I think the Texas front office should get some credit for really going for it in a year they had a shot. They lost deGrom as you say, then at the deadline they get Scherzer(also lost for the rest of the WS) and Montgomery.
That is some serious going for it.
Also "partnerships" with various corporate enterprises. The Yankees are getting paid over $20 million a year to wear patches with the logo of Starr Insurance.
Koufax was the story in the 1965 WS. He didn't start Game 1 because it conflicted with Yom Kippur. Instead he pitched Games 2, 5, and 7, pitching complete game shutouts in the last two.
For me the World Series was a big deal starting when I was 9 years old in 1965. I liked the Dodgers because of Koufax and Drysdale. They beat the Twins in 7. I didn't skip school but I did rush home to watch the games.