Reggie Jackson recalls Yankees-Dodgers World Series rivalry: ‘We were those bad guys from New York’

New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers are two of Major League Baseball’s most iconic teams, and the two will meet in the World Series starting Friday night.

This will be the first time the two teams have met in the Fall Classic since 1981. Los Angeles won the championship in six games behind the trio of Pedro Guerrero, Ron Cey and Steve Yeager. Three players shared World Series MVP honors that season.

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New York Yankees right fielder Reggie Jackson hits a ball against the Cleveland Indians at Cleveland Stadium during the 1980 season. (Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

The Yankees and Dodgers have won the World Series championship since then. But Reggie Jackson said USA Today In an interview before the 2024 World Series, he was surprised it took this long for the Yankees and Dodgers to meet again.

“We were bad guys from New York, rough and tough guys,” he told the outlet. “We had those pinstripes, and it was always a goal to wear those pinstripes. I remember Mariano Rivera said to me one day: ‘Reggie, I didn’t know those pinstripes were hated so much.’

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New York Yankees right fielder Reggie Jackson bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium during the 1978 World Series. (Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports)

“That’s why this is such a great World Series. We’ve got Los Angeles and Hollywood. We’ve got New York and the financial center of the world. The two most iconic franchises in all of sports.

“They are part of the American fabric.”

Jackson hit three home runs in a single game in the 1977 Yankees-Dodgers World Series. Thanks to that moment, he was reborn as “Mr. October”.

Jackson said he would prefer the Yankees this season, even though he is in a relationship with Dodgers owner Pete O’Malley. Jackson is in the Hall of Fame as a Yankees player.

New York Yankees Reggie Jackson, #44, tackles the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series. (Walter Iooss Jr. / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

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Game 1 It’s set for 8:08 PM ET on Friday night in Los Angeles. Fans will be able to watch the match on FOX.

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