International Born Player Spotlight & History Of International Players In Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers & Yankees Past Fall Classic Matchups

The 2024 Major League Baseball World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees will feature 13 international-born players listed on both organization’s rosters in their 12^th meeting in the postseason.

The American League champion New York Yankees and National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers will meet in the World Series for the twelfth time once they both take the field on Friday, October 25, in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium at 8:08 p.m. ET on FOX.

Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole will go up against Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty in Southern California in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.

The Yankees and Dodgers played each other 11 times before the start of the 2024 Fall Classic.

The Yankees have won eight of the 11 previous meetings head-to-head in the World Series over the Dodgers. The Dodgers have beaten the Yankees in 1981 in six games, 1963 in four games, and 1955 in seven games.

The pinstripes have beaten the Dodgers in the first meeting in the 1941 Fall Classic in five games, 1947 in seven games, 1949 in five games, 1952 and 1956 in seven games, 1953 in six games and in 1977 and 1978 in six games.

In 2004, the Yankees played the Dodgers for the first time in the regular season. The men in blue and white won two out of three games at home over the pinstripes in their first meeting in interleague competition.

The Yankees did not play the Dodgers once again in interleague play until the 2010 regular season where the Bronx Bombers traveled to Chavez Ravine and took two out of three for the first time in the regular season against Los Angeles. The Dodgers and Yankees split their series in the Bronx and Chavez Ravine in both their two-game series in the 2013 regular season.

The Dodgers won two out of three games over the Yankees in the 2016 regular season. The Yankees won two out of three games in the 2019 regular season over the Dodgers and won two out of three games over the Dodgers again in the 2023 regular season.

During the 2024 regular season the Dodgers traveled to Yankee Stadium from June 7-9 and beat the Yankees in their three-game series before both franchises facing off in the 2024 World Series.

Interleague play began in the 1997 regular season and with former Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier being, the 50^th anniversary of accomplishing that feat on April 15, 1947, at Ebbets Field against the Boston Braves.

The last time the Yankees and the Dodgers met in the World Series was in 1981, where the blue and white beat the pinstripes in six games.

The 1981 regular season roster consisted with pitcher Alejandro Pena from Cambiago, Dominican Republic, outfielder Candy Maldonado from Humacao, Puerto Rico, outfielder Pedro Gurrero and shortstop Pepe Frias from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic and pitcher Fernando Valenzuela from Navojoa, Mexico that were international-born players with Hall-of-Fame manager Tommy Lasorda at the helm.

Former Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder Sandy Amoros from Matanzas, Cuba, played in the World Series in 1952, 1955, and 1956.

Amoros played in six games in the 1956 Fall Classic and batted .053 with 19 at-bats, scoring one run with one hit, one RBI, two walks, and four strikeouts.

In the 1956 regular season, Amoros played in 114 games, hitting .260 with 362 plate appearances, dialing 76 hits, 11 doubles, eight triples, 16 home runs, 58 RBI, three stolen bases, 59 walks, 51 strikeouts, and a .902 OPS.

Amoros hit .333 in the 1955 World Series while playing in five games with 12 at-bats, scoring three runs, smacking four hits, one home run, three RBI, four walks, and four strikeouts.

Amoros played in 119 games in the 1955 regular season and batted .247 with 455 plate appearances, cracking 96 hits, 16 doubles, seven triples, ten home runs, 51 RBI, swiping ten bases, 55 walks, 45 strikeouts, and a .749 OPS.

Amoros appeared in one game of the 1952 World Series and did not have an at-bat.

During the 1952 regular season, Amoros played in 20 games with 50 plate appearances and batted .250 with 11 hits, three doubles, one triple, three RBI, one stolen base, five walks, and 14 strikeouts under manager Chuck Dressen.

Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Johnny Rutherford from Belleville, Canada, played with the organization in the 1952 season. Rutherford went 7-7 in the 1952 regular season and posted a 4.25 ERA in 22 games out of the bullpen and 11 starts, throwing 97.1 innings, allowing 97 hits, 46 earned runs, nine home runs, 29 walks, 29 strikeouts and a 1.295 WHIP.

Rutherford appeared in one game out of the bullpen in the 1952 World Series with a 9.00 ERA, throwing one inning, allowing one hit, one earned run, one walk, and one strikeout.

Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder Luis Olmo from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, was the first international-born player to play in the World Series in 1949. He played in four games and batted .273 with 11 at-bats, slashing three hits, one home run, two RBI, and two strikeouts.

In the 1949 regular season, Olmo played in 38 games, hitting .305 with 111 plate appearances, smacking 32 hits, four doubles, one triple, one home run, 14 RBI, two stolen bases, five walks, and 11 strikeouts.

The Dodgers did not have an international-born player on their roster in the 1941 World Series with manager Leo Durocher, the 1947 World Series with manager Burt Shotton, the 1953 World Series under manager Chuck Dressen, or the 1963 World Series with manager Walter Alston.

On the 1977 roster, the Dodgers had outfielder Victor Davalillo from Churuguara, Venezuela; outfielder Manny Mota from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; pitcher Elias Sosa from La Vega, Dominican Republic; second baseman Ted Martinez from Barahona, Dominican Republic, and second baseman Rafael Landestoy from Bani, Dominican Republic under Hall-of-Fame manager Tommy Lasorda.

The Dodgers, with their international-born player spotlight in 1977, resulted in Davalillo playing in 24 games with 48 plate appearances, hitting .313, cracking 15 hits, two doubles, four RBI, no walks, and six strikeouts. Mota played in 49 games, batting .395 with 50 plate appearances, smacking 15 hits, one double, one home run, four RBI, one stolen base, ten walks, and no strikeouts. Martinez played in 67 games, hitting .299 with 143 plate appearances, dialing 41 hits, six doubles, one triple, one home run, 10 RBI, three stolen bases, two walks, 20 strikeouts, and a .689 OPS. Landestoy played in 15 games in his rookie season and batted .278 with 22 plate appearances, whacking five hits, two stolen bases, three walks, and two strikeouts. Sosa went 2-2 with a 1.98 ERA playing in 44 games, throwing 63.2 innings, with one save, allowing 42 hits, 14 earned runs, seven home runs, 12 walks, 47 strikeouts, and a 0.848 WHIP.

The 1977 World Series playoff stats for the Dodgers categorized a different scenario for the international-born talent: Davalillo played three games with three at-bats, recorded one hit, and hit .333 with one RBI. Mota played in three games without getting a hit and struck out once. Sosa appeared in two games out of the bullpen, posting an 11.57 ERA, throwing 2.1 innings, allowing three hits, three earned runs, one walk, and one strikeout.

During the 1978 regular season, the Dodgers’ international-born players were first baseman Pedro Guerrero, outfielder Manny Mota, outfielder Victor Davalillo, shortstop Ted Martinez, and shortstop Enzo Hernandez from Valle de Guanape, Venezuela.

In the 1978 regular season, Guerrero played in five games with eight plate appearances and batted .625 with five hits, one triple, and one RBI. Davalillo played in 75 games, hitting .312 with 81 plate appearances, smacking 24 hits, one double, one triple, one home run, 11 RBI, swiped two bases, three walks, seven strikeouts, and a .723 OPS. Mota played in 37 games with 37 plate appearances and batted .303, ripping ten hits, one double, six RBI, three walks, and four strikeouts. Martinez played in 54 games, hitting .255 with 61 plate appearances, dialing 14 hits, one double, one home run, five RBI, three stolen bases, four walks, 14 strikeouts, and a .644 OPS. Hernandez played in four games with three plate appearances and struck out once without recording a hit in the 1978 season.

In the 1978 World Series, Mota played one game and walked once. Davalillo played two games, had three at-bats, and recorded one hit.

In the 1981 regular season, Valenzuela won the NL Cy Young Award and NL Rookie of the Year, led the MLB in strikeouts, won the Silver Slugger Award, and was selected as an All-Star at 20.

Valenzuela went 13-7, posting a .248 ERA, throwing 192.1 innings in his 25 starts with 11 complete games and eight shutouts. He allowed 140 hits, 53 earned runs, 11 home runs, 61 walks, 180 strikeouts, and a 1.045 WHIP.

In the 1981 World Series, Valenzuela went 1-0 in one start with a 4.00 ERA and one complete game, throwing nine innings, allowing nine hits, four earned runs, seven walks, and striking out six batters.

