One of the more enjoyable things about following the Dodgers on social media, more specifically on Twitter, is that it knows no generational bounds. Oh sure, it takes but seconds for us war babies and baby boomers to realize that the vast majority of those actively involved on Twitter are two, three, or even five decades our junior, if for no other reason that the jargon used by ‘kids today.’

But simply put, the interactions with the younger generations keep us thinking (and to a lesser degree feeling) young, as we try to keep up with today’s millennials and x-generation, or whatever the latest generation of Dodger fans are called these days. But whatever they’re called, and because it took 29 years for the Dodgers to finally end their World Series drought, a very (very) large number of today’s Dodger fans have never been here before, nor have many of the Dodger players themselves.

The 2017 National League Champion Dodgers.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo – Click on image to enlarge)

Check this out.

Of the 25 guys who were on the Dodgers National League Championship Series roster, one was two years old, three were three years old, one was four years old, and one each were six, seven, eight and nine years old respectively when the Dodgers played in (and won) the 1988 World Series. Another four were less than one year old and 12 of them hadn’t even been born yet, with the youngest – 22-year old soon-to-be 2017 NL Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger – still a full seven years away from taking his first breath. Game-5 hero Kiké Hernandez was still three years from being born and NLCS co-MVP Chris Taylor still two years away. His counterpart, 32-year-old Dodgers third baseman and Southern California native Justin Turner was but three years old.

Kiké Hernandez’s third inning grand slam home run off of Cubs right-hander Hector Rondon was his second of what would be three home runs on the night. He ended up with seven RBI to set a new MLB postseason record.
(Video Capture courtesy of TBS)

On the other end of the scale, 38-year-old Dodgers second baseman and fellow Southern California native Chase Utley is the senior statesman, having been nine years old when Kirk Gibson hit his historic three-run walk-off home run in game-1 of the ’88 Series. Next comes 37-year-old left-hander Rich Hill (eight years old), 36-year-old outfielder Curtis Granderson (seven), followed by 35-year-old career Dodger Andre Ethier (six).

As you might expect, the Dodgers under-thirty club are quite active on Twitter, as is Justin Turner. As such, Dodger fans who themselves have never experienced a World Series in their lifetimes can actually interact with many of the Dodger players who will also be experiencing their first Dodgers Fall Classic in nearly three decades.

Of course making it to the World Series and winning the World Series are two completely different animals. I mean, let’s face it, nobody remembers who finishes second, right? Quick … who did the Kansas City Royals beat in the 2015 World Series?

Point made.

So while it is great – euphoric even – that the Dodgers will be representing the National League in the 2017 World Series, which begins on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium, they are still four wins away from baseball immortality. As Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw succinctly put it after the Dodgers failed to advance to the 2013 World Series:

“What does it really matter, making the playoffs or coming in last place? If you don’t win the World Series, it doesn’t really matter”

Let’s do this, Dodgers! So that we can all enjoy this historic ride on Twitter with the players themselves!

Oh, by the way. It was the New York Mets.