World Series Shocker: Forgotten Heroes Might Eclipse Superstars as Yankees and Dodgers Clash

In a World Series that boasts some of MLB's most massive stars, including the likes of Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Juan Soto, the ultimate difference-maker might not be one of these household names after all. In what could be the ultimate display of baseball's unpredictable nature, this championship showdown between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers could very well be decided by the team's lesser-celebrated role players.

Both the Yankees and the Dodgers feature batting lineups that run incredibly deep, with hitters one through nine capable of producing timely hits that send shockwaves through the opposing team's bullpen. It's true that a lot of the attention heading into this series will focus on the All-Stars we mentioned earlier – and for good reason. Players like Judge and Betts have demonstrated the kind of power at the plate that can forever alter the momentum of a series.

But beyond these supernovas, there are other, lesser-known athletes on both sides who've shown more than a few flashes of inspiration during the recent playoffs. In short, it could be guys like Harrison Bader, Oswaldo Cabrera, or even the Dodgers' breakout star, Miguel Vargas, that provide their respective teams with the timely lifts that guide them to the World Series title.

The last time New York squared off against the Dodgers in the Fall Classic was almost a century ago. A lot has changed in the game since then, with some factors, like the change in playoff format, being far more significant than others. But even though practically everything surrounding the spectacle has evolved, the main thing remains unchanged: winning the Fall Classic is still the greatest dream for any club.

With tension running high and so many big names on the field, the lesser-known players know they have their work cut out for them. And yet, as each successive playoff round unwinds, that unglamorous player with a roster spot on the back end might become a world-beater when their side needs one. Suddenly, their anonymity could melt away in a burst of game-changing heroics.

If any evidence to this end is required, consider last year's run to the World Series by the Philadelphia Phillies. The team's march into that Fall Classic included a crucial RBI single from unheralded backstop Garrett Stubbs in Game 4 of the 2022 NLCS – his only hit during that whole series. The effect on the final scoreline was immense.

This is what these anonymous, far-from-superstar players can look to, with hope burning in their chests as they step into the Dodger Stadium or the bronx environment – and it's why their respective front offices selected them for this stage to begin with. Sometimes, in Octobers that can't possibly get any crazier, the smallest of players may generate some monumental waves.