Maldonado played in 11 games and batted .083 with 12 plate appearances, recorded one hit, and struck out five times in the 1981 season. Frias played in 25 games and batted .250 with 39 plate appearances, smacking nine hits, one double, three RBI, one walk, and three strikeouts. Guerrero played in 98 games during his first all-star year, hitting .300 with 387 plate appearances, 104 hits, 17 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, 48 RBI, five stolen bases, 34 walks, and 57 strikeouts. Pena went 1-1 in his rookie season with a 2.84 ERA in 14 appearances out of the bullpen, recorded two saves, throwing 25.1 innings, allowing 18 hits, eight earned runs, two home runs, 11 walks, 14 strikeouts, and a 1.145 WHIP.

Guerrero played in six games in the 1981 World Series and batted .333 with 21 at-bats, cracking seven hits, one double, one triple, two home runs, seven RBI, two walks, and six strikeouts.

Fast forward to 2024, with the Dodgers seeking their eighth World Series championship and manager Dave Roberts’ second in Chavez Ravine.

Roberts is the only Japanese-born manager in MLB History. He was born in Naha, Okinawa, Japan. He currently manages two-way player sensation Shohei Ohtani from Oshu, Japan, and rookie right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto from Bizen, Japan, who are in their first season with the Dodgers.

Los Angeles also has pitcher Edgardo Henriquez from Cumana, Venezuela; outfielder Andy Pages from Havana, Cuba; utility player Kike Hernandez from San Juan, Puerto Rico; utility player Miguel Rojas from Los Teques, Venezuela; right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol from Calabozo, Venezuela, and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez from Cotui, Dominican Republic that are international-born players on the 2024 World Series roster.

Yankees Cusp To The International Landscape Against Their Former New York City Rival Foe: 

Under manager Bob Lemon, the Bronx Bombers had third baseman Aurelio Rodriguez from Cananea, Mexico, and pitcher Bill Castro from Santiago, Dominican Republic, in the 1981 regular season.

Rodriguez and Castro were not on the 1981 World Series official roster for the Yankees.

Rodriguez played in 27 games in the 1981 regular season, hitting .346 with 55 plate appearances, pounding 18 hits, two doubles, two home runs, eight RBI, two walks, and ten strikeouts. Castro went 1-1 in 1981 in his 11 appearances out of the bullpen with a 3.79 ERA, throwing 19 innings, allowing 26 hits, eight earned runs, two home runs, five walks, and four strikeouts.

In the 1978 championship season, New York had second baseman Damaso Garcia from Moca, Dominican Republic, shortstop Domingo Ramos from Santiago, Dominican Republic, and pitcher Ed Figueroa from Ciales, Puerto Rico, with Lemon. Lemon replaced manager Billy Martin on July 29, 1978, before leading the Yankees to the World Series.

On the 1977 official regular season roster, the Yankees had catcher Elrod Hendricks from Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands, and pitcher Ed Figueroa from Ciales, Puerto Rico, with Martin in his third year under owner George Steinbrenner.

The Pinstripes in the 1963 regular season roster had pitcher Luis Arroyo from Penuelas, Puerto Rico, second baseman Pedro Gonzalez from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, and utility player Hector Lopez from Colon, Panama, under manager Ralph Houk.

In the 1963 season, Arroyo went 1-1 with a 13.50 ERA in six games out of the bullpen, throwing six innings, allowing 12 hits, nine earned runs, no home runs, three walks, and five strikeouts. Gonzalez played in 14 games during his rookie season with 28 plate appearances, hitting .192, ripping five hits, one double, one RBI, and five strikeouts. Lopez played in 106 games, hitting .275 with 373 plate appearances, smacking 92 hits, 19 doubles, one triple, six home runs, 48 RBI, 33 walks, 53 strikeouts, and a .729 OPS.

Lopez was the only international-born who played in the 1963 World Series against the Dodgers and played in three games with eight at-bats, batting .250, ripping two hits and two doubles, scoring one, and striking out once.

The Yankees did not have an international-born player on their roster in the 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers with Hall-of-Fame manager Casey Stengel.

