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.
Offseason October 2, 1946: Steve Nagy was purchased from the Dodgers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. October 19, 1946: Art Herring was purchased from the Dodgers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. December 4, 1946: Augie Galan was traded by the Dodgers to the Cincinnati Reds for Ed Heusser. December 5, 1946: Eddie Basinski was traded by the Dodgers to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Al Gerheauser. Prior to 1947 season: Marion Fricano was signed as an amateur free agent by the Dodgers.
Regular season 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.Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season, p. 231, Jonathan Eig, Simon & Schuster, 2007, New York, On the road, the Dodgers drew 1.9 million paying fans, also a National League record at that time.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
|- bgcolor=#bfb | 1 || April 15 || Braves || 5–3 || Gregg (1–0) || Sain (0–1) || Casey (1) || 26,623 || 1–0 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 2 || April 17 || Braves || 12–6 || Higbe (1–0) || Cooper (0–1) || Casey (2) || 10,252 || 2–0 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 3 || April 18 || @ Giants || 4–10 || Koslo (1–0) || Lombardi (0–1) || || 37,546 || 2–1 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 4 || April 19 || @ Giants || 3–4 || Voiselle (1-1) || Branca (0–1) || || 52,355 || 2-2 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 5 || April 22 || Phillies || 1–0 || Gregg (2–0) || Leonard (1-1) || || 9,790 || 3–2 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 6 || April 23 || Phillies || 5–2 || Hatten (1–0) || Judd (0–2) || || 8,812 || 4–2 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 7 || April 24 || Phillies || 2–0 || Branca (1-1) || Hughes (0–2) || Casey (3) || 11,654 || 5–2 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 8 || April 26 || Giants || 7–3 || Lombardi (1-1) || Voiselle (1–2) || || 33,565 || 6–2 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 9 || April 27 || Giants || 9–8 || Casey (1–0) || Thompson (0–1) || || 31,675 || 7–2 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 10 || April 29 || Cubs || 10–6 || Hatten (2–0) || Wyse (1–2) || Casey (4) || 22,030 || 8–2 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 11 || April 30 || Cubs || 1–3 || Lade (1–0) || Branca (1–2) || || 20,140 || 8–3
|- bgcolor=#bfb | 12 || May 1 || Cubs || 5–2 || Higbe (2–0) || Chipman (2–1) || Chandler (1) || 11,533 || 9–3 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 13 || May 6 || Cardinals || 7–6 || Casey (2–0) || Grodzicki (0–1) || || 18,971 || 10–3 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 14 || May 7 || Cardinals || 1–2 || Pollet (1–3) || Lombardi (1–2) || || 11,435 || 10–4 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 15 || May 8 || Cardinals || 1–5 || Brecheen (3–1) || Branca (1–3) || || 32,328 || 10–5 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 16 || May 9 || @ Phillies || 5–6 (11) || Leonard (4–1) || Casey (2–1) || || 22,680 || 10–6 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 17 || May 10 || @ Phillies || 4–2 || Hatten (3–0) || Hughes (0–5) || || 15,556 || 11–6 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 18 || May 11 || @ Phillies || 3–7 || Leonard (5–1) || Lombardi (1–3) || || -- || 11–7 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 19 || May 11 || @ Phillies || 4–5 || Rowe (5–0) || Chandler (0–1) || Heintzelman (1) || 40,952 || 11–8 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 20 || May 12 || Braves || 8–3 || Branca (2–3) || Cooper (1–3) || || 19,661 || 12–8 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 21 || May 13 || @ Reds || 5–7 || Vander Meer (1-1) || Taylor (0–1) || Gumbert (2) || 27,164 || 12–9 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 22 || May 14 || @ Reds || 0–2 || Blackwell (4–2) || Hatten (3–1) || || 6,688 || 12–10 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 23 || May 15 || @ Pirates || 3–7 || Bahr (3–1) || Lombardi (1–4) || Bonham (2) || 13,471 || 12–11 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 24 || May 16 || @ Pirates || 3–1 || Branca (3-3) || Higbe (2-2) || Casey (5) || 34,184 || 13–11 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 25 || May 17 || @ Pirates || 0–4 || Ostermueller (3–1) || Melton (0–1) || || 17,673 || 13–12 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 26 || May 18 || @ Cubs || 4–2 || Hatten (4–1) || Schmitz (3-3) || Casey (6) || 46,572 || 14–12 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 27 || May 19 || @ Cubs || 