Wed Mar 19 11:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Cubs and Dodgers to Clash in Historic Tokyo Opening Day Showdown
**Tokyo, Japan** – After a 60-year drought, the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers will finally meet on Opening Day in a highly anticipated two-game series at the Tokyo Dome, March 18-19, 2025. This “Tokyo Series” marks a significant moment in baseball history, recalling the last time these two teams faced off on Opening Day – a frigid April 9th, 1963, game at Wrigley Field where the Dodgers, led by Cy Young Award winner Don Drysdale, triumphed 5-1 in 33-degree weather.
The 1963 game featured a stellar pitching performance by Drysdale, who shut down a Cubs lineup boasting four future Hall of Famers: Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Lou Brock. The Dodgers also had the reigning MVP, Maury Wills, in their lineup. Other notable Opening Day highlights from 1963 included a Giants’ offensive explosion and a Cardinals shutout victory.
The 2025 matchup promises a different atmosphere, taking place in the climate-controlled Tokyo Dome. This series will showcase a wealth of Japanese talent, including Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki, and Cubs players Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki. Both teams will hope to channel the spirit of their respective 1963 triumphs – the Dodgers’ World Series victory after their Opening Day win and the Cubs’ eventual 2016 World Series win following their Opening Day victory against the Angels. The Tokyo Series thus promises not just a historic opening to the 2025 season but also a potential glimpse into future championship runs for both franchises.
First Piper 