Honestly, looking at the Dodgers record by year is like watching a hundred-season prestige TV drama where the writers keep changing the setting and the stakes. One decade they’re the lovable losers in Brooklyn dodging streetcars, and the next they’re a high-spending juggernaut in Chavez Ravine. They’ve been around since 1884. That’s a lot of box scores.
If you’re a fan, you know the vibe. It’s a mix of "we’re the best team in baseball" and "how did we just lose that series?" It’s Shohei Ohtani making history in 2024 and 2025, but it’s also the 1905 season where they lost 104 games. Seriously. They were called the "Superbas" back then, and they were anything but superb.
The Modern Era Dominance (2013–2025)
Let’s talk about the recent stuff because it’s basically unprecedented. Since 2013, the Dodgers haven’t just been good; they’ve been annoying for everyone else. They’ve won the NL West in 12 of the last 13 seasons.
In 2022, they hit a franchise high with 111 wins. Think about that. You play 162 games and only lose 51? That’s video game stuff. But, in true Dodger fashion, they got bounced in the NLDS by the Padres. Baseball is cruel.
The 2024 and 2025 seasons changed the narrative, though. With Ohtani and Mookie Betts at the top of the lineup, they secured back-to-back World Series titles. In 2024, they finished 98-64. In 2025, they went 93-69 and took down the Blue Jays in a seven-game thriller to keep the trophy in LA.
- 2025: 93-69 (World Series Champions)
- 2024: 98-64 (World Series Champions)
- 2022: 111-51 (The "Best Team Ever" that lost early)
- 2020: 43-17 (The COVID-shortened sprint to a title)
It’s easy to forget that before this run, the mid-2000s were a bit of a rollercoaster. 2005 was particularly rough—71 wins and 91 losses. Yikes.
Why the Brooklyn Years Still Matter
You can't really grasp the Dodgers record by year without going back to Flatbush. Before they moved to Los Angeles in 1958, they were the Brooklyn Dodgers (and the Robins, and the Grooms).
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The 1953 season was their peak in Brooklyn. They won 105 games. That lineup had Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, and Duke Snider. They were "The Boys of Summer." Even with 105 wins, they still lost the World Series to the Yankees. That happened a lot. Between 1941 and 1956, they lost the World Series to the Yankees six times.
It wasn't until 1955 that they finally "Wait 'til next year-ed" their way to a ring. They went 98-55 that year. Johnny Podres shut out the Yanks in Game 7, and the borough of Brooklyn basically exploded.
The Weird, Lean Years
Everyone loves the winning, but the losing years are fascinating in a train-wreck sort of way. In 1905, the team was a disaster. 48 wins. 104 losses. Their winning percentage was .316.
Even after moving to LA, it wasn’t always sunshine and palm trees. 1992 was the worst season in Los Angeles history. They finished 63-99. It was a weird time. Eric Karros won Rookie of the Year, but the team just couldn't buy a win. They finished 35 games out of first place.
1987 and 1986 were also twin 73-89 seasons. Then, out of nowhere, 1988 happens. They win 94 games, Kirk Gibson hits a home run on one leg, and Orel Hershiser becomes a god. That’s the magic of the record books—one year you're sub-.500, the next you're legends.
Notable Win-Loss Milestones
The franchise has played over 140 seasons. The sheer volume of data is heavy, but here are the markers that define the eras:
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The Early 1900s Slump
From 1904 to 1915, they only had two winning seasons. It was a long, dark decade of being the "other" New York team.
The Alston Era (1954–1976)
Walter Alston managed for 23 years on one-year contracts. He saw the move to LA, Sandy Koufax’s peak, and four World Series titles. Under him, the team was remarkably consistent, rarely dipping below .500 for long.
The Lasorda Years (1977–1996)
Tommy Lasorda bled Dodger Blue and it showed in the standings. He started with two straight pennants in '77 and '78 (both 90+ win seasons) and ended with a legacy of 1,599 wins.
A Quick Look at the Numbers (By Decade)
If you look at the winning percentage by decade, you see a team that has stayed relevant longer than almost anyone else in the NL.
In the 1950s, they were a powerhouse, winning 913 games total. That’s the most wins in any decade for the franchise. The 2010s were close, though, fueled by Clayton Kershaw’s prime and a massive increase in payroll.
The 2020s are currently on pace to be the most successful decade in baseball history if the Ohtani era continues at this 90-100 win clip.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People think the Dodgers have always been "The Evil Empire" of the West. Not true. For a long time, they were the scrappy underdogs. Even in the 80s, they weren't always the favorites.
Another misconception? That they "choke" every year. While the 2022 exit was brutal, their Dodgers record by year shows a team that almost always gives themselves a chance. Making the playoffs 13 years in a row isn't easy, even with a huge budget. Ask the Mets.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking these stats or betting on season totals, keep these things in mind:
- September Depth: The Dodgers historically play well in the final month. In 2025, their depth allowed them to rest stars while still grinding out wins against divisional rivals.
- Run Differential: Don't just look at the W-L. In 2022, they had a +334 run differential. That usually predicts future success better than a lucky record in one-run games.
- Historical Context: If you're a collector or historian, the 1955 (Brooklyn's only title) and 1959 (LA's first title) seasons are the "Holy Grail" years for memorabilia and research.
The Dodgers aren't just a baseball team; they’re a statistical anomaly that has survived through three different centuries. Whether they’re winning 111 games or 48, the history is written in every win and loss.
To dig deeper into specific player impacts on these records, check out the official MLB historical archives or Baseball-Reference for a game-by-game breakdown of the legendary 2024-2025 repeat.