The only people happier than Yankees and Dodgers fans right now is Rob Manfred and Fox executives. Major League Baseball has its dream World Series matchup, the Celtics-Lakers or Steelers-Cowboys of baseball. The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers will renew their rivalry and meet in the World Series for the first time since 1981.

The Yankees took care of the Guardians in five games in an entertaining series. Juan Soto hit a 3-run homer in Game 5 in Cleveland to give the Yankees their first pennant since 2009. The 15-year drought between World Series appearances tie the longest pennant drought in franchise history. Since 2009, when the Yankees beat the Phillies in the World Series, 16 different franchises have won pennants and 10 different teams have won a World Series. The Yankees will look to get a North American sports record 28th championship. 

The Dodgers beat the Mets 4 games to 2. Los Angeles had an offensive explosion. The Dodgers have now won 4 pennants in the last 8 seasons. But they lost to the Astros in 2017, the Red Sox in 2018, and beat the Rays at the Texas bubble in the COVID-shortened 2020 season to win their first title since 1988. The Dodgers will try to win their first “regular” title since 1988 and eighth overall.

The Yankees and Dodgers have met 11 times in the World Series from 1941-1981 with the Yankees winning 8 times. A rivalry that started in the boroughs of Brooklyn and the Bronx will now play out nationally from coast to coast once more. 

It’s not just the history, but this series will feature baseball’s biggest stars. The two biggest stars, and presumably two 2024 MVPs, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, will each make their first World Series appearances. Their supporting casts are more like lead actors. The Yankees lineup also boasts Soto and red-hot Giancarlo Stanton, while the Dodgers have Mookie Betts, and, even though he’s hobbled, Freddie Freeman. It is a true Fall Classic. 

And this World Series will either be made for Broadway, or a Hollywood ending. 

Staff Picks

Colin’s pick: Yankees in 6
Matt’s pick: Dodgers in 7
Matt O’s pick: Dodgers in 6
Diamond’s pick: Dodgers in 5