Yankees-Dodgers World Series culminates Boone and Roberts’ 30-year rivalry

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The 2024 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers is set to reignite the age-old rivalry between two managers. The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry of the early 2000s saw Aaron Boone and Dave Roberts on opposite sides of baseball’s most heated matchup. Now, as they prepare to face off as managers in the World Series on Friday, their competitive history stretches back even further – to the sun-soaked baseball diamonds of Southern California.

During their college years, the current Yankees manager wore USC’s cardinal and gold while Roberts donned UCLA’s blue and gold, setting the stage for a rivalry that would span decades.

Grainy archival footage captures the early days of two future baseball icons, showing a young Dave Roberts with a thin mustache and Aaron Boone’s barely noticeable stubble. Back in 1992, these two 19-year-old freshmen stood on opposite sides of one of Los Angeles’ fiercest collegiate sports rivalries.

Their college clash showcased the intense competition between their respective universities. Roberts, UCLA’s leadoff hitter and left fielder, went up against Boone, USC’s third baseman and No. 6 hitter. UCLA jumped out to a 7-1 lead before USC staged a dramatic ninth-inning comeback, scoring nine runs to win 13-8.

The game featured multiple key moments between Roberts and Boone. Roberts began with an infield single but was later thrown out attempting to steal third on Boone’s tag. The Yankees manager contributed to USC’s rally with an RBI and scored the go-ahead run. He also made a stellar defensive play, leaping to catch a bunt in mid-air, while Roberts smartly avoided a double play after retreating to first base.

Reflecting on that rivalry, Roberts admitted the intensity of their competition at the time. He noted that friendship wasn’t part of their dynamic, confessing to harboring some resentment toward Boone and USC after their victory, but he always respected Boone’s skill on the field.

Looking back at their collegiate days, Roberts admits there was no love lost between them. With a characteristic smile, he recalls how their mutual dislike grew, particularly as Boone’s Trojans regularly outplayed the Bruins. Despite their fierce rivalry, Roberts acknowledges that the Yankees boss’ talent on the field was undeniable, even if he wasn’t eager to admit it back then.

“We weren’t friends — I think at that point in time, I didn’t care too much for him and I don’t think he cared too much for me,” the Dodgers’ manager explained. “I do recall they probably got the best of us back in the day, so that probably enhanced my distaste for him and the Trojans. But he was always a heck of a ballplayer.”

The transformation of their relationship from college adversaries to major league competitors, and now to opposing World Series managers, adds another compelling chapter to their intertwined baseball journeys.

Both Dave Roberts and Aaron Boone showcased their baseball prowess during their collegiate careers, laying the foundation for their future success. Roberts, at UCLA for three seasons, posted impressive stats with a .326 batting average and a .425 on-base percentage. He racked up 176 runs and 241 hits over 181 games. Boone, playing at USC, hit .302 across 174 games, adding 11 home runs and 94 RBIs to his resume.

Boone’s breakout came in his junior year when he hit .340 with a .922 OPS and swiped 26 bases. That performance led to his third-round selection by the Cincinnati Reds. Coming from a baseball dynasty, the Yankees manager followed in the footsteps of his grandfather Ray, father Bob, and brother Bret, all of whom had notable careers in the major leagues.

In a 2018 interview with USC Today, Boone spoke of his early exposure to the game through his father Bob, a catcher who spent 19 years with the Angels and Phillies. The Yankees manager credited his childhood days spent at ballparks with sparking his lifelong passion for baseball.

Despite Roberts’ talent, his smaller stature raised concerns for scouts, and he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 28th round in 1994. However, he exceeded expectations, going on to enjoy a decade-long major league career that earned him $23.6 million.

The rivalry between their schools was fierce, with USC holding an 11-9 edge during their time on the field. Boone played a pivotal role in several matchups, including scoring the winning run in extra innings in 1992 and delivering the game-winning hit in a 1994 shutout. Roberts had his moments too, including scoring the decisive run in extra innings that same year, using his signature speed and base-stealing prowess.

