Aug. 10, 1970 : The Dodgers blew up the record book and challenged their fans' endurance during a wild doubleheader, using 35 hits to sweep the Cincinnati Reds, 7-3 and 13-3.

The Dodgers had 26 singles, seven doubles and two triples. Willie Davis, Maury Wills and Wes Parker each had five hits, Bill Russell had four and Billy Grabarkewitz and Tom Haller each had three hits. Parker, the first baseman better known for his stylish glove work, drove in two runs to give him 82 RBIs for the season. That made him the top first baseman in Los Angeles Dodger history, overtaking Gil Hodges in 1959.

It must have been a wild day, particularly in the 13-3 second game. Dodger starting pitcher Alan Foster drove in three runs. And the Reds, who were still 12 games in front of the Dodgers, used future Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench in left field and at first base as well as behind the plate. He also was thrown out of the first game. Reds Manager Sparky Anderson told The Times' John Wiebusch, "I could use him at shortstop and not be embarrassed."

–Keith Thursby

Aug. 7, 1960: The Dodgers and Yankees were on opposite sites over the topic of expansion.

We all know New York ended up with the Mets and Los Angeles gained the Angels, but things were nasty for a while.

Dan Topping, co-owner of the Yankees, said his team and several others would block expansion in 1961 if Los Angeles was not included. And Dodger owner Walter O'Malley was none too happy about the prospect of another baseball team entering his neighborhood.

"On the surface it would appear that O'Malley is eager to keep Los Angeles exclusively a National League city," Topping said. "If this is tried, I will holler plenty and I won't stop."

O'Malley told The Times' Frank Finch, "I don't think it would be fair for somebody to open another store in the same block as ours right away."

The Yankees were raising a stink in part because New York was expected to get a National League expansion team. John Drebinger of the New York Times, in a column that ran in the L.A. Times on Aug. 11, explained the Yankees' viewpoint this way:

"Neither the Yankee co-owner nor any of his colleagues mean to sit idly by letting the National League move into New York while the American League remains shut out of the lush field offered by California's Gold Coast."

–Keith Thursby