It’s that time of year again for America’s pastime: a month of post-season baseball in October. This year marks the 121st World Series, continuing a long-held tradition dating all the way back to 1903. Since then, we’ve seen legendary players like Jackie Robinson (Dodgers 1947-1956), Babe Ruth (Yankees 1914-1935), and Barry Bonds (Giants 1993-2007) establish their everlasting legacies in the game of baseball. Stars like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Mike Trout are doing the same in the new age of baseball, but if there’s one word to describe post-season baseball, it’s unpredictable.
The Yankees, who were favored to be World Series contenders this year, were eliminated on Oct. 8 after a devastating loss against the Toronto Blue Jays, the underdogs of this season. The Blue Jays, who now have a chance to win it all, haven’t won a World Series in over 30 years; their victory might signal a shift in the power dynamics.
The Blue Jays aren’t the only new face around; this post-season also showed various new contenders: the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs, who both haven’t appeared in half a decade, and the Seattle Mariners– champions of the American League West division title for the first time since 2001. Alternatively, returning competitors like the Dodgers and Brewers continue to show their dominance in the league.
Though we saw the legendary battle of East vs. West last year, ending in a Dodger victory against the Yankees in New York City, this year, the World Series may be a classic underdog vs returning champion story with the Blue Jays and the Dodgers.
Though the general consensus for this season’s favored World Series winners are the Dodgers, others have different expectations.
“The Blue Jays have historically, in the World Series, been an extremely dominant team, winning back to back in 92’ and 93’ and never losing once, so I think the Blue Jays are going a long way and winning it all.” junior Hy Tran said.
This season has also had its fair share of controversy regarding illegal gambling and robot umpires that have forced the MLB to make some adjustments for the next season.
Last season, the league passed Rule 21, which threatened players, umpires, or officials who bet on games they are involved in with permanent ineligibility. Sports betting has caused institutions, such as the MLB, to take a closer look at their policies to ensure the integrity of the game. Even so, now-ex-umpire Pat Hoberg was caught earlier this year sharing sports betting accounts with his friend, as well as deleting evidence.
The league also approved the use of robot umpires for the 2026 season, making many fans believe that the traditional days of baseball are over. No matter the issue, internal problems like gambling and dishonest umpires are causing grave concern in the league today, forcing the league to adapt every season.
Though internal issues are still present in the game, Oxford students can still expect to see another exciting World Series between the Blue Jays and the Dodgers. The Gamut wonders what team will take it all home this year.
