The 2024 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees was supposed to be a battle between baseball’s two biggest stars: Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers) and Aaron Judge (New York Yankees). Shohei Ohtani is a fan-favorite Japanese-born player who is considered the best player in the league and possibly in history. He excelled in batting during the regular season, making him the MVP favorite even as injuries prevented him from pitching. The Yankees boasted their own star Aaron Judge, who scored 58 runs in the regular season, surpassing Ohtani. Fans highly anticipated the matchup, expecting both players to lead their offense. However, it didn’t play out that way with both stars struggling, giving way for some unexpected players to step up. 

The Dodgers won 4-1, making it their second World Series victory in 5 years. It all goes back to the development of the players in their program. “It’s about getting the right players, the right people,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Talent is a lot, but it’s not everything. You still have to be cohesive. I just think we do a great job of getting the right players in our clubhouse,” allowing the Dodgers to create a well-rounded, cohesive team. Nothing exemplified this more than in the first game when Freddie Freeman (LA Dodgers) hit a historic walk-off grand slam to catapult the Dodgers to victory. The Dodgers built on this momentum, winning 2 more consecutive games. However, the Yankees managed to force a fifth game, winning 11-4 in Game 4 with Judge playing a bit better. The same trend initially played out in Game 5 as the Yankees led with 5 runs. Slowly, the Yankee’s defense began to crumble, giving opportunities for the Dodgers’ to score. Judge fumbled a routine fly ball, and even star pitcher Gerrit Cole (New York Yankees) made key mistakes, failing to cover first base., leading to the Dodgers’ eventual victory in the World Series.

With the Dodgers victory, it was clear who would be made MVP. Freddie Freeman had been taking a backseat to Ohtani and other players like Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers) who had stronger offensive statistics going into the World Series. However, with Ohtani’s partially dislocated shoulder, Freeman stood out as the star player. Throughout the World Series, Freeman’s perseverance was put on display as he had accumulated serious injuries prior to the World Series, putting it into question whether he would be able to play. However, playing through the injuries, he scored 4 runs, leading the Dodger’s offense along with other strong players like Teoscar Hernandez (LA Dodgers). Solidifying their defense, pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LA Dodgers) was nearly flawless in Game 2, striking out the Yankees’ star batters like Judge. 

No matter who they supported, fans from both teams were especially excited for this year’s World Series. Fans rushed to social media to provide commentary, creating viral moments and increasing engagement. There was outrage from both teams when a fan interfered with Mookie Betts’ catch, further drawing attention to the rivalry. Exemplifying the elevated atmosphere around the World Series, Ohtani and Yamamoto both drew huge crowds in Japan. According to Fox, the World Series had an average of 12.9 million views in Japan, a record number in the country. Overall, the games had the highest viewership in the past 5 years, demonstrating the dedication of baseball fans globally. 

The 2024 World Series was climactic from beginning to end. The Dodgers’ players excelled, with players showcasing their determination and skill. Fans from both sides tuned in, celebrating Freddie Freeman the MVP along with other players. Ultimately, the games were not about stars like Ohtani or Judge, but the Dodgers’ team as a whole.