Never a dull moment

A look at some of the memorable moments in the Dodgers-Giants rivalry:

1934

* Before the season, a reporter asks New York Giants Manager Bill Terry to sum up the competition. Terry neglects to mention the perennial league doormat Brooklyn Dodgers and is asked, “What about Brooklyn?” Terry’s response: “Brooklyn? Are they still in the league?” With two games to go in the season, the Giants are tied with St. Louis for first place. Both of the Giants’ games are against Brooklyn. The Dodgers win both games, proving they were indeed still in the league.

1951

* Perhaps the most famous home run in baseball history. In the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 3 of a playoff series to determine the National League pennant winner, Bobby Thomson homers against Ralph Branca. “The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!”

1962

* Another three-game playoff series to determine the NL champion. The Dodgers’ main threat is Maury Wills, who stole a record 104 bases that season. Before Game 1, the Giants heavily water the dirt around first base to stop Wills from stealing. The Giants win Game 1, 8-0, and win Game 3, 6-4, to go on to the World Series.

1965

* Juan Marichal of the Giants gets mad when Dodgers catcher John Roseboro almost hits him with a throw when returning the ball to pitcher Sandy Koufax. Marichal takes his bat and hits Roseboro across the head in one of the ugliest scenes in baseball history.

1982

* The Dodgers need to win the final game of the season to force a one-game playoff with the Atlanta Braves. With the score tied, 2-2, and two men on in the bottom of the seventh inning, second baseman Joe Morgan hits a three-run homer against Terry Forster and the Giants go on to win, 5-3.

1991

* The Dodgers begin the final weekend tied with Atlanta for first place, but lose two of three to the Giants in San Francisco to finish one game back when the season ends.

1993

* In the final season before the wild-card spot is introduced, the Giants need to defeat the Dodgers on the last day of the season to force a one-game playoff with the Braves for the NL West title. Rookie Mike Piazza hits two long home runs and the Dodgers win, 12-1.

2001

* The Giants go into the final weekend of the season two games behind Arizona with three games to play, all against the Dodgers. Needing a sweep, the Giants lose two of three games and are eliminated from postseason contention. Barry Bonds does manage to set the season home run record during the series, hitting homers 71, 72 and 73.

2004

* The Giants are two games behind the Dodgers with two to play, both against L.A. With a chance to cut the lead to one game, the Giants take a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. The Dodgers tie the score on two singles, three walks and an error, bringing Steve Finley to the plate with one out and the bases loaded. Finley hits a grand slam to right field, giving the Dodgers the game and the division title.