CNN
—

The Yankees versus the Dodgers – the story goes back to 1941.

The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, two of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball history, will meet in the World Series on Friday for the first time since 1981.

While the two powerhouses are neck-and-neck during regular-season games, the Dodgers have historically trailed the Yanks in the postseason, according to a CNN analysis of Major League Baseball data via Baseball Reference.

The teams have played each other 11 times in past title series since their first title in 1941. The Yankees have won eight of those championships.

The Yankees have a total of 27 World Series victories – more than any other MLB team. However, it has been 15 years since the Yankees last won their title, and they have appeared in the World Series for the first time since then. The Dodgers won their last title in 2020 — after losing to two teams in 2017 and 2018 that were later accused of sign-stealing.

The Dodgers-Yankees rivalry was heated in the 1940s and '50s, as the teams – first LA and then the Brooklyn Dodgers – met in seven World Series championships, of which the Yankees won six. The Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958.

The Men in Pinstripes had a distinct advantage in World Series wins against the Dodgers, winning 73% of World Series titles against Los Angeles/Brooklyn. However, if you look at all the games played between the two teams – during the regular season and in the playoffs – they are more evenly matched.

Of the 88 games the teams have ever played against each other, the Yankees have won 55% and the Dodgers have won 45%.

While much has changed since the two teams were rivals in the city – the Dodgers in Brooklyn and the Yankees in the Bronx, which remains their turf to this day – fans are growing excited for a good return game.