Fact is, if you cut me, I bleed Dodger blue.

It is also with pride that I can say that I started following the Dodgers when they were still in Brooklyn. At the age of six, in 1955, I watched my first World Series on television and there were two teams playing, the Dodgers and the Yankees. Now, no self-respecting boy from Alabama could fathom rooting for the Yanks. At age six, I wasn’t sure what a Yankee was, but I was fairly certain it was not something good. As a result, I latched on to the Dodgers like a Pit Bull, and I haven’t let go since.

It should be noted also that the Dodgers beat New York in the ’55 Fall Classic. I was elated, but quickly brought back to earth the following year when, paced by Don Larsen’s perfect game, the Yankees defeated the Dodgers in the Series.

I don’t remember too much about that old Dodger team, other than stars like Duke Snyder, Pee Wee Reece and Gil Hodges. The “Boys of Summer,” as the Dodgers from the ‘50’s were often called, were fading fast. After the team moved to LA in 1958, and I became a little older, I really began to study the team.

My recollection of the Dodgers from the early ‘60’s is filled with nostalgia for players like Maury Wills, Jim “Junior” Gilliam, Willie and Tommy Davis, Don Drysdale and, of course, Sandy Koufax. This collection of Boys in Blue made it back to the Series in ‘63, ‘65, and ’66, meeting the Yankees, the Twins and the Orioles, respectively.

My favorite group of Dodgers, however, came of age in the mid-to-late ‘70’s. Managed by the irrepressible Tommy Lasorda, this team was loaded and featured an infield that played together for over 10 years.

Los Angeles’ inner defense played together in the minor leagues and all reached the majors about the same time. This infield eventually became synonymous with the words teamwork and consistency.

Steve Garvey anchored first base and provided solid offense as well. Garvey, in fact, played in over 1,200 consecutive games, and was considered to be the best defensive first baseman of his era. With forearms like Popeye, Garvey hit for both power and average and was one of the best clutch hitters in baseball.

Los Angeles had a rather unheralded double play combination, but what these two players lacked in publicity, they more than made up for in talent. Davey Lopes played second base in a solid if not spectacular manner and was an offense power threat as well, something very unusual for a second sacker in those days. Bill Russell manned shortstop and possessed soft hands, range and a strong arm. Together, Russell and Lopes gave the Dodgers solid defense up the middle.

Ron Cey played third base and Cey was, to say the least, an interesting character. Built like an inverted pyramid, Cey was known as “The Penguin” and he looked the part. Short, stocky and muscular, Cey was great both in the field and at the plate.

These Dodgers made it to the Series in 1977, 1978 and 1981. As usual, they played the Yankees all three times. New York won in ’77 and ’78, but the Dodgers came through in ’81, defeating the heavily favored Bronx Bombers.

Last season Los Angeles bottomed out. The team, beset by injuries and bad trades, lost 93 games, the most by a Dodger team since the move to the West Coast. Manager Jim Tracy was fired and now manages the Pirates.

This season appears to be a more positive one. Los Angeles is nipping on the heels of first-place Arizona in the National League West and is loaded with young talent. The Dodgers’ performance thus far is remarkable, considering the team has eight key players on the Disabled List. Still, new manager Grady Little has the team playing like the Dodger teams of old. Los Angeles should only get better as stars like Eric Gagne, Bill Mueller and Cesar Izturis return to health.

Will LA have enough horses to get the Dodgers back into the post-season? Stay tuned.