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SPORTS Monday 22 october 2018
Dodgers-Red Sox: Rich histories, but little crossover

By BEN WALKER "To be wearing another uni- doubt watchful eyes will be It's been heard for years in went their own ways, on
AP Baseball Writer form going in there playing on the lefty ace. Boston, albeit in a different and off the field.
Sandy Koufax, Jackie Rob- for a World Series champi- Los Angeles is aiming for its arena. That's what Celtics The Dodgers proudly
inson and the Boys of Sum- onship is going to be spe- first championship since Kirk fans echoed during the broke baseball's color bar-
mer. Ted Williams to Yaz cial for me." Gibson, Orel Hershiser and Larry Bird-Magic Johnson rier when Jackie Robinson
and the Impossible Dream. played in 1947. The Red
Manny Ramirez. Pedro Mar- Sox were the last team in
tinez. Bill Buckner. the majors to have a black
Fenway Franks and Dodg- player, in 1959 with Pump-
er Dogs. Ebbets Field, the sie Green.
Green Monster. "Sweet Decades later, the teams
Caroline" or "I Love L.A." made history together.
Yet for all their rich history They drew an announced
— dating back to Babe crowd of 115,300 — the
Ruth on the mound — the largest ever for a baseball
Boston Red Sox and Los An- game — for an exhibition
geles Dodgers have rarely at the Coliseum in 2008 to
crossed paths heading into mark the 50th anniversary
this World Series. Only once of the Dodgers' move to
before in October, and Los Angeles.
that was more than a cen- Overall, the Red Sox are 8-7
tury ago. against the Dodgers since
In fact, Clayton Kershaw interleague play began in
has never even pitched at 1997. Boston hasn't host-
Fenway Park. ed LA since 2010, and the
Consider this: Going into teams haven't squared off
Game 1 on Tuesday night, since 2016.
the Dodgers have beaten Not much crossover for
the Red Sox in Boston just Grounds crew members paint the World Series logo behind home plate at Fenway Park, Sunday, these clubs, either.
one time. Oct. 21, 2018, in Boston as they prepare for Game 1 of the baseball World Series between the Buckner was a young, fleet
That came on June 12, Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers scheduled for Tuesday. outfielder when he helped
2004. And guess who Associated Press the Dodgers reach the
scored and drove in a run 1974 World Series. He was a
for the Dodgers during that gimpy first baseman when
14-5 romp? This also marks the first time Tommy Lasorda brought rivalry. Fitting, maybe, the he let that ball roll through
Alex Cora, now the rookie both Series managers have home the crown in 1988. former Lakers star is a part- his legs as Boston blew the
manager of the Red Sox. played for each team. A year after dropping owner of the Dodgers. 1986 Series.
One of his teammates that "The weather. Traffic," Cora Game 7 at home to Hous- On the basketball court, Pedro Martinez began his
afternoon — Dave Roberts, said Sunday about the ton, Justin Turner and the Los Angeles and Boston are big league career as a re-
ready to lead Los Angeles varying locales. crew with the third-highest certainly intertwined with liever with Los Angeles be-
into its second straight Fall MVP candidate Mookie payroll beat Colorado in a championships on the line, fore becoming a dominant
Classic. Betts and the Red Sox post- tiebreaker for the NL West going all the way back to starter for Boston. Manny
"Two storied franchises, that ed a team-record 108 wins, title, chased Atlanta in the the days of Bill Russell, Elgin Ramirez was an eccen-
draw more interest," Red a big payoff for the team NLDS and topped Milwau- Baylor, Bob Cousy and Jer- tric slugger for the Red Sox
Sox second baseman Ian with the top payroll in the kee 5-1 on Saturday night ry West. who took his act to Man-
Kinsler said Sunday. game. Boston pushed past in Game 7 for the pennant. On the diamond, not so nywood out West. Nomar
Roberts is sure to draw a big New York in the AL Division "It doesn't matter how you much for these formidable Garciaparra, Adrian Beltre
cheer when the teams line Series and then quickly get there. But to get to franchises. and Rickey Henderson are
up for pregame introduc- dispatched the defend- come back and go back They first tangled for real among the stars who spent
tions. He's still a fan favor- ing champion Astros in the from last year, it's unbeliev- in the 1916 World Series. time with both teams. So
ite in Boston for his daring ALCS. able," Kershaw said. "Where The Babe pitched all 14 in- has Dodgers starter Rich
stolen base that sparked A tremendous right fielder, we came from this year, it's nings — in a tidy 2 hours, 32 Hill — in 2015, the Boston-
an unprecedented come- Betts might move to sec- a testament to these guys, minutes — as Boston beat area native was pitching
back from a 3-0 deficit ond base when the Series man. It's a great group. Brooklyn 2-1 in Game 2. with the independent Long
against Mariano Rivera shifts to Dodger Stadium. We're excited." Though Fenway opened Island Ducks when he resur-
and the rival Yankees in the That would be to make New to the power-packed four years earlier, the game rected his career with the
2004 AL Championship Se- room for slugger J.D. Marti- Dodgers this season is star was played at Braves Field, Red Sox. And there was
ries. nez when the Red Sox lose shortstop Manny Mach- home of the city's NL fran- that late-season trade six
The Red Sox went on to end their designated hitter slot. ado, acquired in a July chise, because it held more years ago that sent Adrian
their 86-year title drought Boston opened as a slight trade with Baltimore. Bos- people. Gonzalez, Josh Beckett
by sweeping St. Louis in the betting favorite over Los ton fans are plenty famil- The Red Sox wound up win- and Carl Crawford from
World Series, boosted by Angeles. iar with him — his late slide ning in five games. Back Boston to Los Angeles in a
Big Papi, Pedro and Manny. "That's the best team in the last year injured longtime then, the Dodgers weren't huge salary dump.
Starting this week, Boston game right now. We re- Red Sox second baseman really the Dodgers. They Big names will be in the
will try for its fourth champi- spect that," Dodgers closer Dustin Pedroia, and led to were known by a collection stands next week, too.
onship in 15 seasons. Kenley Jansen said. "But a tense situation at Fenway of nicknames, and were Matt Damon, Ben Affleck
"I'm looking forward to go- know that we're good." with Sale throwing behind often called the Robins and a packed crowd bun-
ing back to Fenway. Obvi- Chris Sale is set to pitch the Machado. because of popular man- dled on a New England
ously for me personally, I opener for the Red Sox. Soon as they see him, Red ager Wilbert "Uncle Robbie" night, maybe. It could be
have a lot of fond memo- He recently spent a night Sox rooters might even take Robinson. And Ruth later in the upper 30s at Fenway,
ries of the Red Sox and in the hospital because of up the familiar chant of coached for them. the oldest ballpark in the
Fenway Park," Roberts said. a stomach illness, and no "Beat LA!" Over the years, the teams majors.q