Fox Sports gets dream matchup with Yankees vs. Dodgers in the World Series

Fox Sports reportedly paid $2.45 billion in September 2000 to become the exclusive over-the-air broadcaster of Major League Baseball’s World Series.

This year, the network will host a dream matchup of the Los Angeles Dodgers against the New York Yankees in the best-of-seven series.

Los Angeles and New York are the two largest television markets and have fans everywhere.

For comparison, the 2023 World Series between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks averaged a television rating of 4.7, which was the lowest World Series on record.

But this World Series didn’t feature two of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball history.

The New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians 4-1 in the American League Championship Series to reach the World Series.

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 4-2 in the National League Championship Series to advance to the World Series.

This will be the 12th time the Yankees and Dodgers have met in the World Series.

The Yankees have won eight of the last 11 World Series games with the Dodgers.

The Yankees won in 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1977 and 1978.

The Dodgers won in 1955, 1963 and 1981.

No two teams have played each other more times in the World Series than the Yankees and Dodgers.

The last time the two teams met in the World Series was in 1981, when the Dodgers defeated the Yankees 4-2.

The Yankees last won a World Series in 1999, when they defeated the Atlanta Braves in four games.

Since 1950, the Yankees have appeared in 24 World Series tournaments, most recently in 2009 when they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2.

Since 1950, the Dodgers have appeared in 16 World Series, most recently in 2020 when they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2.

Here is the 2024 World Series schedule:

Game 1 – October 25 at the New York Yankees

Game 2 – October 26 – at New York Yankees

Game 3 – October 28 – at Los Angeles Dodgers

Game 4 – October 29 – at Lost Angeles Dodgers

Game 5 – October 30 – at New York Yankees (if necessary)

Game 6 – November 1 – at New York Yankees (if necessary)

Game 7 – November 2 – at New York Yankees (if necessary)

Stars came out in October:

The Yankees displayed incredible home run firepower to defeat the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series.

Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (34) won the coveted Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award.

Stanton hit two doubles and four mammoth home runs in his 16 plate appearances. He scored four runs and drove in seven.

Tommy Edman was named the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player. He was fantastic.

Edman really committed to the Dodgers.

Edman, 29, played shortstop for Los Angeles, a position that gave them much of the year.

Edman joined the Dodgers on July 29, 2024 as part of a three-team trade between his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Chicago White Sox.

In the Championship Series, MLB.com stated that Edman had 11 hits and 11 RBIS. He had three doubles and a home run.

Yankees right fielder Juan Soto, 25, destroyed Cleveland’s pitching with hits of .368/.478/.695/1.37, a double and three home runs of his own in 23 plate appearances. Soto scored five runs and drove in six.

Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge, 32, was almost held in check by Cleveland. But not completely. He hit only .167, but he hit two home runs, scored four runs and drove in six in his 23 plate appearances.

The Dodgers earned entry to baseball’s greatest jewel event through the contributions of their greatest light, Shohei Ohtani, and his supporting characters.

Ohtani, 30, is playing in his first postseason.

Ohtani hit two home runs, scored eight times and drove in six runs in 30 plate appearances.

All Star Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was dealing with a severe right ankle sprain and was out of the lineup for Game 6.

Freeman sprained his ankle on September 26 and has struggled ever since.

Mookie Betts was great in the Championship Series.

Betts, 32, played right field and hit .295 with four doubles and two home runs.

Every baseball fan can now watch some of baseball’s greatest players in the World Series.

Shohehi Ohtani will face Aaron Judge. They are presumably the two most valuable players in their respective leagues.

Both hit over 50 home runs.

But the real winner could be Fox Sports, which owns the over-the-air TV rights to a two-team World Series in the sport’s biggest markets.

The TV ratings for this World Series are expected to go through the roof.