On 16 occasions a World Series matchup has featured two teams from the same metropolitan area, beginning in 1906 with the Chicago teams and most recently at the start of this decade in New York.
Currently, number 17 is becoming more imminent by the day, as both the Dodgers and Angels have a 2-0 stranglehold in their respective Division Series.
The two squads have faced off 74 times – the Angels lead the all-time series, 41-33 – but never in October. Heck, this is only the third year that they have made the playoffs in the same season.
But while both teams have plenty of work cut out for them before such a series can be realized – the Dodgers may have to face the Cardinals’ Cy Young-caliber duo of Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright again, and the Angels would have to contend with the Yankees’ home-field advantage should each team advance to the ALCS – the thought of a Dodgers-Angels World Series certainly is intriguing.
For starters, the Dodgers and Angels each have experienced remarkable seasons. The Dodgers lost slugger Manny Ramirez to a 50-game suspension for supposed steroid use, yet still finished with the best National League record. Meanwhile, the Angels suffered a fallen teammate in the form of pitcher Nick Adenhart who was part of a fatal car crash, yet they still went on to win 97 regular-season games, second-most among both leagues.
The Weaver brothers – Jeff and Jered – would also add some flavor to substance. Veteran Jeff has been a reliable spot-starter and long-relief pitcher for the Dodgers, while young Jered (the Game 2 ALCS winner) is an up-and-coming starting pitcher with a promising Angels future.
If that isn't enough, five Angel coaches donned Dodger blue during their playing days: manager Mike Scioscia, bench coach Ron Roenicke, hitting coach Mickey Hatcher, first-base coach Alfredo Griffin and third-base coach Dino Ebel.
The off-the-field matchup is noteworthy as well. Owners Frank McCourt and Arte Moreno both resided in other states before buying the Dodgers and Angels, respectively, and both have spent considerable amounts of money to improve their ballclubs and thus generate success.
Sure we are only two games deep into postseason play, but if I were commissioner Bud Selig I just about would be on my hands and knees, begging the baseball gods for the first freeway series in Fall Classic history.
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