Both clubs have faced each other eleven times in the World Series – although the last duel was 43 years ago. The Dodgers won the 1981 Finals Series in six games. Current Yankees manager Aaron Boone was just eight years old at the time.
“Dodgers and Yankees are two pillars of the sport with a lot of history going back a long way. Both have faced each other many times in the World Series. It’s unbelievable that 43 years have passed since the last duel.”
Dodgers once called New York home
In the overall World Series record, the Yankees lead the Dodgers 8-3. Seven of these final series took place between 1941 and 1956. At that time, the Dodgers were still based in the New York borough of Brooklyn – and therefore neighbors of the Yankees, who come from the Bronx.
This was also the time when Dodgers player Jackie Robinson made his MLB debut on April 15, 1947. Robinson was the first black man in the league, making history and changing the trajectory of his sport forever.
Until then, blacks were banned from playing in the MLB. They were active in the Negro Leagues. Dodgers manager Branch Rickey was the first to recognize the potential of African-Americans and signed Robinson. He, in turn, was exposed to racism almost every day – not only from opponents, but also from his teammates.
Branch Rickey recalled years later that white Dodgers pros had signed a petition opposing playing with Robinson. Rickey says he responded by saying that Robinson would definitely play for the Dodgers and would be just the first of many blacks to follow him.
Big Apple vs City of Angels
In 1957 the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. Since then, the games against the Yankees have not only been about baseball, but also about New York against LA. The Big Apple against the City of Angels.
The country’s two largest metropolises, the two largest media markets, east coast versus west coast – and from a sporting perspective: a duel between the baseball giants. Above all, home run kings Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. It’s like Messi versus Ronaldo in their prime. Yankees star Judge has thrown the baseball into the stands 58 times this season, more than anyone else. Ohtani followed in second place with 54 home runs.
The Japanese came to the Dodgers in December, signing for 10 years and $700 million. It is the largest contract in sports history to date. Ohtani costs a lot, but Ohtani delivers and he pulls – especially in his baseball-crazy homeland. It was pointed out on US television that the finals in Japan will be broadcast at 9 a.m., that people will definitely be watching and that ratings will go through the roof.
And that’s why everyone agrees: Yankees vs. Dodgers could be one of the most watched playoff series in MLB history. The record dates back to 1978. At that time, an average of 44.279 million people watched the six games of the World Series. The game was: Yankees vs. Dodgers.
