In the 2024 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 4-1, winning their first trophy in 36 years. The championship is a big celebration for the team and city alike, with many fans crowding the streets in triumph the night of the victory. The win, however, was not achieved without the strongest of grit and a team filled with players willing to fight through adversity.
The Dodgers had nearly clinched the trophy in recent years, making the playoffs in consecutive seasons, but had fallen short each time. Their last championship came in 1988 when they defeated the Oakland Athletics in five games. Since then, fans have watched on edge, as the team faced heartbreak after heartbreak, including a controversial loss in 2017 to the Houston Astros.
Beginning the 2024 season, Dodgers fans once again watched with an open mind. Something about this season felt different. The team was full of stars, most notably Shohei Ohtani, a baseball player out of Japan. The Dodgers were favorites to make it all the way, and they lived up to the hype. The Dodgers would end the regular season 98-64 and have a .605 win percentage. They would lead the league in both of these stats. Going into the postseason they would start by playing the San Diego Padres. The series was closer than many thought it would be with the Dodgers even getting blown out 10-2 in Game Two. The series went back and forth with the Dodgers eventually clinching the series 3-2 with a 2-0 win over the Padres. In the National League Championship Series, the Dodgers would face the offensive prowess of the New York Mets. Winning this series would give the Dodgers a one-way ticket to the World Series. While the Mets fought hard and took a few games, the Dodgers stayed strong and won it 4-2.
In the World Series, the Dodgers faced the New York Yankees. The Yankees had a spectacular season in their own right, going 94-68 and having the best win percentage and record in the American League. The Yankees flew through in the playoffs, beating the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians. With one of the most prolific power-hitting lineups in the league with players like Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees were looking to rack up as many points as they could against a highly regarded Dodgers team. The Dodgers would shut down any claims of them not being the best when they would defeat the Yankees 3 games in a row, making the trophy only a win away as the series goes to 7. In Game 4, the Dodgers would be dominated 11-4, but victory was still closer than ever despite the loss. In Game 5, the Dodgers came back from a 5-point deficit after multiple Yankees errors, crowning them the champions.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman became the World Series MVP after a record-setting homer spree. He would earn his second ring, his first coming from a trophy with the Atlanta Braves in 2021. On Nov. 1, their city held a parade for the team to celebrate their victory. With this World Series victory, the Dodgers have set the stage for even better things to come. For the players, it’s a well-earned reward for years of hard work; for the fans, it’s the start of a new dynasty. The future is bright for Los Angeles, and the 2024 World Series will be remembered as just the beginning.