When the Yankees played in the 1949 World Series, relief pitcher Ralph Buxton from Weyburn, Canada, was on the active roster but did not play against the Dodgers. Buxton went 0-1 in the 1949 regular season, appeared in 14 games out of the bullpen, and posted a 4.05 ERA, with two saves, throwing 26.2 innings, allowing 22 hits, 16 walks, 14 strikeouts, and a 1.425 WHIP.

In the 1947 regular season, the Yankees had two international-born players on their roster, pitcher Rugger Ardizoia from Oleggio, Italy, and outfielder Frank Colman from London, Canada, under manager Bucky Harris.

Ardizoia and Colman did not appear in the 1947 World Series. Ardizoia appeared in one game during his MLB career out of the bullpen in the 1947 season and threw two innings, posting a 9.00 ERA and walked one batter. Colman played in 22 games and batted .107 with 30 plate appearances, scoring two runs, dialing three hits, two home runs, six RBI, two walks, and six strikeouts in his final big-league season.

The Dodgers and Yankees met for the first time in the Fall Classic in 1941. The Yankees had one international-born player on their roster in the 1941 regular season with, outfielder George Selkirk from Huntsville, Canada, with manager Joe McCarthy. Selkirk had two at-bats playing in two games in the 1941 World Series and recorded one hit, hitting .500.

In the 1941 regular season, Selkirk played in 70 games and batted .220 with 195 plate appearances, ripping 36 hits, five doubles, six home runs, 25 RBI, one stolen base, 28 walks, 30 strikeouts, and a .700 OPS.

Vaulting to the 2024 season, the Yankees under manager Aaron Boone have seven international-born players on their roster: utility player Jazz Chisolm Jr. from Nassau, Bahamas, utility player Oswald Cabrera from Guarenas, Venezuela, second baseman Gleyber Torres from Caracas, Venezuela, left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes from Surgidero de Batabano, Cuba, right-handed pitcher Luis Gil from Azua Province, Dominican Republic, right fielder Juan Soto from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and outfielder Jasson Dominguez from Esperanza, Dominican Republic.

World Baseball Network has provided a stat log of all the international-born players from their 2024 regular season and postseason numbers that will appear on both official 2024 World Series rosters for the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2024 World Series International-Born Player Regular Season and Playoff Stat Ledger: 

PS – Playoff Stats

TA – Total Appearances 

Bahamas

NYY: 

UTP – MIA/NYY – Jazz Chisholm Jr. – .256 AVG, 147 G, 621 PA, 144 H, 21 2B, 4 3B, 73 RBI, 40 SB, 53 BB, 152 K, .760 OPS

PS – .147 AVG, 9 G, 34 AB, 2 R, 5 H, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 11 K

Cuba

LAD: 

OF – Andy Pages – .248 AVG, 116 G, 443 PA, 100 H, 23 2B, 1 3B, 46 RBI, 1 SB, 29 BB, 108 K, .712 OPS

PS – .211 AVG, 8 G, 19 AB, 3 R, 4 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 6 K

NYY: 

LHP – Nestor Cortes – 9-10, 3.77 ERA, 31 TA, 30 GS, 174.1 IP, 162 H, 73 ER, 24 HR, 39 BB, 162 K, 1.153 WHIP

Dominican Republic

LAD: 

OF – Teoscar Hernandez – .272 AVG, 154 G, 652 PA, 160 H, 32 2B, 2 3B, 33 HR, 99 RBI, 12 SB, 53 BB, 188 K, .840 OPS

PS – .200 AVG, 11 G, 40 AB, 7 R, 8 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB, 9 BB, 13 K,

NYY: 

OF – Juan Soto – .288 AVG, 157 G, 713 PA, 166 H, 31 2B, 4 3B, 41 HR, 109 RBI, 7 SB, 129 BB, 119 K

PS – .333 AVG, 9 G, 33 AB, 6 R, 11 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7 BB, 7 K

OF – Jasson Dominguez – .179 AVG, 18 G, 67 PA, 10 H, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 5 SB, 11 BB, 19 K

PS – 2 G, 0 AB, 1 R

RHP – Luis Gil – 15-7, 3.50 ERA, 29 GS, 151.2 IP, 104 H, 59 ER, 18 HR, 77 BB, 171 K, 1.193 WHIP

PS – 4.50 ERA, 1 GS, 4 IP, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Japan 

