Freeway Series
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The term Freeway Series refers to a series of baseball games played between Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League and the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League. The series takes its name from the massive freeway system in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, the home of both teams and the fact that both of the teams' stadiums are near Interstate 5. The term is akin to Subway Series which refers to meetings between New York City teams, including the Dodgers when they played in Brooklyn.
The first exhibition game between the two clubs (won by the Angels) was played in 1962 in Palm Springs, at the time the spring training home of the Angels. The first actual series was played at Dodger Stadium April 6-7, 1963. The Angels won both of the two games played. After Interleague Play began, the games took on new meaning and sparked more interest. Fans at the first game of a three game series between the two teams at Dodger Stadium displayed signs and shirts that made fun of the Angels' name change by reading, "The Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles". In addition, ticket stubs read, "Anaheim Angels vs Los Angeles Dodgers".
Throughout the 2005 season, Dodger Stadium listed the Angels as ANA on its out-of-town scoreboard and team schedules, as it was prior to Angels' name change, whereas every other Major League team listed the Angels as "LAA". However, the Dodgers now post "LAA" on both their scoreboard and schedules. Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully refers to the team as just the Angels when mentioning them on the air.
Regular- and post-season games between the two teams take place at either Angel Stadium or Dodger Stadium. Under current rules, the designated hitter rule is in effect when the Angels are the home team. The two stadiums are located approximately 30 miles apart. [1]
