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Imagine only that the best team in the American League and National League are playing for the championship, and that the best player in each league is employed by the two participating teams.
More news: How To Watch Every Dodgers-Yankees Game
Welcome to the 2024 World Series, where even the most bitter Yankee and Dodger haters must concede the talent on the field this October represents baseball’s best.
Sure, Major League Baseball will offer no shortage of commercials, social media posts, and other marketing materials reminding everyone of the storied franchises and their best players. Get ready for a steady dose of reminders about Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, two of the most visible baseball players on the planet already.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 18: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on as Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Four of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Jason Miller/Getty Images
On merit, though, the World Series will pit the best active players against each other to a degree often thwarted by the randomness of the postseason. The Dodgers (98-64) and the Yankees (94-68) amassed the best regular-season record in each league on the backs of their stars.
It doesn’t often play out this way.
Judge led the AL with 58 home runs. Ohtani led the NL with 54. This Yankees-Dodgers matchup represents the first matchup of the AL and NL home run leaders since 1956, when the Yankees’ Mickey Mantle squared off against the Dodgers’ Duke Snider.
#Dodgers vs. #Yankees is their 12th World Series history.
This is the first time since 1956 that the HR leaders of both Leagues will meet in the World Series (Aaron Judge vs. Shohei Ohtani). In ’56, it was Mickey Mantle vs. Duke Snider.— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) October 21, 2024
Judge and Ohtani are also the first players with 50 home runs in a regular season to meet in the World Series.
Although he had a higher OPS (1.066), slugging percentage (.654), and on-base percentage (.412) last year with the Angels, Ohtani missed the playoffs entirely for the sixth consecutive season. The Angels never once reached the postseason with Ohtani and Mike Trout — two of the best players in the AL when healthy — from 2018-24.
The trio of Judge, Ohtani, and New York outfielder Juan Soto represent the top three players in MLB by weighted runs created plus (wRC+) during the regular season. Never before have the top three players in wRC+ met in the World Series before this year.
highest wRC+, 2024 qualified players:
Aaron Judge: 218
Shohei Ohtani: 181
Juan Soto: 180THIS IS THE FIRST WORLD SERIES TO HAVE THE TOP 3 QUALIFIED PLAYERS IN wRC+ THAT SEASON https://t.co/G9lE0HwZfh
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 21, 2024
Unlike the NBA, where balanced teams without multiple stars are the exception to the rule in the championship round, such an alignment of talent is rare in the World Series.
Depth is key in baseball — just ask Giancarlo Stanton. He averaged 33 home runs a season and a 147 OPS+ from 2010-17 with the Miami Marlins, but never once played into the postseason. Now with the Yankees, Stanton posted a 228 OPS+ in the American League Championship Series en route to winning the series’ MVP award.
Although cynics will scoff at two of the league’s highest-payrolled teams playing for the championship, a Dodgers-Yankees matchup hasn’t occurred since 1981, longer than many fans — and every player on the field — has been alive. It’s an opportunity to relish baseball’s best players being among the last men standing as the season draws to a close.
For more World Series news, visit Newsweek Sports.
