Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, the first 50HR duo, lead the New York Yankees and LA Dodgers in a blockbuster World Series clash.
The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers represent the two biggest markets in Major League Baseball. This season, the Yankees entered with the second-largest payroll, and the Dodgers with the fifth. Now, they’re set to face off for the twelfth time in the World Series—more than any other pair of teams.
Back in the day, legends like Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Roy Campanella, and Jackie Robinson led their teams.
Those historic names set the stage, and now, in 2024, a new generation of stars is shining.
Shohei Ohtani, who just made history as the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season, didn’t disappoint in his postseason debut, blasting a three-run homer.
New York Yankees’ captain Aaron Judge wrapped up the season with an MLB-leading 58 home runs, while Ohtani led the National League with 54 home runs.
Both Judge and Ohtani are stepping onto the World Series stage for the first time. Each has already won MVP awards and is in the running to win again this season.
Judge flirted with the Triple Crown, hitting .322 with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs, while Ohtani nearly matched him, batting .310 with 54 homers and 130 RBIs.
“This is sweeter — it’s even sweeter,” Judge answered via Fox Sports when asked if making it to the World Series lived up to expectations.
“This group we have is something special,” he continued. “You know, all the work they put in the offseason, the ups and downs during the regular season, there’s no better group. … That’s what you grind all season for — moments like this.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shared similar thoughts after his team knocked out the New York Mets to advance to their fourth World Series in seven years—though they’ve only won once, in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
“I’ve never believed in a group of guys more than I believe in these guys,” Roberts said, gearing up for the monumental clash. “Most importantly, they believe in each other.”
This year’s playoffs have captivated fans, with TV ratings hitting highs not seen in years.
The last time these two teams met in the World Series was 1981, when the Dodgers came out on top. Reflecting on the matchup’s rarity, Tyler Kepner, a veteran baseball writer now with The Athletic, noted:
“There was a 40- or 41-year span, from 1941 to 1981, where we saw that matchup [in the World Series] 11 times … but in the last 41 years, we haven’t had one.”
Now, with Judge and Ohtani leading these powerhouse teams, another historic moment is upon us after more than four decades.
Judge dominated MLB in numerous categories, pushing the Yankees to the best record in the American League. He led the majors in home runs (58), RBIs (144), walks (133), on-base percentage (.458), slugging (.701), OPS (1.109), and WAR (10.8). Batting .322, he also set a personal best with 180 hits.
Though Judge started the playoffs slowly, failing to hit a home run in his first five games, he has since improved, going 5-31 with two home runs in nine games. The Yankees took down the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians to claim the AL pennant.
Ohtani, MLB’s biggest star, was part of the Dodgers’ $1 billion offseason spending spree, which included adding aces Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow.
Ohtani made history as the first player ever to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. He led the NL with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs, and posted a 9.2 WAR. He also set personal bests in hits (197), doubles (38), steals (59), and batting average (.310).
Shohei Ohtani is batting .286 with three homers and 10 RBIs this postseason, helping the Dodgers overcome the San Diego Padres and New York Mets to reach the World Series.
READ MORE: 2024 NLCS MVP- Tommy Edman wins NLCS MVP as Dodgers set World Series clash with the Yankees
Image Credit: © Scott Galvin-Imagn Images and © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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