Just a short message today. Fridays are always busy and it doesn’t help that MLB now starts the World Series on Friday. We spent three days off so we could get to a day where I absolutely can’t watch. The current setup means I get to see exactly one game live, even if it’s seven full games. Also, no World Series game on Sunday is terrible. It makes me want to write a strongly worded letter to the Commissioner.
So there isn’t nearly enough time to convey my complicated thoughts about my Dodgers going for a second straight World Series title for the first time in my life as a baseball fan. It’s already a strange situation to be in, as you constantly have to chase away “anyone but the Dodgers” spouts on the usual sites. (I spent part of the morning deleting every YouTube video suggestion related to “the Dodgers ruining baseball.” Why would these be in my suggestions?)
The Dodgers can do something in the 2025 World Series that has been done fourteen times before, but only twice in the last 32 years: repeat as World Series champions. In the twentieth century this was quite common and happened every decade except the 1980s. Maybe that’s why the Dodgers are being treated like villains now; fans aren’t used to it these days.
The Cubs, Athletics (Philadelphia and Oakland), Red Sox, Giants, Yankees (several times), Reds and Blue Jays have all celebrated repeat Series championships. The Dodgers have never done this before.
In fact, this is only the third time they have gone for a repeat title. The previous two attempts failed spectacularly.
In 1955, the Dodgers finally won a championship for Brooklyn, winning in seven games against the Yankees.
No repeat in 1956, oh no. The Series lasted seven games, but the Dodgers are remembered in that Series as the only team to get a perfect game against them in the World Series.
In 1965, the Dodgers won a seven-game World Series against the Twins.
The Dodgers pitched three shutouts in that Series, two by Sandy Koufax and one by Claude Osteen.
Pitching couldn’t save the Dodgers when they returned to the World Series the following year. They scored a whopping two runs and were swept by the Orioles in four games.
Since then, the Dodgers have appeared in back-to-back World Series twice, losing both games in 1977-78 and in 2017-18.
Frankly, I could see the scenario of 1955-56 and 1965-66 happening again this year. I have confidence in most baseball people saying the Dodgers will win, but I’ve never been a confident fan (it doesn’t feel real when I try to be).
As for that list of players who played for both the Blue Jays and Dodgers, it’s damn long. With the way Major League teams do business these days, the number of pitchers alone (who barely played for the Dodgers) is too many to type. But the first guys that pop into my head are Shawn Green, Tom Candiotti, Al Oliver, Raul Mondesi and Jorge Orta.
Enjoy the World Series. I’ll be at work. At least we have internet there.