This has been a heated and rather silly debate among sports fans since the Dodgers clinched the National League pennant. The argument is understandable to a certain degree. Sure, everyone gets tired of the big names, the Yankees and Dodgers have the second and third-largest payrolls in the league, and we want to see smaller market teams play for a title too. But, that argument falls apart when you realize the beautiful variety of the World Series.

In the last decade, 14 different teams have played for a World Series title. Only three of those teams, the Dodgers, the Astros, and the Royals, have played for multiple World Series titles in that same span. 

On top of that, a match-up between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers is actually very rare. Despite the ridiculous success and title runs these two teams have had, the last time they met in a World Series was in 1981, which the Dodgers won 4-2. Sure the Dodgers have been on a tear, playing for three World Series titles since 2017, but the Yankees have had a dry spell and this will be their first appearance in the World Series since winning the pennant over the Phillies in 2009.

This matchup will also feature many of the biggest names in baseball. This World Series will include 10 All-Stars between the two teams. It features Aaron Judge, one of the biggest hitters in baseball and an inarguable household name, and Shohei Obtain, an international superstar who is doing things that Babe Ruth only dreamed of. 

It features three of the top five home run hitters in the regular season and two of the top five home run hitters in the 2024 post-season. The Yankees and Dodgers are one and two in team home runs this post-season, one and three in RBI’s, two and four in hits, and one and three in stolen bases.

The pitching will be off the charts as well with matchups like Garrett Cole and Jack Flaherty in game one and Carlos Rodon vs Yoshinobu Yamamoto in game two. 

Needless to say, this is a rare opportunity to see two powerhouse, big-market, marquee teams in the MLB battle it out for a World Series title and it is rarer than you think.