Yankees and Dodgers give rare spice back to interleague play

For now, at least we can enjoy something that feels truly fresh: the Dodgers playing the Yankees in the Bronx for the first time in 32 years. This is

Tom Verducci | Jun 18, 2013

Yankees and Dodgers give rare spice back to interleague play /

The two iconic franchises haven't met since 2010, and this year Derek Jeter is one of several hurting stars for the Yankees while Andre Ethier's Dodgers are in a slide. — The two iconic franchises haven't met since 2010, and this year Derek Jeter is one of several hurting stars for the Yankees while Andre Ethier's Dodgers are in a slide :: Robert Beck/SI

For now, at least we can enjoy something that feels truly fresh: the Dodgers playing the Yankees in the Bronx for the first time in 32 years. This is interleague play at its rare best: with some novelty to it -- at least for a new generation.

Published Jun 18, 2013

TOM VERDUCCI

Tom Verducci is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated who has covered Major League Baseball since 1981. He also serves as an analyst for FOX Sports and the MLB Network; is a New York Times best-selling author; and cohosts The Book of Joe podcast with Joe Maddon. A five-time Emmy Award winner across three categories (studio analyst, reporter, short form writing) and nominated in a fourth (game analyst), he is a three-time National Sportswriter of the Year winner, two-time National Magazine Award finalist, and a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. Verducci is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame, Baseball Writers Association of America (including past New York chapter chairman) and a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 1993. He also is the only writer to be a game analyst for World Series telecasts. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, with whom he has two children.