Founding as Brooklyn Atlantics
The original kings of the Flatbush diamond who forged Brooklyn's baseball soul.
Before the Dodgers wore blue in Los Angeles, there were the Atlantics—the first true kings of Brooklyn baseball. Founded in 1855 (joining the NABBP in 1857), they established a competitive culture in Flatbush that would eventually birth the Dodgers dynasty, even though they are not the direct corporate predecessor to the modern franchise.
- Era
- 1855–1872
- Location
- Brooklyn, New York
- Primary League
- National Association of Base Ball Players
- Status
- Defunct / Historical Predecessor
- Legacy
- Pioneered early paid play in Brooklyn
Lore & Background
Their reign began in earnest when they broke the amateur mold, becoming one of the first teams to openly pay players. This innovation turned games into spectacles at the Capitoline Grounds, located at Third Street and Fourth Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn, drawing crowds that dwarfed other New York clubs. While play was suspended during the Civil War, the club resumed in 1865 and continued its dominance until finally folding after the 1872 season, leaving a legacy of early professionalism rather than an abrupt end in 1864.
In Their Own Story
On those humid evenings at the Capitoline Grounds, the crowd didn't just watch; they worshipped. Thousands packed the dirt infield to witness a radical shift in American sport: paid professionals playing with a ferocity usually reserved for amateurs. As the pitcher wound up and the bat connected, it wasn't merely a game being played—it was Brooklyn's identity taking shape on the diamond, setting a standard of excellence that future Superbas and Dodgers would strive to match.
Reader's Guide
**The Era of the Atlantics (1857–1862)** is where Brooklyn baseball learned to walk before it could run. This window captures the critical transition from amateur clubs to paid professionals, proving that spectators would pay to watch talent. Without the infrastructure and loyalty established here, the later success of the Grays and the eventual rise of the Dodgers lacks its bedrock. It was during these years that Flatbush claimed baseball as its own, creating a legacy of resilience that survived the Civil War and echoed through every franchise name change that followed.
Did You Know?
- Founded in 1855 (joining the NABBP in 1857), the Atlantics were among the first clubs to pay players, though professional baseball is canonically recognized as formally established by the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1869
- They played at the Capitoline Grounds, a historic site situated at Third Street and Fourth Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn.
- Although play was suspended during the Civil War, the club resumed in 1865 and continued until folding after the 1872 season, defying early claims that they ceased operations around 1864.
- Although they are not the direct corporate ancestor of the Dodgers, their legacy is often cited as the spiritual beginning of Brooklyn baseball.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Brooklyn Atlantics?
They were a dominant early baseball club in Flatbush that helped establish professional culture before the modern franchise existed. While not the direct corporate ancestor, they are celebrated as the foundational powerhouses of Brooklyn baseball during the late 1850s.
When did this team exist?
The Atlantics played from 1857 to 1862 under the National Association of Base Ball Players. This timeline places them decades before the official lineage of the Los Angeles Dodgers began.
Are they part of the official franchise history?
The current organization claims lineage from the Brooklyn Grays rather than this specific club. Nevertheless, historians recognize the Atlantics for creating the professional environment that eventually birthed the Dodgers dynasty.
Where were they based?
Their operations were centered in Brooklyn, New York, specifically within the Flatbush neighborhood. This location served as a foundational hub for early baseball development before the legacy moved west.
What is their main legacy?
They are remembered as the pioneers who built the spirit of the game in their local neighborhood. Although now defunct, their cultural impact paved the way for future professional success in the region.