Baseball-Yankees eye more hardware for stuffed trophy case in World Series

By Amy Tennery

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees hope to tighten their grip on the history books with a chance at a 28th World Series title, when they make their first trip to the Fall Classic in 15 years against the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning on Friday.

The Bronx Bombers long ago claimed the record for most World Series wins by a laughable margin, with the St. Louis Cardinals claiming the second-most with 11, understandably earning the nickname the "Evil Empire" from fans of rival teams across Major League Baseball.

Johnny Damon, the outfielder who helped the Yankees to their most recent win in 2009, told Reuters that while the 15-year title drought hardly threatened their legacy, this year's run to the World Series will be steeped in suspense.

"It's hard to believe it's been 15 years for the Yankees because they've always had the best players in the league," said Damon, who launched the hydration beverage company A-Game in his retirement.

"Winning is tough - they make it look super easy on TV."

There is one man who has made it look particularly easy: Aaron Judge, the towering super slugger who broke the American League single season home run record two years ago and racked up an astonishing 144 RBIs this year.

Judge is one of only two men this season to have more than 50 home runs, along with the Dodgers' MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani, and his showdown with the Japanese sensation is expected to make the best-of-seven series appointment viewing.

"We had our battles throughout the regular season over the years," Judge told reporters. "Getting to play on the biggest stage in the biggest moment, I think that's going to be pretty cool to watch."

'UP AND DOWN YEAR'

The road to the postseason did not always look so clear, after a midyear slump that had fans across the five boroughs scratching their heads.

"This is a Yankees team that looks like it’s in trouble," the New York Post declared after a 5-3 defeat to arch rivals Boston Red Sox capped a 4-18 run on July 5.

They turned things around the second half of the season, swiping aside opponents en route to an American League-best 94-68 record and with an eye on their sport's biggest prize.

"We've had such a great year - up and down year - but the team has really come together and to be back in the World Series is special, you can't take it for granted," said first baseman Anthony Rizzo.

"You just don't know when these opportunities will arise and you've got to make the best of it."

(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; editing by Diane Craft)