History, Money and Glamour Define a New York vs. Los Angeles World Series
The New York Times
The two biggest cities in America have as many differences as similarities — including in public transportation, ballparks and payrolls
If you asked a Hollywood director or a New York writer to come up with a riveting World Series script for 2024, they would probably conjure the one we’ve got.
On the field, the New York Yankees vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers is a marquee matchup, two teams bursting with star power and a championship series rivalry going back 83 years. The Yankees are led by Aaron Judge, the gargantuan home run basher. The Dodgers have Shohei Ohtani, the smooth Japanese mega star who may be the best all-around baseball player we’ve ever seen.
No other pairing has met in the Series more than the Yankees and the Dodgers. This will be their 12th encounter, with the Yankees winning eight of the previous 11. It all started in the 1941 Fall Classic, before the Dodgers left Brooklyn, and the Yankees won the first five, until the Dodgers finally broke through in 1955 with Jackie Robinson.
When they played in 1977 and ’78, it was much like today. Both rosters glittered with stars (Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson and Catfish Hunter for New York; Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes and Reggie Smith for L.A.). The Bronx burned around them at that time, and New York was portrayed as grimy and dangerous, but the Yankees prevailed both times. The last time they met in 1981, the Dodgers finally won again.
Off the field, New York vs. L.A. suits the country’s two biggest cities, which are culturally distinct and set on opposite coasts, and like their ball clubs, loaded with history, money and glamour.
Here are three ways these crown jewels of baseball are similar yet different. And what fans can do if it feels wrong cheering for either one.
