Top trends from the recent Yankees-Dodgers World Series

The 2024 World Series is here and features a star-studded matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees.

Two of baseball's most storied franchises have faced each other 12 times in the Fall Classic, Major League Baseball's most-played postseason matchup of all time.

The Yankees have won eight of the 11 series, including five in a row from 1941 to 1953. However, the Dodgers won their last meeting in 1981 – and a lot has changed since then.

Here's a look back at what the world looked like the last time the Yankees and Dodgers met in the World Series.

“Fernandomania” in full effect

Fernando Valenzuela took Major League Baseball by storm in his rookie season.

He posted a 13-7 record in 25 starts, had a 2.48 ERA and led the league with 11 complete games. Valenzuela ended up winning the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards, becoming the only player to do so.

Down 2-0, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda sent Valenzuela to the mound for Game 3 and he delivered. Valenzuela pitched a complete game and scored six hits in a 5-4 win at Dodger Stadium, giving the Dodgers momentum again.

Sadly, the Dodgers announced Tuesday night that Valenzuela had died.

Teenage manager

Aaron Boone (Yankees) and Dave Roberts (Dodgers) are the leaders of their respective ball clubs and their paths have crossed before.

They played baseball at rival colleges — Boone at USC, Roberts at UCLA. They also appeared in the World Series for rival teams a year apart – Boone with the Yankees in 2003 and Roberts with the Boston Red Sox in 2004.

But the similarities don't end there – the last time New York and Los Angeles faced off in the World Series, Boone and Roberts were both in elementary school.

“Arthur's Theme” tops the charts

The 1981 comedy “Arthur” grossed $95 million domestically in 1981, the fourth highest of any film, but also made its mark on the Billboard Hot 100.

The film's main song, “Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)”, eventually reached the top spot on the charts the week of the World Series. Written by Christopher Cross, the song spent 24 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, including three weeks at the top.

It also won Best Original Song at the 54th Academy Awards and the 39th Golden Globe Awards – and has become a staple on “Yacht Rock” playlists of late.

Comparable to the present, the Celtics reigned supreme in the NBA and were coming off a championship season when the Dodgers and Yankees played in 1981.

Boston defeated the Houston Rockets in six games to win the first of three championships this decade. Larry Bird averaged 15.3 points and rebounds in his first NBA Finals. Cedric Maxwell averaged 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds to win the NBA Finals MVP award.

Two days after the Dodgers won the championship, the Celtics raised their 14th banner against the Washington Bullets.

MTV officially starts

It's difficult to think of the 1980s and not remember MTV, the legendary cable television network that focused on music programming.

MTV premiered the music video for the Buggles' “Video Killed the Radio Star” shortly after midnight on August 1, 1981. As the decade progressed, MTV proved influential in the music scene, playing a key role in promoting stars such as Michael Jackson, Prince and Duran Duran.

ESPN Research contributed to this story.