Baseball is America’s pastime and the Yankees vs. Dodgers’ rivalry is one reason why
There’s a reason baseball is America’s pastime: the history of the game goes back to the Civil War era and some of the rivalries between teams have existed for over a century. One such rivalry started in Brooklyn, New York on April 5, 1913.
(Claudia Gestro)
This season, the series Dodgers fans wanted to see more than any other were the two games with the New York Yankees. Longtime fans from our parents’ and grandparents’ generation remember the rivalry from the days when the Dodgers called Ebbets Field in Brooklyn their home. Other people just love to hate the Yankees, so it is no surprise the most sought after Dodgers tickets were for this two game series.
Their first meeting was in the old Ebbets Field when the Yankees’s Casey Stengel got the hit to win an exhibition game inaugurating the new Ebbets Field. The rivalry has just brewed ever since.
The Yankees were called the Highlanders back then, but soon changed to their current name when they moved to their new stadium in the Bronx.
And just a note: the Yankees are a charter team in the American League, but they got their start in Baltimore — as the Orioles. We can almost hear everyone in Charm City retching.
(Claudia Gestro)
Since then the two teams have met 10 times in the World Series and the Yankees have won eight of them. The last time the Yankees and Dodgers met in the Fall Classic, the Dodgers won in six games.
For regular season inter-league play, the Yankees and Dodgers are evenly split: 5-5. This past week the Yankees and Dodgers continued a rivalry that is as old as any in sports and to keep the bi-coastal karma balanced, the teams split the two-game series.
One of the biggest players in the history of the Yankees is Mr. October, Reggie Jackson. Reggie got his nickname because he had the uncanny knack of getting into a higher gear during the playoffs, especially the World Series, which used to take place in October.
In an interview before Wednesday’s game, Jackson spoke Spanish fairly well and reminisced about his years as one of the most exciting players in baseball.
It was in 1978 when Jackson and the Yankees met the Dodgers in the World Series. It was memorable for Jackson because the Dodgers Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Welch started twice. In their first meeting that year, Welch kept Jackson off the bases, striking him out in the ninth inning when the Yankees had two men on base that would have won the game if Jackson could have gotten a hit.
(Claudia Gestro)
In their second meeting in that series, Jackson got even by hitting a two-run homer in the seventh inning of game six, giving the Yankees the win and the World Series title.
The Dodgers would go on to beat the Yankees in the 1981 Fall Classic.
The first World Series meeting between these two teams took place in 1941, just months before the start of World War II.
Wednesday’s game was an historic night for the rivalry, with the Dodgers winning 3-2. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter returned to the field. Although he looks healthy, Jeter didn’t quite have his groove, although he did get on base once.
Matt Greinke pitched an excellent game for the Dodgers.
Wednesday’s game between the Dodgers and the Yankees was a textbook pitchers duel. Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw needed to pitch himself out of jams just twice. In one stretch from the 5th to the 8th innings, Kershaw retired 12 straight batters.
Hiroki Kuroda, pitching for the Yankees, had as good a night as Kershaw, giving up only one more hit than the National League’s best pitcher.
Each team could barely get a runner on all night, although Kershaw found himself in a second inning jam when Vernon Wells singled to get on base and then was singled to third base by Brent Lillibridge on a hit and run. But, Kershaw pitched himself out of the jam by getting Jayson Nyx to pop up for an out and then pitching Chris Stewart into a force out grounder.
In the seventh, the Dodgers had a chance to put some runs on the board when Adrian Gonzalez bounced a hit off the glove of first baseman Lillibridge that went into foul territory. But, instead of stopping at first Gonzalez tried to make second base and was easily thrown out.
(Claudia Gestro)
That mistake was compounded when both Andre Ethier and A.J. Ellis, facing two outs, singled to get on base. But then Carl Crawford struck out and the Dodgers’ chances were over. That would be the last time the Men in Blue had anyone in scoring position.
Kershaw pitched a great game for eight innings and then Ronald Bellisario came out to start the 9th. He walked Derek Jeter and the Yankees replaced him with pinch runner Eduardo Nunez. Robinson Cano hit a possible double play ball, but Dodgers short stop Hanley Ramirez bobbled the catch. He tossed it to Mark Ellis at second for a force out, but Ellis’ throw to first was too late.
The Yankees’ 9th inning rally was on.
( Claudia Gestro)
Alfonso Soriano bounced one to Juan Uribe at third and Uribe threw it to first for the out, but Cano took second. Bellisario walked pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki and then left-handed pitcher Paco Rodriguez was brought in to pitch to left-handed batter, Lyle Overbay.
Overbay singled on a one-two pitch and Cano scored. Miscommunication between Mark Ellis and Yasiel Puig let an easy fly out bounce out of Mark Ellis’s glove, allowing Overbay and Suzuki to score, giving the Yankees a three-run inning.
Once the Yankees’ third out was recorded the greatest closer in the history of the game, Mariano Rivera, came in to finish off the Dodgers. Rivera was on top of his game and recorded three quick outs. Before the game the Dodgers honored Rivera with a special tribute commemorating his career in this, his final season as a Major League player.
If the loss wasn’t enough for the Dodgers, manager Don Mattingly was ejected from the game for arguing over a called ball for Overbay. Mattingly thought the Yankee went around for a full swing, which would have ended the inning with no score, but he was over-ruled and tossed out of the game.
(Claudia Gestro)
The Dodgers game against the Yankees Wednesday’s was the 15th sell out of the season and brought the famous faces to the game like it was the NBA Finals. Cristiano Ronaldo of Spanish soccer team Real Madrid threw out the first pitch (to Yasiel Puig). Kobe Bryant was a guest of Dodgers owner Magic Johnson and comedian Billy Crystal attended with former Yankees manager Joe Torre.
Also in attendance were Christina Aguilera, Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J; Jason Witten and DeMarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys and center Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks.
It was a star-studded night in Dodgers Stadium, but not so much for the Dodgers, who were shut out 3-0, but they are still leading the National League West Division. Next up for them is a four-game stand in Chicago to play the Cubs.
For the Yankees, they continue their road show with a three game stand in San Diego with the Padres.
But the two games in the Gulch was one of the historic series, the installment of this rivalry that started 100 years ago in an exhibition game at Ebbets Field.
Claudia is of Peruvian and Italian descent, having been born in a small town, in the North of Peru, South America. She was raised by her grandmother from an early age, living in poverty until Claudia’s mother brought her to America. She landed in Miami, FL and started her new life, playing high school basketball and eventually becoming a United States citizen. Claudia completed her education at Florida International University with a BA in Broadcast Journalism and became a model to supplement her income. Since graduating from FIU Claudia has worked with many of the Spanish Language broadcasting companies, including Telemundo, Univision and most recently Spanish Language channels on SiriusXM satellite radio and 93.9 FM Exitos in Los Angeles. Just so you know where her loyalty lies: Go Lakers!