It's a very rare year when the Major League Baseball World Series features the two teams with the best regular-season records. The last one, in fact, was in 1989, when the New York Yankees (98-64) faced the Atlanta Braves (103-59) and swept the series, 4-0, to win the top prize in all of baseball.

There are also more in common to both teams. Both teams have the same record, 97-65, the first time both World Series teams had identical records since 1958. Both the Boston Red Sox's John Farrell and the St. Louis Cardinals' Mike Matheny are managing their first World Series.

However, the 2013 World Series seems to be a grudge match of sorts, especially since the Cardinals are ahead in their World Series head-to-head match-up with the Red Sox, 2-1, while the Sox won their last meeting in 2004.

For the Cardinals, it is the perfect opportunity for redemption after getting swept by the Red Sox in their previous encounter. They also want to stake their claim as the team of the decade, having won two titles in the past seven years, and three National League pennants in the same period.

For the Red Sox, they want to remind everyone that the Curse of the Bambino has been truly defeated. While they did win the World Series again in 2007, their subsequent performances were marked by infighting and instability. They are also seeking to provide some relief to a city that experienced tragedy earlier in the year.

Both teams have some of the best pitchers in the league, such as Adam Wainwright and the surprising Michael Wacha for the Cardinals and Jon Lester and close Koji Uehara for the Red Sox.

The fielders are also some of the best in the sport -- St. Louis' roster is peppered with names such as Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday, while Shane Victorino and Jonny Gomes are Boston's standouts.

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