The finale is coming up in Major League Baseball: the eternal derby between the LA Dodgers and the New York Yankees. The new edition of an old rivalry has what it takes to be a blockbuster.
They have the first small duel before the big exchange of blows Los Angeles Dodgers against the New York Yankees already lost: Shortly before the start of the World Series The baseball with which Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani celebrated his 50th birthday was brought to auction. Homerun of the season, grossed $4.39 million.
record for a ball, Peanuts but that compares to the $24.1 million that a Yankees legend Babe Ruth’s 1932 Finals jersey fetched in August.
Lucrative times
Ohtani, currently the best baseball player in the world, has a decisive advantage over Ruth, the most famous player in history. In contrast to the super-figure of the US national sport, who died in 1948, the Japanese is lively and is bathing in the world thanks to the salary explosion Major League Baseball in the money: his contract with the Dodgers brings him $700 million.
But he can’t buy the championship title with that – Ohtani has to win it from Friday in his first final series against the Yankees. Then it’s “Sho-Time” – and the new edition of an old rivalry has what it takes to be a blockbuster.
Shortly before the goal
“I feel blessed and grateful”said Ohtani after the Dodgers took part in a thrilling Finals series National League against the San Diego Padres had enforced. The 30-year-old had six years with his city rival Los Angeles Angels die Playoffs missed, now: World Series.
“I’ve finally reached this level”said is: “That’s what I imagined when I signed.” It’s a dream finale. Ohtani, equally outstanding as a pitcher and hitter, but this year only as a pitcher due to a throwing arm injury “Batter” ready to play, meets Aaron Judge, paid $40 million per year until 2031.
Both have had a huge season. And: Dodgers against Yankees is the classic, for the twelfth time since 1903 they are playing for the title – a record.
Former New York feud
The last time the two teams met was in 1981, and the Dodgers won. What makes the rivalry even more exciting is that the Dodgers, founded in 1883, come from the New York district Brooklyntheir nickname indicates that their fans dodge trams on the way to the stadium (“dodge”) had to.
They were popular and featured icon Jackie Robinson, the first black man in the MLB, but they didn’t win the World Series until 1955 – in their eleventh attempt and in their sixth duel with the Yankees. In 1958 the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.
The Yankees stayed where they were: in the New York district Bronx. They had dazzling stars like Joe DiMaggio, who later married Marilyn Monroe, and more money than anyone else, which is why they always had the best players – and… “evil empire” became.
You can (not) buy success?
The Yankees have won the World Series 27 times, but the last time was 15 years ago. The Dodgers invested $1.3 billion in new contracts over the winter to win their first “real” title since 1988 (the 2020 championship is considered inferior due to Corona restrictions).
Of course, this is not a guarantee for a seventh triumph, especially not against the Yankees: of their eleven duels for the “Commissioner’s Trophy” the Dodgers only won three.
However, this time they have Ohtani. “His season,” wrote the “Japan Times,” resembles “a Hollywood film.” The only thing missing from the blockbuster is a happy ending.
