Dodgers and Yankees rekindle a 72-year-old rivalry

Wednesday marks the start of a two-game series between the Dodgers and the Yankees, two teams with a long-held and weighty rivalry. The clubs faced off in a total of 11 World Series between 1941 and 1981 -- more matchups than any other pair of teams in baseball.

Since interleague play began in 1997, the teams have played a total of six games, taking three a piece over two series. The two-game set marks the first time the Dodgers have visited the Bronx since that 1981 World Series. In honor of that return, let's look at some of the top moments from those classic October meetings.

When the two squads first met in the 1941 and 1947 World Series, the Dodgers were still playing in Brooklyn and the budding rivalry had a crosstown flair. One particular Dodger in that '47 series, No. 42, is fairly notable:

Following the Yankees win in '47, the two clubs met again in the 1952 World Series -- this time with a 20 year-old center fielder named Mickey Mantle:

The Yankees went on to win again -- in seven games, of course:

Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson and Preacher Roe were thrilled -- naturally:

When they met in October of 1953, the Yankees once again bested the Dodgers -- this time in five games. Phil Rizzuto was so excited, he planted one on second baseman Billy Martin who, as of this photo, had yet to be fired by George Steinbrenner even once.

In the 1955 World Series, Brooklyn and the Bronx battled again -- only this time the Dodgers came out on top. The series featured Jackie Robinson stealing home -- a rare feat that would be overshadowed by an even rarer feat the next year:

That rarer feat? A quintessential moment in New York Yankees lore -- Don Larsen's perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series:

The geography had changed by the next time the two teams met in October -- the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles to start the 1958 season. Come 1963, the two faced off again for the championship, only this time the Dodgers had their own dominant pitcher: Sandy Koufax:

In their 1977 World Series meeting, the Yankees looked to exact revenge on their former crosstown-rivals. Game 6 would feature an iconic, series clinching performance from a legendary postseason performer -- Reggie Jackson, Mr. October:

The clubs met again the next year. In Game 4 of the 1978 World Series, Thurman Munson scored when a throw by Bill Russell to first base notoriously bounced off Jackson's hip and into foul territory:

The Yankees once again came out on top in '78. The lifetime World Series record became 8-2 in favor of the Pinstripes:

In the final World Series matchup between the two teams, Dodgers outfielder Pedro Guererro earned himself a share of the World Series MVP Award (along with Ron Cey and Steve Yeager) with this 5-RBI performance in a series-ending Game 6:

While it's been a long time since the two teams have met in the postseason, the Yankees-Dodgers rivalry is still alive and well. Look what happens when you get Tommy Lasorda and Reggie Jackson in the same booth:

-- Dakota Gardner / MLB.com