The Rivalry Between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees

Written by Evgeniya Lautt

Graphic by Maya Uribe

It is that time of year when the two best teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), two of the largest cities in the United States, are going head to head to see who is the best team of the year: the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the New York Yankees. This storied rivalry represents a clash of old rivals.

West Coast vs. East Coast

Two of the largest cities in the United States are going head to head, showcasing the fierce rivalry between the East Coast and West Coast.

History of the Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ history goes back to the “Big Apple”, New York, where the team was originally called the Brooklyn Dodgers. The name comes from the team’s fans, who were famously known for “dodging” the trolleys that crisscrossed the city streets while attending games. The team dates back to 1884, playing at Ebbets Field, where fans would race down to the field to watch the Brooklyn Dodgers play their home games. Brooklyn became the “central hub” for baseball attractions. It was not until 1958 when the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles making it West Coast vs East coast rather than subway games.

History of the New York Yankees

The history of the New York Yankees begins in 1901, when the original name was the Baltimore Orioles. However, in 1903, the team was moved to New York City and became known as the New York Highlanders, as the location was near the Hudson River’s highlands. The name was later changed to “Yankees” in 1913, as the term “Yankees” was used by the British during the American Revolution to refer to “Americans.”

The rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers began in 1941, when the Yankees defeated the Dodgers in Game 5 with a score of 7-4, leading to a series record of 4-1 in favor of the Yankees. This matchup ignited a rivalry between these two teams. The rivalry between these two teams had intensified the most in the mid 20th century. Below are the scores and records for some of the World Series between these two teams:

1. 1941 World Series