7–8 || Erickson (1-1) || Gregg (2–1) || Schmitz (3) || 21,875 || 14–13 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 28 || May 21 || @ Cardinals || 4–3 (10) || Casey (3–1) || Brecheen (4–2) || || 16,249 || 15–13 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 29 || May 23 || Phillies || 5–4 || Barney (1–0) || Leonard (6–2) || Casey (7) || 33,136 || 16–13 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 30 || May 24 || Phillies || 3–4 (10) || Schmidt (1–2) || Casey (3–2) || || 23,442 || 16–14 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 31 || May 25 || Phillies || 5–3 || Hatten (5–1) || Hughes (0–6) || || 18,016 || 17–14 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 32 || May 27 || @ Giants || 7–3 || Branca (4–3) || Koslo (3–2) || || 51,780 || 18–14 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 33 || May 28 || @ Giants || 14–2 || Taylor (1-1) || Jansen (3–1) || || 28,260 || 19–14 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 34 || May 29 || @ Giants || 4–5 || Hartung (4–0) || Hatten (5–2) || Trinkle (4) || 24,274 || 19–15 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 35 || May 30 || @ Braves || 3–6 || Spahn (8–0) || Barney (1-1) || || -- || 19–16 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 36 || May 30 || @ Braves || 0–3 || Barrett (2–3) || Lombardi (1–5) || || 30,535 || 19–17 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 37 || May 31 || @ Braves || 5–0 || Branca (5–3) || Lanfranconi (0–1) || || 23,275 || 20–17
|- bgcolor=#bfb | 38 || June 1 || Cardinals || 6–1 || Taylor (2–1) || Brecheen (5–3) || || 34,109 || 21–17 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 39 || June 2 || Cardinals || 4–5 (10) || Pollet (3–6) || Branca (5–4) || || 17,719 || 21–18 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 40 || June 3 || Pirates || 11–6 || Barney (2–1) || Higbe (3–5) || Casey (8) || -- || 22–18 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 41 || June 3 || Pirates || 8–7 || Barney (3–1) || Roe (2–3) || || 27,244 || 23–18 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 42 || June 4 || Pirates || 9–4 || Branca (6–4) || Singleton (1-1) || || 32,287 || 24–18 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 43 || June 5 || Pirates || 3–0 || Taylor (3–1) || Ostermueller (4–2) || || 24,977 || 25–18 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 44 || June 6 || Cubs || 6–2 || Hatten (6–2) || Wyse (2–5) || || 31,555 || 26–18 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 45 || June 9 || Reds || 6–9 || Gumbert (5–2) || Lombardi (1–6) || Peterson (1) || 32,864 || 26–19 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 46 || June 10 || Reds || 1–3 || Blackwell (8–2) || Branca (6–5) || || -- || 26–20 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 47 || June 10 || Reds || 6–5 || Branca (7–5) || Lively (0–2) || || 33,045 || 27–20 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 48 || June 11 || Reds || 4–5 || Riddle (1–0) || Hatten (6–3) || Gumbert (4) || 18,403 || 27–21 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 49 || June 13 || @ Cardinals || 0–3 || Munger (5–1) || Taylor (3–2) || || 25,606 || 27–22 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 50 || June 14 || @ Cardinals || 3–5 || Brazle (5–3) || Branca (7–6) || || 9,190 || 27–23 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 51 || June 14 || @ Cardinals || 2–12 || Brecheen (8–3) || Barney (3–2) || || 26,005 || 27–24 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 52 || June 15 || @ Cardinals || 3–11 || Pollet (4–7) || Hatten (6–4) || || 29,686 || 27–25 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 53 || June 16 || @ Cubs || 2–1 || Taylor (4–2) || Lade (4–3) || || 20,097 || 28–25 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 54 || June 18 || @ Cubs || 5–3 || Hatten (7–4) || Borowy (7–3) || Casey (9) || 23,313 || 29–25 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 55 || June 19 || @ Cubs || 5–1 || Branca (8–6) || Schmitz (4–8) || || 19,932 || 30–25 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 56 || June 21 || @ Reds || 6–5 || Casey (4–2) || Gumbert (5–3) || || 11,807 || 31–25 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 57 || June 22 || @ Reds || 0–4 || Blackwell (11–2) || Hatten (7–5) || || -- || 31–26 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 58 || June 22 || @ Reds || 9–8 || Lombardi (2–6) || Walters (3–4) || Gregg (1) || 31,204 || 32–26 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 59 || June 24 || @ Pirates || 4–2 || Branca (9–6) || Ostermueller (5–4) || || 35,331 || 33–26 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 60 || June 