The 12th World Series matchup between the Yankees and the Dodgers should probably be telecast in black and white for old times’ sake.
This was sports’ biggest postseason rivalry from the 1940s to the early ’60s and was rekindled again in the late 1970s for a new generation of fans to enjoy.
It’s not just the great players like Jackie Robinson, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax, Duke Snider and Reggie Jackson who made it what it is, but relatively obscure players like Al Gionfriddo, Cookie Lavagetto, Bucky Dent and Brian Doyle who also left their mark on the biggest stage, becoming legends of October.
This edition features the two biggest names in baseball, the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, both of whom figure to be named the Most Valuable Player of their respective leagues.
It’s arguably the greatest superstar matchup in a championship series since the 1991 NBA Finals pitting Michael Jordan against Magic Johnson, who coincidentally is now a part-owner of the Dodgers. The Bulls won in six games for their first title, and Jordan was named Finals MVP. The NBA issued 650 media credentials for Game 1 of the Bulls-Lakers Finals at the old Chicago Stadium, and with Ohtani being an international star, this showdown could be even bigger.
Resale ticket prices are off the charts, with the minimum over $1,300 for Game 1. Ratings figure to be enormous, at least compared to recent World Series viewership. Could it reach the average of 40 million viewers who tuned in to watch Game 7 of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland?
Here’s what to know heading into Friday’s opener in Los Angeles.
Fernandomania revisited: The death of former Dodgers icon Fernando Valenzuela on Tuesday was a stunning prelude to the resumption of the storied rivalry, much like the death of Willie Mays before the Rickwood Field game honoring the Negro Leagues back in June. Valenzuela played a part in Dodgers-Yankees lore, throwing 147 pitches in a complete game, 5-4 win in Game 3 of the 1981 World Series at Dodger Stadium, capping his brilliant rookie season that introduced “Fernandomania” to the lexicon. The Dodgers went on to win in six games in what was their last Series matchup against the Yankees for 43 years. Commissioner Rob Manfred said Valenzuela would be honored during the series at Dodger Stadium.
Shotime: It’s here where I’m obligated to point out that Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said last year: “Look, we’re not going to be in the Ohtani race, I’ll tell you that right now.” He then chuckled. Ohtani signed a $700 million deal with all but $20 million deferred, meaning he’s paid only $2 million per year from 2024-33. Reinsdorf, however, did get into the Mike Clevinger “race,” bringing back the controversial starter no one else wanted for one year and $3 million, or $1 million more than Ohtani. Reinsdorf then watched Clevinger compile a 6.75 ERA while throwing only 16 innings before injuries ended his season. Ohtani, meanwhile, led the National League with 54 home runs, 130 RBI and a 1,036 OPS, before posting a 1.185 OPS against the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. Chuckle, chuckle.
All Rise: Reggie Jackson was the self-anointed “straw that stirs the drink” for those great Yankees teams of the late 1970s, while the humble Judge is simply the best home run hitter of his generation who defers to his teammates. He led the majors with 58 home runs this season, two years after setting an American League record with 62 in ’22. But Judge still has work to do to become as legendary as Jackson, who was dubbed “Mr. October” with his three-home-run performance against the Dodgers’ Charlie Hough in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. In five World Series appearances with the Oakland A’s and Yankees, Jackson hit 10 home runs and batted .357 with a 1.212 OPS. Judge, making his first Series appearance, is hitting .167 this postseason with two home runs and has a .203 average with 15 home runs in 53 postseason games. Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton have picked him up, but this is Judge’s chance to prove he’s a clutch hitter.
Ex-Cub Factor: According to writer Ron Berler, the inventor of the Ex-Cub Factor theory which states any team with three or more ex-Cubs is doomed to lose the World Series, the ECF has worked twice since the Cubs’ 2016 title: losses by the 2019 Houston Astros and 2022 Philadelphia Phillies. This year’s rosters have not been revealed, but the Yankees have four ex-Cubs in Anthony Rizzo, Mark Leiter Jr., Marcus Stroman and DJ LeMahieu, plus the injured Scott Efross. The Dodgers have none, having released Jason Heyward in late August. Advantage, Dodgers?
Ex-Sox Factor: There is no known theory about having too many ex-White Sox players on the World Series roster, but just in case, the Yankees have pitchers Carlos Rodón, Ian Hamilton, Tommy Kahnle and Tim Hill, who was released by the Sox on June 18 with a 7.43 ERA, and had a 2.66 ERA with the Yankees. The Dodgers have pitchers Michael Kopech, Brent Honeywell Jr. and Joe Kelly, who has been sidelined with a right shoulder injury but could return for the Series.
Star Factor: Brad Pitt, Jason Bateman, Denzel Washington and Rob Lowe are among the many Hollywood celebrities shown by Fox at Dodgers games this postseason. Fox usually fails to mention the biggest celebrity Dodgers fan of them all, “Entertainment Tonight” veteran Mary Hart, who sits in the front row at just about every home game. The Yankees will no doubt trot out the ubiquitous Spike Lee, fresh off his performance at the WNBA Finals, where he was seen down on his hands and knees watching the action during the end of Game 5 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Trump Factor: Will the former president and GOP nominee give in to the temptation of inserting himself into a World Series game at Yankee Stadium just before the Nov. 5 election? Trump considers himself a big Yankees fan, and after Dr. Anthony Fauci threw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium in 2020, Trump announced he also was going to throw out a first pitch. He then canceled after the Yankees revealed there were no plans for him to do so.
Who will win? The Dodgers open as a slight favorite at -125 on ESPN BET. Twelve of 19 members of The Athletic’s baseball writing staff (63%) picked the Yankees. The Chicago Tribune’s three baseball writers are split: LaMond Pope has the Dodgers in six; Meghan Montemurro and I are taking the Yankees in seven.
