Best Dodgers team poll, round one: 1974 L.A. vs. 1949 Brooklyn

The Dodgers have had many great teams in their long history, but which was the best? On the heels of Times readers' picking the all-time best Dodgers at each position, we now ask you to decide the best overall team in Dodgers history.

The best 16 Dodgers teams of all time have been chosen and matched in an NCAA-tournament-style bracket, with your votes deciding the winner. The six Dodgers World Series champions get the top six seeds, with 10 other Dodgers teams filling out the remainder of the field. Starting today, you will be able to vote for one matchup each weekday until we eventually have a winner.

Today's final first-round matchup: the eighth-seeded 1974 L.A. Dodgers vs. the ninth-seeded 1949 Brooklyn Dodges. Take a look at both teams, then vote in our poll:

No. 8: 1974 L.A. Dodgers (102-60, lost in World Series): Steve Garvey (.312, 21, 111) was league MVP though you could argue that teammate Jimmy Wynn (.271, 32, 108) deserved it. On the mound, Mike Marshall (15-12, 21 saves) pitched in an astounding 106 games and won the Cy Young Award and Andy Messersmith was a 20-game winner.

No. 9: 1949 Brooklyn Dodgers (97-57, lost in World Series): Look at this lineup: Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Billy Cox, Duke Snider, Gene Hermanski, Carl Furillo. Back that up with Don Newcombe and Preacher Roe and you have a great team.