Home, at last.
Home, after three rocky Octobers and two embarrassing collapses and deep blue scads of doubt.
Home, where Jackie Robinson is still stealing home and Sandy Koufax is still throwing shutouts and Kirk Gibson is still pumping that fist.
Home, to the World Series.
On a rollicking Sunday night at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers silenced the critics, embraced their birthright and returned to their personal promised land with a 10-5 victory over the New York Mets that gave them a four-games-to-two triumph in the National League Championship Series.
Read more: Dodgers defeat Mets in NLCS, setting up World Series showdown with Yankees
After three consecutive Octobers filled with classic falls, the Dodgers have returned to the Fall Classic for the fourth time in eight seasons, the 13th time in Los Angeles history and 22nd time overall.
And guess who’s waiting there?
For the love of Larsen, here come the New York Yankees!
Yep, those damn Yankees, their oldest of October rivals, their nastiest of playoff nemeses, the pinstriped pains that have haunted the Dodger franchise for more than a century.
Beginning Friday at Dodger Stadium, baseball’s two most legendary franchises will meet for the 12th time in a World Series, the most prolific Series matchup in baseball history even though they haven’t shared this stage in 43 years.
The Yankees have won eight of their previous 11 meetings in games that have contained some of the greatest moments in World Series history. From Robinson’s steal of home to Larsen’s perfect game to Reggie Jackson’s three homers, the next two weeks will summon the ghosts of greatness past.
For the Yankees, the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle have been replaced by Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton.
For the Dodgers, the legacy of 3-Dog and Penguin and Big D are being carried on by M-V-P, Moookie and Fred-die.
“You are talking about the absolute biggest stars in the game, and now they are going to be playing on the biggest stage,” Max Muncy said. “As a fan, how special is this, man? This is unbelievable.”
The Yankees have more star power, but the Dodgers are more talented and will surely be favored to win the series, which sounds about right. They should win it. Anything less would be an upset….