—a physical weight pressing down on the ivy-covered walls. Every pitch here feels like more than just a game; it is another chapter in a saga written across three time zones, defined by pennants and heartbreak.
Reader's Guide
While both teams share National League heritage, they rarely met as division rivals due to geography (the Cubs never played in the NL West). Their defining moments occurred because both franchises consistently won their respective divisions—NL Central for Chicago, NL West for Los Angeles—forcing these clashes into the playoffs. The most significant encounters remain the 1981 NLDS and the back-to-back NLCS meetings of 2016 and 2017.
Did You Know?
- The Cubs and Dodgers have met in only two postseason series: the 2016 NLCS and the 2017 NLDS.
- In the 2016 NLCS, the Cubs became the first team since 1985 to come back from a 3-1 deficit in an LCS.
- While the Chicago White Stockings were charter members of the National League in 1876, the Dodgers franchise did not join the league until 1890.
- The rivalry intensified significantly after the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958, yet the teams remained frequent regular-season opponents within the National League until the 1994 divisional realignment.