More Hype During This One-Day, Two-Game Series

Some historical context from the New York Times on this Dodgers-Yankees "series":

No Series is in sight this year. The Yankees are in third place in the American League East; the Dodgers are wallowing in last in the National League West. And in another twist, Don Mattingly, once a Yankees idol as their first baseman, is the Dodgers’ manager.

This happened before. Leo Durocher, although no Yankees idol as an infielder on their 1928 championship team, was the Brooklyn Dodgers’ manager in 1941 when the Series rivalry began. In a reverse situation, Casey Stengel, the Old Perfessor in four Yankee triumphs in five Series against the Dodgers from 1949 to 1956, had been a popular outfielder and unsuccessful manager in Brooklyn.

In the teams’ 11 Series matchups, the numbers favor the Yankees. They won eight of the Series, and in games at the Stadium, they were 15-5 against Brooklyn and 7-4 against Los Angeles for a dominant 22-9 over all. In games at Ebbets Field in Flatbush, the Yankees had a 12-11 edge; at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers had an 8-3 advantage. In Brooklyn and Los Angeles, the Dodgers were 19-15 over all.