Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge go head to head in the 2024 World Series. Photo Credit: Los Angeles Dodgers/Facebook
Is Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts right?
Is it the World Series that everybody wanted?
For the first time since 2017 the top two teams in their respective leagues, the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League, and the New York Yankees in the American League will meet for baseball supremacy starting Friday night in California.
It’s the first time since 1981 these two storied franchises will play for the World Series.
“I’m a baseball fan first,” said Roberts, and when you’re talking about the two biggest media markets in the world, and you’re talking about the best and brightest stars in baseball on the same field, on the biggest of stages, what baseball fan, what sports fan, wouldn’t want to lock into this Series?
So for the Dodgers franchise, for the Yankees franchise, for sports fans, I just think it’s what everyone wanted.”
“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 explained.
“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.”
It will be the twelfth time the Yankees and Dodgers will play for the World Series with the Yankees having the edge winning eight of those series thus far.
And there is one somewhat local connection in the series as former St. Catharines Blue Jays General Manager Ellen Harrigan – the first female GM in professional baseball history – who’s worked with the Dodgers since 2000. Harrigan, the current Director of Baseball Administration for LA, has three World Series rings to her name.
Your Game 1 starters Friday – Jack Flaherty for the Dodgers, Gerrit Cole for the Yankees.
Here is the 2024 World Series schedule:
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 25, Dodger Stadium, 8:08 p.m. EST (Fox)
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 26, Dodger Stadium, 8:08 p.m. EST (Fox)
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 28, Yankee Stadium, 8:08 p.m. EST (Fox)
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 29, Yankee Stadium, 8:08 p.m. EST (Fox)
Game 5*: Wednesday, Oct. 30, Yankee Stadium, 8:08 p.m. EST (Fox)
Game 6*: Friday, Nov. 1, Dodger Stadium, 8:08 p.m. EST (Fox)
Game 7*: Saturday, Nov. 2, Dodger Stadium, 8:08 p.m. EST (Fox)
*if necessary
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
