As Halloween approaches, the time has come to talk about the annual “Fall Classic,” better known as the World Series of baseball. This year’s series will bring together two of Major League Baseball’s historically most prestigious teams, who have won multiple championships in the past decade. Bringing experience and superior quality to the big matchup, this could be a World Series for the ages!

The St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox finished the season tied for the best record with a 97-65 mark. For the Cardinals, that result was basically as expected. They have been one of the most exciting teams in baseball in recent seasons. In the 2011 World Series, the Cardinals won an incredible Game 6 in which they were faced with final pitches on several occasions, but they always delivered. They would win the Series in Game 7. Last season, in the NLDS Game 5 final, the Cardinals were down 6-0 before an impressive game-winning rally in the ninth inning. They progressed to the National League Championship Series, where they were blown out by the San Francisco Giants, but the Cardinals have shown they can be the toughest team to shut down. Heroes like David Freese, Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday, Allen Craig, and Matt Carpenter repeatedly make the plays to save the day!

But the Boston Red Sox also have a wonderful comeback history. Who could forget their 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees when they overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat their heated rivals in 7 games? They would go on to sweep St. Louis in the World Series, winning their first title since 1918, when Babe Ruth was still a pitcher.

The Red Sox would go on to win another championship in 2007. And while we’re several years away from those heroics, several current players participated in that 2007 season; Clay Buchholz, John Lester, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury. The Red Sox may have had their disappointments in recent years, missing the playoffs, dealing with aging veterans and even having scandals over their pitchers drinking beer in the dugout on days off, but this season has seen a team rekindle the passion and desire so often associated with the Red Sox. Big Papi is back on the move and the beards are back on display!

While both teams have had wonderful years, both have been challenged from day 1 within their divisions. The Cincinnati Reds and surprising Pittsburgh Pirates made life challenging for the Cardinals, and the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays and even the lowly Yankees pushed the Red Sox to the brink. However, these two clubs persevered through their challenges and came out on top, fully earning their success with gutsy victories and overcoming decisive moments.

So how can a humble writer predict the winner of this series? The only thing I feel like I can accurately say is that this could be the most entertaining and close World Series in years. These teams are basically carbon copies of each other. Both teams have great hitters who can hit home runs, and both teams have great arms that can dominate lineups. Both teams have voracious fan bases, fully capable of taking their teams to unprecedented heights. Both teams are loaded with championship-winning heroes. Clearly, this is the most full-service baseball team to find itself in contention for a championship. The World Series could be won on a rare error or a stolen base. Who will blink first? I expect this series to go the full 7 games, but for the Boston Red Sox to win it all because they have home field advantage. That’s the only difference I can see in these teams!