The Los Angeles Dodgers have victoriously claimed the 2024 World Series title, ending a long season of baseball and bringing the championship trophy back to LA.
The Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in game five after dominating most of the series. They claimed the title on October 30th with a close score of 7-6 at Yankee Stadium. There, the hard-working team captured their fourth win in the seven-game series and secured their world title.
From the very start, the series was filled with dramatic moments that will be forever remembered and go down in baseball history. In the first game, Freddie Freeman made an unforgettable statement by ending the game with a walk-off grand slam, setting the tone for the rest of the series. Freeman continued to shine throughout the rest of the games, ultimately being named the Series MVP after hitting an impressive four home runs across the five games. His strong offensive performance was extremely helpful in the Dodgers’ success, making him a hero for fans and teammates alike.
However, the Dodgers’ path to victory wasn’t an easy one. In game two, while attempting to steal a base, star player Shohei Ohtani suffered a left shoulder subluxation (a dislocation), giving his team and fans a big scare. In spite of the injury, Ohtani continued to play in Game three.
Although there were many challenges, the Dodgers never got discouraged, only getting more motivated to take the win. A surprising turn of events when starting pitcher, Walker Buehler, stepped up to the plate during the ninth inning. Buehler himself threw the pitches that struck out Yankee player, Alex Verdugo, securing the championship win in the heart of Yankee Stadium.
With their first title since 2020, the Dodgers went all out on celebrating. November 1st marked a huge parade in Los Angeles. A long-awaited moment for an estimated 2 million fans, who took the streets to celebrate their favorite baseball team. When the Dodgers won in 2020, they weren’t able to celebrate in person due to COVID-19 restrictions. Now, with this victory, the Dodgers have written a new chapter in their legacy, one filled with unforgettable moments, big performances, and the celebration of a city’s loyal support for its team.
At MECA, students and staff followed the World Series closely, cheering for the Dodgers every step of the way. Many felt that the team had extra motivation this year because of the recent passing of the Dodger legend, Fernando Valenzuela. Spanish teacher, Johan Cordero states, “I do believe that the death of Fernando Valenzuela was also like a big factor. He passed away, maybe a week before the World Series started and I just felt that it gave the team more motivation to win the World Series.” Valenzuela’s legacy as a pitcher and his impact on the Dodgers history seemed to inspire the team to play even harder. “In my opinion, they all did very well and it was a combination of the entire team,” said Cordero. This highlights how every player contributed to the victory, whether it was Freeman’s incredible hits, Buehler’s strong pitching, or the team’s ability to come together under pressure.
To some students, the win felt extra special because it brought back the excitement that was missing during the pandemic. Sofia Hernandez, a junior, explains, “I was really excited because it didn’t feel the same during COVID. They had such a strong team this year that made it all the better. I had gone to two games over the summer but never expected them to take home the name of 2024 World Series Champs.” The energy and passion of this season reminded fans of what baseball is all about and the Dodgers’ incredible performance throughout the year made their championship victory even more meaningful.
Major League Baseball will make its return next year, March 2025. Will the Dodgers be able to keep their Championship title? Until then, “It’s time for Dodger Baseball.” -Vin Scully
Sources
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/28/sport/shohei-ohtani-in-world-series-game-3-lineup-spt-intl/index.html