LAD: 

DH – Shohei Ohtani – .390 AVG, 159 G, 731 PA, 197 H, 38 2B, 7 3B, 54 HR, 130 RBI, 59 SB, 81 BB, 162 K, 1.036 OPS

PS – .286 AVG, 11 G, 42 AB, 12 R, 12 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 11 BB, 17 K

RHP – Yoshinobou Yamamoto- 7-2, 3.00 ERA, 18 GS, 90 IP, 78 H, 30 ER, 7 HR, 22 BB, 105 K

PS – 1-0, 5.11 ERA, 3 GS, 12.1 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 11 K

Puerto Rico 

LAD: 

UTP – Kike Hernandez – .229 AVG, 126 G, 393 PA, 83 H, 16 2B, 12 HR, 42 RBI, 27 BB, 77 K, .654 OPS

PS – .303 AVG, 9 G, 33 AB, 8 R, 10 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 8 K

Venezuela 

LAD: 

RHP – Brusdar Graterol – 2.45 ERA, 7 TA, 7.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

UTP – Miguel Rojas – .283 AVG, 103 G, 337 PA, 87 H, 21 2B, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 8 SB, 23 BB, 34 K, .748 OPS

PS – .250 AVG, 3 G, 8 AB, 2 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 K

NYY: 

UTP – Oswaldo Cabrera – .247 AVG, 108 G, 326 PA, 74 H, 11 2B, 8 HR, 36 RBI, 4 SB, 21 BB, 63 K, .661 OPS

PS – .167 AVG, 5 G, 6 AB, 1 H, 1 2B, 3 BB, 3 K

2B – Gleyber Torres – .257 AVG, 154 G, 665 PA, 151 H, 26 2B, 15 HR, 63 RBI, 4 SB, 65 BB, 136 K, .709 OPS

PS – .297 AVG, 9 G, 37 AB, 9 R, 11 H, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 7 BB, 5 K

 

World Series MVP Awards – New York Yankees vs. Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers: 

• Brooklyn Dodgers starting pitcher Johnny Podres won the 1955 World Series MVP. He went 2-0 over two games in his two starts with a 1.00 ERA, throwing 18 innings, allowing two earned runs, 15 hits, two earned runs, four walks, and ten strikeouts.

 

• New York Yankees starting pitcher Don Larsen won the 1956 World Series MVP and went 1-0 in two starts, one complete game, throwing 10.2 innings, allowing one hit, no earned runs, four walks, and seven strikeouts. Larsen threw the only perfect game in WS history in Game 5 at Yankee Stadium, dialing nine innings, striking out seven batters on 97 pitches with 71 strikes, and facing 27 batters.

 

• Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Sandy Koufax won the 1963 World Series MVP and went 2-0 in his two starts, posting a 1.50 ERA. He pitched 18 innings with two complete games, allowing 12 hits, three earned runs, three walks, and 23 strikeouts.

 

• New York Yankees outfielder Reggie Jackson won the 1977 World Series MVP, playing in six games with 20 at-bats, hitting .450, rocking nine hits, one double, five home runs, eight RBI, three walks, and four strikeouts. Jackson hit three home runs on three pitches in Game Six at Yankee Stadium off Dodgers pitchers Burt Hooton in the bottom of the fourth inning, Elias Sosa in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Charlie Hough in the bottom of the eighth inning.

 

• New York Yankees shortstop Bucky Dent won the 1978 World Series MVP, playing in six games, batting .417 with 24 at-bats, smacking ten hits, one double, seven RBI, one walk, and two strikeouts.

 

• Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Ron Cey, outfielder Pedro Guerrero, and catcher Steve Yeager won the 1981 World Series MVP.

 

• Cey played in six games, batting .350 with 20 at-bats, ripping seven hits, one home run, six RBI, three walks, and three strikeouts.

 

• Guerrero played in six games, hitting .333 with 21 at-bats, and recorded seven hits, one double, one triple, two home runs, seven RBI, two walks, and six strikeouts.

 

• Yeager played in six games with 14 at-bats, batting .286 with four hits, one double, two home runs, four RBI, and two strikeouts.

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