On Wednesday around 1 p.m., the Dodgers emailed that World Series tickets for a possible series against the Cleveland Guardians of the likely representative (it’s amazing how quickly life comes at you sometimes) New York Yankees were supposed to go on sale Thursday at 10am.

By mid-afternoon, the Los Angeles Times reported that tickets for all four games were largely sold out.

The lowest prices for upper deck tickets, which came directly from the team, were around $900. The team is currently providing a link to the secondary market through SeatGeek. The current lowest price for a ticket in Game 1 is just over $1,000, and the ticket is located in the upper deck near the foul poles. Three years ago, the same tickets to a potential World Series game cost about half as much.

Normally I would never recommend sitting here, but sometimes beggars can’t be choosers.

These ticket prices are dynamic and the main inflationary forces currently impacting ticket prices are the Dodgers’ first Fall Classic appearance since the COVID pandemic and the impending collision course between the Yankees and Dodgers.

The Dodgers and Yankees haven’t met in the World Series since the strike-shortened 1981, 43 years ago. The Dodgers won in 6 and Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager made the trio of Most Valuable Players.

While prices would likely drop slightly if the Guardians were to gain the upper hand, MLB is responsible for setting playoff ticket prices, in addition to other factors such as game management, running the games and paying the home team rent for usage of the stadium.

Out of curiosity, I checked to see if the Yankees or Guardians had put their World Series tickets up for sale. The Yankees did that and sold out. Prices available through Ticketmaster were between $1,100 and $1,750, and as usual, the Yankees geolocked ticket sales to residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

The Guardians have not yet put their tickets up for sale. I believe these Guardians tickets would only go on sale if the Guardians advance.

Pay the piper

Granted, getting playoff and World Series tickets is very different from getting regular season tickets, even premium season tickets. There is a legitimate argument that MLB rewards regular fans for attending the sport’s biggest games.

Essentially, no one should have to make a rental payment to sit on the top deck each game. I’m aware that ticket prices are like real estate: it all comes down to location, location, location.

I understand that sitting in the Lodge at Dodger Stadium should cost more than the upper deck. But should that cost be the same as a small used car (about $2,500 to $3,000, based on current secondary market listings)?

As I wrote during my amateur adventures, before joining the staff here, I had World Series tickets for a possible Game 6 and 7 for about 24 hours. Both cards together cost about $1,200 and these seats were on the upper deck with no rhyme or reason to the location as I felt a connection to the 2021 team because of all the games and cities I went to, warts and all.

Michael Elizondo/True Blue LA

For comparison, I spent about $800 to sit atop the Green Monster in Boston for the series finale that saw Mookie Betts return to Beantown for the first time. Ironically, if I remember correctly, seats in that section went up to $1,300 per ticket. That seat was by far the most I have ever paid in the regular season.

I’ve often criticized the “Dodger tax” I have to pay when I see the Dodgers on the road. The truth is, it’s often significantly cheaper for me to go see the Dodgers somewhere other than the confines of Our Blue Heaven, unless I’m willing to completely give up a decent view of the game.

It’s okay to pay for a unique experience.

But no one should have to go into debt to enjoy something they love. As a side note, if a team is eliminated before the scheduled game, the team will refund the purchase price within 1-2 weeks.

On that note, for the sake of everyone’s sanity, I have refrained from purchasing tickets for the upcoming World Series at Dodger Stadium, even though an elimination was not possible on Friday night. If the Dodgers progress, I’ll revisit the issue.

To me, all the postseason shenanigans are completely dependent on the Dodgers getting there and getting the job done – preferably today in Queens.

When you think about it, the Dodgers are a Landon Knack clunker away from their first World Series birth since the 2020 COVID Cup. But you can’t look at life that way. The Dodgers have complete control of the NLCS and have Jack Flaherty set to start what will hopefully be the last game in Queens in 2024.

If both League Championship series end in five games, the Fall Classic will move from Friday, October 25 to Tuesday, October 22, in a first for MLB.

We will provide updates as needed depending on which teams advance to this year’s Fall Classic.