Los Angeles Dodgers vs Boston Red Sox: World Series by the Numbers

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox are making history in the 2018 World Series; here is our by the numbers preview.

The 114th edition of the World Series is upon us and it will be the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Boston Red Sox. While the Dodgers needed 163 games to clinch a sixth consecutive NL West title, the Red Sox won 108 games and looked like the best team in the league all season.

On paper, it looks like the Red Sox will handle the easily overmatched Dodgers but that’s why you play the games.

Let’s look at some numbers that will come to define this World Series.

102

102 years — that’s how long it’s been since the Red Sox and the Dodgers have faced off in the World Series. Back in 1916 the Dodgers were in Brooklyn and affectionately known as the Robins, a tribute to their manager Wilbert Robinson.

To give you some perspective, the Red Sox had a 21-year-old left-hander named Babe Ruth on their staff. He pitched a 14 inning complete game shutout win in Game 2 that year.

On three other occasions, there was a chance to meet in the World Series when one team made it and the other fell short. In 1946, the Red Sox won the pennant while the Dodgers lost a playoff series against the St. Louis Cardinals, in 1988 the Dodgers won it all while the Red Sox lost the ALCS and in 2013 the Red Sox won it all and the Dodgers missed the matchup, losing in the NLCS.

13/30

It’s a bit of cheat but 13 and 30 were the uniform numbers Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Red Sox manager Alex Cora wore from 2002-2004 when they were teammates on the Dodgers.

Roberts was a fleet-footed outfielder then and Cora was the team’s second basemen. The Dodgers actually faced Cora in the World Series last year too, except he was the bench coach for the Astros before taking the Red Sox job this year.

This is the second time two former Dodgers teammates faced off as managers in the World Series. In 2002, Mike Scioscia and Dusty Baker faced off as managers of the Anaheim Angels and San Francisco Giants.

162

162 represents the combined ages of the two ballparks where the World Series will be played this year. Fenway Park, where the Red Sox play, is the oldest stadium in baseball (built in 1912). Meanwhile, Dodger Stadium (built in 1962) is the third oldest stadium in baseball.

The background for this year’s World Series will take place in the shadow of the Green Monster and at dusk with the palm trees swaying at Dodger Stadium. All baseball fans should enjoy the beautiful vistas both these stadiums produce.

30

It’s been 30 years since the Los Angeles Dodgers last won the World Series. 1988 has begun to hang around the neck of the franchise like an anchor. If the Dodgers want to relieve themselves of the weight of history they must defeat one of the best teams in baseball.

All Dodgers fans are hoping that 1988 goes into the history books, and 2018 is the newest chapter.