Only half-kidding! Maybe one-third kidding!

World Series - New York Yankees v Los Angeles Dodgers - Game 1
World Series – New York Yankees v Los Angeles Dodgers – Game 1 / Harry How/GettyImages

The New York Yankees lost the 2024 World Series in myriad ways, in minuscule moments. They lost the World Series when Aaron Boone chose to intentionally walk Mookie Betts after Alex Verdugo tumbled into the stands. They lost the World Series when Nestor Cortes put a fastball in the one place you can’t put a fastball to Freddie Freeman.

They lost the World Series when Anthony Volpe approached a Blake Treinen breaker in the other batter’s box with the recognition skills of a fruit bat blinded by a halogen lamp. They lost the World Series when Fat Joe screamed at German Shepherd-baiting frequencies in Ice Cube’s wake. They lost the World Series when Clarke Schmidt threw four straight non-competitive balls to Shohei Ohtani, fresh out of a literal sling. They lost the World Series when Schmidt revisited that same spot to Freddie Freeman three days later.

And, crucially, the Yankees’ organization lost the World Series when, down 2-0, they opened the stadium doors to a fleet of Dodgers fans, inviting them to get cozy and stay a while.

There’s no reason to be openly hostile toward opposing fan bases, and that should not be a point of pride. Dodgers fans loudly took over Section 432 in the upper deck, as is their right; after all, it’s the Yankees players’ job to make the game painful for them, not the crowd’s.

But did the Yankees really have to stoop as low as to offer Shohei Ohtani Dodgers jerseys at their interior merchandise stands throughout the building? Is there any way the Dodgers would’ve done this with Aaron Judge? How many could they possibly have sold? How many Dodgers fans showed up without one? Was the $400 total profit worth the shamelessness?

Yankees selling Shohei Ohtani jerseys at World Series Game 3 was emblematic and embarrassing

Ohtani, of course, showed up during Game 3’s introductions plainly nursing the injury he suffered on a slide in Los Angeles, then proceeded to be picked up by his teammates in a rather lackluster showing. But play he did; after all, as a global brand, the league couldn’t stand him disappearing from the spotlight.

It’s possible — likely, actually — that MLB had to do with the mandate to sell Ohtani merchandise at his rival’s home. Still, it’s emblematic of the current Yankees that Hal Steinbrenner compromised his team’s integrity for minimal profits, which won’t be reinvested in the roster (and wouldn’t make a ripple if they were).

The Dodgers bought an All-Star team. The Yankees bought a few leftover studs at exorbitant prices, took advantage of their lifelong fandom (Gerrit Cole) and unwavering loyalty (Aaron Judge), then taped the rest of the roster together with glue and the fabric from unsold Ohtani jerseys. There’s nothing wrong with paying for top talent; the only reason the Dodgers are “ruining baseball” is that they’re making it impossible for the Yankees to ruin baseball instead.

In case the series itself wasn’t a clear reminder of how far away the Yankees are from MLB’s top class, perhaps the rival uniforms pathetically peppering their storefronts will be.