While the Los Angeles Dodgers biggest rivals will always be the San Francisco Giants, they also have a rivalry with the Arizona Diamondbacks that’s intensified in recent years.
Aside from the usual tension that comes with playing in the same division, matters between the two clubs escalated in 2013 when a benches-clearing brawl broke out.
It began with Ian Kennedy throwing at Zack Greinke’s head, and included former Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire grabbing then-Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson by the jersey and doing the same to D-Backs third base coach Matt Williams.
The rivalry added another layer in September of that year when Los Angeles clinched the National League West at Chase Field and carried their celebration into the stadium’s pool.
Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall, who spent 12 seasons with the Dodgers and is renowned for his celebrity impersonations, recently did one of Donald Trump. Speaking as the presidential candidate, Hall spoke of building a wall to keep Dodgers fans away, via The Arizona Republic:
Hall’s comments were certainly made in jest, but it’s no secret the Diamondbacks have asked Dodgers fans sitting behind home plate and/or in seats visible on television to change out of their Dodger gear or be moved.
While Los Angeles have gotten the most of the rivalry, as they are 37-20 against the Diamondbacks since the start of 2013, Arizona lured Greinke away in effort to position themselves as a formidable threat to win the NL West.
The first series between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers begins April 12 at Dodger Stadium.
