For New York, New York! Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

I never thought I would see the day when two of Major League Baseball’s most hated franchises face off against each other in the World Series. However, I am not complaining (as I am a Yankees fan), and neither should you. In fact, this might be one of the most star-studded, jam-packed with talent, hyped-up championship series the league has seen in a very long time. 

I know what they say about big market sports teams: they ruin their respective leagues by throwing all sorts of money towards big-name free agents, they’re unfair because they don’t give the smaller market teams a chance to snag a superstar. 

Sho-Time in the World Series! Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images

But let’s be honest, if the Oakland (I guess soon to be Sacramento, and then Vegas in 2027) Athletics had more than $700 million to offer Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, who left the significantly worse other LA team (sorry Angels fans) to sign with their crosstown rival, wouldn’t they have done it already? 

Also, team rebuilding 101, if you can’t sign big-time players, building your team through the draft is key. If you can’t do that, you’re screwed. Really there’s no excuse for being a terrible franchise in today’s era with the influx of generational talent pouring into the MLB year by year.

But I’m not here to exactly dog on the Athletics and Angels for their poor franchise management; that’s an article for another day. I am here to provide my insight on why this year’s World Series matchup is going to be one for the ages.

Sliding into second like there’s no tomorrow! Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images

First of all, you have the top two overall players in baseball playing against each other in this matchup. The Yankees’ own MLB home run leader Aaron Judge (.322 BA, 58 HR, 144 RBI) at center field, versus in my personal opinion the greatest MLB player I’ve ever seen, Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (.310 BA, 54 HR, 130 RBI). 

Bringing the party to the dugout! Jason Miller/Getty Images

Other superstars will take the field as well: 

• Juan Soto (.288 BA, 41 HR, 109 RBI) who won a championship in 2019 with the Washington Nationals (New York)
• Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (.233 BA, 27 HR, 72 RBI) (New York)
• 2018 AL MVP with the Boston Red Sox, shortstop Mookie Betts (.289 BA, 19 HR, 75 RBI) (Los Angeles)
• 2021 World Series champion with the Atlanta Braves, Freddie Freeman at first base (.282 BA, 22 HR, 89 RBI) (Los Angeles)

And that’s just naming a few key performers.

Second of all, I know we love a good underdog story where a team that barely snuck into the playoffs goes on an unbelievable championship run, but this is the first time since 2013 that two number-one seeds will meet in the World Series (with the last time being the Red Sox and Cardinals, in which Boston won in six games). 

On the path to victory! Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

And what’s even better is the fact that we all know both the Yankees and Dodgers will be back in the playoffs next year, so the loser of this year’s championship games will be back with an absolute vengeance. I mean, these two franchises are straight powerhouses, with New York leading the AL with 94 wins and Los Angeles controlling the NL with an MLB-high 98 wins this season. If it’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that these teams know how to compete at a high level.

Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember? Ba-dee-ya, dancin’ in September! John McCoy/Getty Images

Lastly, while these two teams have a rich history of talent and success, New York and Los Angeles have an extensive history between the two of them. This year will be the 12th World Series matchup between the Yankees and Dodgers, which is the most all-time. In the previous 11 championship games between the two teams, the Yankees have won eight while the Dodgers have won only three, with the last matchup going to Los Angeles in six games in 1981. 

These are the moments we live for! Lauren Leigh Bacho/MLB Photos via Getty Images

In the regular season, surprisingly New York and LA are 11-11. However, in the postseason, the Yankees remain superior as they are 37-29 all-time in the playoffs vs. the Dodgers. Overall, the Yankees are up on the Dodgers 48-40 in their respective all-time matchups. These teams undoubtedly have some history against one another.

For the city of angels <3 Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images

My point being said, I think that this year’s World Series is going to be amazing. I believe it has potential to become one of the greatest championship series the MLB has ever produced, as the two most recognizable and heralded franchises in all of baseball have the talent, history, and big-play ability to make this World Series one to remember for years on end.

My official prediction: Yankees beat Dodgers in seven games

World Series MVP: Juan Soto