The World Series matchup between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers is shaping up to be a highly anticipated event, reminiscent of baseball’s golden age while highlighting today’s top talent.
These two teams hail from Major League Baseball’s largest markets and have strong financial backing, with the Yankees boasting the second-largest payroll and the Dodgers the fifth. Their meeting marks the twelfth World Series clash between them, the most by any two teams in history.
In previous decades, baseball legends like Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Roy Campanella, and Jackie Robinson lit up the field. Now, in 2024, that star power is echoed by current superstars.
Shohei Ohtani, who has made history with a season featuring both 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, showcased his dramatic flair with a three-run homer in his postseason debut. Ohtani is among the roster of stars added to the Dodgers during an offseason overhaul that cost around $1 billion, along with pitching sensations Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow.
On the Yankees’ side, general manager Brian Cashman made headlines by signing 25-year-old sensation Juan Soto, regarded as one of the most complete hitters in the league. Soto excelled with a career-best season, hitting 41 home runs and driving in 109 runs. He played a pivotal role in advancing the Yankees to the World Series, delivering a memorable performance against the Cleveland Guardians by hitting a decisive home run in extra innings.
Both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are making their World Series debuts despite already having impressive resumes as former MVPs and strong contenders for the award again this season. Judge came close to a Triple Crown with a .322 batting average, 58 home runs, and 144 RBIs, while Ohtani posted a .310 average, 54 home runs, and 130 RBIs.
Judge expressed the joy of reaching the World Series, stating, “This group we have is something special,” appreciating the efforts that led to this moment.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also expressed confidence in his team, which is appearing in its fourth World Series in seven years, although they have only one championship to show from 2020. “Most importantly, they believe in each other,” Roberts said.
The playoffs have garnered significant viewer interest, reaching some of the highest TV ratings in years. The last World Series matchup between the Yankees and Dodgers occurred in 1981, with the Dodgers emerging victorious. Sports writer Tyler Kepner highlighted the long gap since these teams last faced each other in the Series, noting that for 40 years, they met 11 times and have not clashed since.
The current series also marks a rare occurrence with two elite players—Judge and Ohtani—making their World Series debuts in MVP-caliber seasons. This scenario has happened only once before, when George Brett and Mike Schmidt faced off in 1980.