While neither Roberts nor Boone reached the College World Series—UCLA fell short in the 1992 regionals, and USC was eliminated in 1993 and 1994—their baseball journeys would take them to even greater heights. Both men would later create iconic moments in the Yankees-Red Sox postseason rivalry, cementing their legacies in baseball lore.

Old rivalry to spice up Yankees-Dodgers World Series

In 2003, Aaron Boone carved out his place in baseball history with a walk-off home run in Game 7 of the ALCS, sending the Yankees to the World Series and crushing the Red Sox’s hopes. As the cheers of 56,000 fans filled Yankee Stadium, Boone, in disbelief, described the moment as something out of a dream.

Just a year later, Dave Roberts created his own iconic moment—this time against the Yankees. His game-changing stolen base in the ALCS helped spark the Red Sox’s comeback, ultimately leading to their series victory and their first World Series title since 1918. In a later interview with The Times, Roberts credited his bold move to the wisdom passed down by Dodgers legend Maury Wills, who had taught him the value of taking risks in high-pressure moments.

While these signature plays are etched in baseball lore, both Roberts and Boone are careful not to mention them when together. Roberts has joked that such a conversation would likely lead to playful jabs, with each ready to bring up the other’s momentous career-defining play.

Their managerial careers now offer plenty to talk about. Roberts has achieved unprecedented success with the Dodgers over his nine-year tenure, compiling a remarkable 851-506 record (.627 winning percentage)—the highest in MLB history. Under his leadership, the Dodgers have reached the postseason consistently, with a 52-43 playoff record, four World Series appearances, and a championship in 2020.

Boone has enjoyed his own success during his seven years at the helm of the Yankees, leading them to winning records each season. His overall mark stands at 603-429 (.584), with a postseason record of 21-19. This year marks the Yankees’ first World Series appearance since 2009.

Despite their intense past, Roberts has spoken highly of their professional relationship. He mentioned that they run in the same social circles and stayed in touch when Boone was weighing the decision to take the Yankees job.

Boone’s connection to his alma mater, USC, also runs deep. Though he considered playing both baseball and football in college, he ultimately followed in his brother Bret’s footsteps to USC. The Yankees manager has described his time there as profoundly impactful, calling it a special place that leaves a lasting impression on its students.

Dave Roberts’ ties to UCLA carry a profound historical weight. As the Dodgers’ first minority manager, with both Black and Japanese heritage, he walks a path once pioneered by fellow Bruin Jackie Robinson, who famously broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier with the Dodgers in 1947. In a 2015 interview with *UCLA Optimist* magazine, Roberts reflected on the deep significance of his position. He spoke about the unique layers of meaning, from his time at Jackie Robinson Stadium during his college days to his career with both UCLA and the Dodgers. Roberts even revealed that he uses Robinson’s name as his travel alias and appreciates the way his role resonates across multiple communities, including African American, Japanese, and the UCLA family.

Now, over 30 years later, Roberts, 52, and Boone, 51, find themselves once again facing off—this time as managers in the World Series, which kicks off Friday at Dodger Stadium. Their paths share a remarkable symmetry: both had distinguished playing careers, each remembered for a pivotal playoff moment, and both now manage two of baseball’s most storied franchises.

As the World Series approaches, both managers must set aside their college allegiances—Roberts for UCLA, Boone for USC—and focus on the task at hand. During spring training, Boone had been asked about the prospect of facing Roberts and the Dodgers in a World Series. He enthusiastically welcomed the idea, knowing the significance it would carry.

With the series set to begin on Friday, Roberts has reflected on their journeys from collegiate foes to leading two of baseball’s most iconic franchises on the sport’s biggest stage. He acknowledged the historic gravity of a Dodgers-Yankees World Series, especially considering the rivalry between the two teams.

The paths of these former college competitors, now guiding two of the sport’s most storied teams into a World Series showdown, add another rich layer to both their personal histories and the larger narrative of baseball.

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