25 || @ Pirates || 6–2 || Taylor (5–2) || Higbe (4–7) || || 10,313 || 34–26 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 61 || June 26 || Braves || 8–6 || Branca (10–6) || Johnson (2–4) || || 33,102 || 35–26 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 62 || June 27 || @ Braves || 8–5 || Barney (4–2) || Voiselle (1–5) || Behrman (1) || 35,801 || 36–26 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 63 || June 28 || @ Braves || 4–5 || Lanfranconi (1-1) || Behrman (0–3) || || 11,930 || 36–27 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 64 || June 29 || @ Giants || 4–3 || Taylor (6–2) || Iott (1-1) || || -- || 37–27 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 65 || June 29 || @ Giants || 5–9 || Trinkle (5–1) || Gregg (2-2) || || 52,147 || 37–28 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 66 || June 30 || @ Phillies || 7–4 || Barney (5–2) || Rowe (8–3) || Behrman (2) || 28,515 || 38–28
|- bgcolor=#fbb | 67 || July 1 || @ Phillies || 3–5 || Schanz (2–1) || King (0–1) || Donnelly (4) || 10,644 || 38–29 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 68 || July 2 || Giants || 11–3 || Branca (11–6) || Kennedy (6–4) || || 33,313 || 39–29 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 69 || July 3 || Giants || 2–19 || Koslo (8–4) || Gregg (2–3) || || 27,938 || 39–30 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 70 || July 4 || Giants || 16–7 (8) || Casey (5–2) || Trinkle (5–2) || Branca (1) || 20,565 || 40–30 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 71 || July 4 || Giants || 4–3 || Taylor (7–2) || M. Cooper (3–8) || || 32,332 || 41–30 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 72 || July 5 || Braves || 1–4 || Voiselle (3–5) || Lombardi (2–7) || || 20,596 || 41–31 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 73 || July 6 || Braves || 4–0 || Branca (12–6) || Barrett (6-6) || || 26,363 || 42–31 |- bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || July 8 || 14th All-Star Game || colspan=6 | American League vs. National League (Wrigley Field, Chicago) |- bgcolor=#bfb | 74 || July 10 || Cubs || 5–3 || Branca (13–6) || Borowy (8–4) || Casey (10) || -- || 43–31 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 75 || July 10 || Cubs || 4–3 (10) || Branca (14–6) || Meyer (3–2) || || 35,876 || 44–31 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 76 || July 11 || Cubs || 5–0 || Lombardi (3–7) || Passeau (0–2) || || 31,508 || 45–31 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 77 || July 12 || Cubs || 7–2 || Hatten (8–5) || Lade (6-6) || || -- || 46–31 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 78 || July 12 || Cubs || 6–5 || Casey (6–2) || Borowy (8–5) || || 27,736 || 47–31 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 79 || July 13 || Reds || 9–1 || King (1-1) || Peterson (3–7) || || 23,018 || 48–31 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 80 || July 14 || Reds || 1–9 || Lively (2-2) || Branca (14–7) || || 29,379 || 48–32 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 81 || July 15 || Pirates || 4–12 || Roe (3–7) || Taylor (7–3) || || -- || 48–33 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 82 || July 15 || Pirates || 3–9 || Bagby (3-3) || Hatten (8–6) || || 25,594 || 48–34 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 83 || July 16 || Pirates || 10–6 || Behrman (1–3) || Bonham (7–3) || Taylor (1) || 27,756 || 49–34 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 84 || July 17 || Pirates || 1–7 || Queen (1–0) || King (1–2) || || 9,133 || 49–35 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 85 || July 18 || Cardinals || 7–0 || Branca (15–7) || Munger (8–3) || || 32,734 || 50–35 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 86 || July 19 || Cardinals || 5–7 || Dickson (5–10) || Lombardi (3–8) || || 15,685 || 50–36 |- | 87 || July 20 || Cardinals || 3–3 || || || || 33,420 || 50–36 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 88 || July 21 || Reds || 7–4 || Lombardi (4–8) || Gumbert (7–6) || Behrman (3) || -- || 51–36 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 89 || July 21 || Reds || 4–3 || Hatten (9–6) || Peterson (3–8) || || 35,092 || 52–36 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 90 || July 22 || @ Reds || 12–1 || Branca (16–7) || Lively (2–4) || || 31,808 || 53–36 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 91 || July 23 || @ Reds || 5–2 || Behrman (2–3) || Raffensberger (3–7) || Casey (11) || 12,528 || 54–36 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 92 || July 24 || @ Reds || 6–1 || Lombardi (5–8) || Vander Meer (4–8) || || 13,676 || 55–36 |- bgcolor=#bfb