The Dodgers and Yankees are ready for the most star-studded World Series in decades

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Even 8-year-old Charlie Freeman is excited about a Dodgers-Yankees World Series.

“He's at Universal (Studios) right now with some of his buddies, but he says, 'Dad, I can't wait for the World Series to start tomorrow,'” Los Angeles first baseman Freddie Freeman said at the final practice previously opening on Friday. “He’s on YouTube and watches all the Yankees-Dodgers videos. So you’re starting to get a sense of how big this could be.”

This will be the 12th game between the Dodgers and Yankees and the first in 43 years. The rivalry dates back to 1941, when the Dodgers played in Brooklyn and Joe DiMaggio's Yankees sought their fifth title in six years.

“You can be the best player. “You can do whatever you want,” Yankees star Juan Soto said, “but at the end of the day people remember you because you won a World Series.”

“Broadway vs. Hollywood” has produced the most successful series in decades, if not ever. The League Championship Series had its highest U.S. TV ratings since 2017, and those are dwarfed by the Dodgers' viewership from Japan, driven by interest in Shohei Ohtani.

“You could easily argue that the Yankees and the Dodgers are the most followed, the most supported and the most visible on a global scale,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said.

This will likely be the first World Series with five MVPs: Ohtani, Freeman and Mookie Betts of the Dodgers and Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees. Since 1971 there hasn't even been an autumn classic with four examples.

Ohtani and Judge are the likely MVPs this year, marking the first series since San Francisco's Buster Posey and Detroit's Miguel Cabrera in 2012. This will be the first series with two 50-home run hitters in Judge (58) and Ohtani (54).

In an age of ever-increasing playoff numbers, this is only the fifth World Series since the Wild Card era began in 1995 to feature the teams with the best records in each league.

“I will definitely feel how special it is,” Ohtani said through an interpreter.

Players practiced in 85-degree temperatures as the sun illuminated Dodger Stadium's sky blue, yellow, bright orange and sea foam green seats. Freeman, slowed by an ankle injury, insisted he will play in the opener.

As the Dodgers seek their eighth title and second in five years, the Yankees are back in the World Series for the first time since winning at No. 27 in 2009.

“This is where the real fun begins,” Judge said.

The judge realizes that a title is necessary to be one of the Yankees' all-time greats.

“They definitely have a different aura when you walk around here when you have a few rings on your fingers,” he said. “I think the most important thing is that you can see that they are battle tested. They've been through everything. They went through ups and downs and came out victorious in the end.”

Old rivals

Roberts and Yankees manager Aaron Boone have faced off since April 3, 1992, when Roberts' UCLA Bruins defeated the UCLA Boone's Southern California Trojans 11-1 at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

“As we all know here, you are a Trojan horse for life. “You’ve been a Bruin for four years,” Boone said playfully.

When Roberts learned of Boone's shooting, he said, “Ouch!” This hurts” and “I totally disagree, 100 percent.”

Boone sent Roberts a Yankees emoji as the New York charter flight landed Wednesday.

“There was another emoji I wanted to send him with a finger, but I didn't do it,” Roberts said. “I just returned a laughing emoji.”

For starters

Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty, who starts the opener against Gerrit Cole of the Yankees, was high school teammates of Max Fried and Lucas Giolito at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. Three years ago, Flaherty was with Giolito at Minute Maid Park in Houston for World Series Game 6 to watch Fried get the win that gave the Atlanta Braves the World Series title.

“It's a weird feeling to see that,” Flaherty said, “because you're excited for one of your best friends and you're incredibly happy for him, and at the same time you're a competitor and you want to be in that situation, you want to be on that be a field.”

Flaherty is 1-2 with a 7.04 ERA in three postseason starts this year. Cole is 1-1 with a 3.31 ERA in three starts.

Like Roberts, Cole went to UCLA. The pitcher's college roots suit the Dodgers manager more than his own.

“Aaron and I don’t always agree on everything,” he said.

Memories

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner was seven years old in 1977 when the Yankees won their first title under his father George. New York clinched the title over the Dodgers with a Game 6 victory in the Bronx as Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in three consecutive swings.

“I would say my two most defining memories are Reggie's third home run and of course the last popup that (Mike) Torrez caught and the chaos that followed,” he recalled this week. “It was a great day!”

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