The best part of belonging to a sports fandom is attending high-octane games between rival teams. Even when opponents head into a game with a clear favorite and underdog, the ensuing battle (no matter how lopsided) rallies the deepest support from fans.
Despite the truncated and off-beat 2020 MLB season, baseball enthusiasts still had a few major games to chew on. Some of the most exacting faceoffs of the season were between big-city rivals in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Of these three cities, it’s clear that the Cubs, Yankees, and Dodgers have more World Series trophies and conference titles (and the highest values in the league). In fact, MLB betting odds for season games and post-season games that feature these three franchises are some of the most lopsided in the industry.
In other words, betting on the underdog is the way to go when rivals in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York take the diamond. But just because one team has the momentum this decade, that doesn’t mean the tides won’t turn in the coming years.
Let’s take a closer look at the biggest citywide rivalries from the east coast all the way to the west coast.
New York City: Yankees vs. Mets
The Subway Series
These Big Apple rivals typically face off in two multi-game series each year, though the games aren’t guaranteed given the Yankees play in the American League and the Mets in the National League.
The last major faceoff came during the 2000 World Series, which saw the Yankees win 4-1 in the six-game series. Over the course of their rivalry, the Yankees and Mets have battled a total of 128 times, with the Yankees having the 74-54 lead.
In terms of fandom, the Yankees are also the clear winner when pit against the Mets (though Mr. Met remains one of the most popular mascots in the MLB). Based on Facebook likes and a 2014 Public Policy Polling study placed the Yankees with just over 8 million fans, while the Mets had only 643,554.
Chicago: White Sox vs. Cubs
Crosstown Classic
Much like the city of New York, Chicago isn’t short on nearby rivalries between the Midwest’s biggest hubs like Cincinnati and Saint Louis. However, it’s the Crosstown Classic that ignites passion during Cubs-White Sox faceoffs—and even led to an infamous ‘Curse of the Billy Goat’ in 1945.
In fact, the Crosstown Classic has its own cup trophy, awarded to the winner of the last crosstown series that sees the National League Cubs battle against the American League White Sox.
Compared to their New York counterparts, the Chicago rivals aren’t afraid to dig in. In 2006, a notable fight broke out between both teams’ pitchers. After White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski collided with Cubs catcher Michael Barrett while sliding into home base, the pair got into a brawl.
The White Sox won the game 7-0, then went on to use the incident to help AJ Pierzynski win a place on the American League All-Star team with a whopping 3.6 million votes. The teams have faced off a total of 128 times, but the margin of victory for the White Sox is only two games, which means this rivalry has no clear winner despite the White Sox struggles in recent years.
Los Angeles: Dodgers vs. Angels
Freeway Series
In California, the biggest rivalry isn’t between the Angels and Dodgers, but the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. Even so, the Freeway Series has had a few explosive incidents much like the Crosstown Classic in Chicago.
With 130 games played between the LA rivals, the Angels lead by only ten games. Much like in Chicago, this only adds fuel to the fire, as there’s no clear victor. The Dodgers may have momentum in recent years, especially after earning another World Series trophy in 2020, but the Angels have MVP-winner Mike Trout on their team now.
Despite the 2017 incident that saw Dodgers and Angels' fans go fisticuffs during one Freeway Series, the fanbases have actually worked together in the past. In 2002, the Angels battled the Giants in the World Series. Unwilling to let their bitterest rivals defeat the city of LA, Dodgers fans rallied around the Angels, who won the series 4-3.