The stage is set for an epic World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees. This isn't just any matchup—it's a rivalry that goes back 80 years. Freddie Freeman, a Dodgers player, shares that even his 8-year-old son is excited. "He’s watching all the videos about Yankees-Dodgers, " Freeman said.

This isn't the first time these two teams have faced off in the World Series. In fact, it's their 12th meeting, and the first since 1981. The rivalry began in 1941 when the Dodgers were based in Brooklyn and the Yankees were chasing their fifth title in six years.

"Winning a World Series is what people remember, " said Yankees star Juan Soto. Both teams are packed with talent, including five MVPs: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts from the Dodgers, and Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton from the Yankees. This is the first time a World Series has featured so many MVPs since 1971.

The hype is real. The League Championship Series had the highest U. S. TV ratings since 2017, and the Dodgers' popularity in Japan, thanks to Shohei Ohtani, has drawn even more attention. "The Yankees and Dodgers are the most followed and supported teams on a global scale, " said Dave Roberts, the Dodgers' manager.

The stakes are high. The Dodgers are chasing their eighth title, while the Yankees are in the World Series for the first time since 2009. Aaron Judge, a Yankees player, knows what it takes to be a legend: "You see that they’re battle-tested. They’ve been through it all and came out on top. "

The managers, Dave Roberts and Aaron Boone, have a history too. They faced each other back in 1992 when Roberts' UCLA Bruins beat Boone's USC Trojans. Now, they're on opposite sides in the biggest baseball event of the year.

The opening game features Jack Flaherty from the Dodgers against Gerrit Cole from the Yankees. Both pitchers have history together, having been high school teammates.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has fond memories of the 1977 World Series, when his father, George, led the team to victory. "Reggie's third home run and the final popup are my most prevalent memories, " he recalled.

World Series Showdown: Dodgers vs. Yankees in a Star-Studded Face-Off

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