The Los Angeles Dodgers punched their ticket to the World Series for a showdown with the New York Yankees, renewing one of MLB’s most historic rivalries.
The teams are set to face off in the Fall Classic for the 12th time in MLB postseason history and first since 1981.
New York won the first five head-to-head meetings before the then-Brooklyn Dodgers broke through in 1955. L.A. also won in 1963 and their most recent matchup.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who grew up in Southern California during the 1970s and 1980s, appreciates what a World Series matchup between the teams means to MLB.
“Maybe a little bit. In someways I’ve always had that sense being here, there’s an underlying craving for that,” Boone said. “Even going back the seven years now that I’ve been here, there’s always been that occasional talk about Yankees and Dodgers. I think it’s great.
“I grew up with my dad in the ’70s and ’80s, playing for the Phillies, who won a bunch of Eastern Division championships and the Dodgers sent them home in back-to-back Championship Series years for the right to play the Yankees in the Fall Classic.
“So that’s right in my wheelhouse, those teams in those days, so it’s definitely meaningful to me and not lost upon me. I’m looking forward to all of it. The stars will be out, the eyeballs will be watching and hopefully we can deliver on a great series.”
Past World Series matchups between the Dodgers and Yankees have featured some of baseball’s all-time greats such as Reggie Jackson, Tommy Lasorda, Thurman Munson and Steve Garvey, among others.
Boone appreciates all of the legends who helped make the Dodgers-Yankees rivalry what it is today. “I think of Reggie (Jackson) hitting homers and leaning into the ball on the basepaths in the rundown, and Tommy Lasorda coming out and the sound of all that,” Boone said.
“Tommy Lasorda going to the mound and hooking the guy. Just some legendary teams with Reggie and Thurman Munson, Willie Randolph, and on and on. And the Dodgers, the stars they had with their infield of (Steve) Garvey, (Davey) Lopes, (Ron) Cey, Dusty (Baker) in the outfield.
“Just iconic teams, East meets West. This is Dodgers-Yankees, Lakers-Celtics. Whatever you want to say, it has that kind of feel to it. I certainly remember those times and those teams very well.”
The upcoming World Series matchup is set to have plenty of stars too, with Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts and Juan Soto leading the way.
Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series schedule 2024
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 25, Dodger Stadium, 5:08 p.m. PT (Fox)
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 26, Dodger Stadium, 5:08 p.m. PT (Fox)
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 28, Yankee Stadium, 5:08 p.m. PT (Fox)
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 29, Yankee Stadium, 5:08 p.m. PT (Fox)
Game 5*: Wednesday, Oct. 30, Yankee Stadium, 5:08 p.m. PT (Fox)
Game 6*: Friday, Nov. 1, Dodger Stadium, 5:08 p.m. PT (Fox)
Game 7*: Saturday, Nov. 2, Dodger Stadium, 5:08 p.m. PT (Fox)
*if necessary
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