After a four-hour and seven-minute game seven for the ages, the Los Angeles Dodgers captured their second consecutive World Series title. This made them the first team to repeat wins in 25 years. It was a title that every fan, player, and staff member can take pride in after enduring a hard-fought season that, without a doubt, did not come easy.
It was a series that went back and forth between the Blue Jays and Dodgers – from an 18-inning thriller to a historic complete game that surely will be remembered as one of the best since the Cubs’ 2016 comeback in their World Series victory.
The streets and stadium were jam-packed with many excited Dodger fans all dressed in blue and white, waiting to cheer on their team as they passed by on their double-decker buses. Meanwhile, at Dodger Stadium, thousands of fans awaited the arrival of the team to celebrate with them, providing an electric and amped-up atmosphere.
Few believed this title would be possible, as the season was an up-and-down rollercoaster of emotions.
To become the first team in 25 years, since the New York Yankees, to go back-to-back is an extraordinary achievement: no team that has won the World Series has been able to get back since the Phillies’ last attempt in 2009. The Yankees, who accomplished the feat three years in a row, present a daunting task that the Dodgers aim to replicate.
All hope seemed lost for the team, as history wasn’t on their side – from the moment they clinched the National League pennant to the moment that Miguel Rojas came up to bat with one out in the ninth inning of game seven. At the start of the series, teams that had swept their own respective championship series always lost in embarrassing fashion to the opposing team that would win their own series in seven games. The last time this occurred was in the 2012 World Series between the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants, who would go on to sweep the Tigers. Detroit had swept the ALCS while the Giants had won in 7 games.
The odds of the Dodgers winning in that moment at the top of the ninth with one out were at 8.3%. There wasn’t a high likelihood for victory; many expected one of the stars, such as Ohtani, Freeman, or Will Smith, to show up in those moments. For Rojas, a guy who hadn’t gotten a hit in 25 days, or even played at all in the postseason, to be the one who comes up big was like something out of a movie.
A comeback was something that not many ruled out of the realm of possibilities, as they did it last year, but this one felt more special. “Expect the unexpected” was the name of this game and series, as this one kept going back and forth until Mookie Betts made the final play to crown them champions once again.
The game was a whirlwind of emotions, since many seemed to be ready to accept defeat as the team got fewer and fewer chances. Only to be pulled right back in by everything that occurred in the eighth inning with Max Muncy’s home run. It left me going from sick and upset that things weren’t going the team’s way, to speechless and spilling tears of joy for the incredible comeback. It is without a doubt the greatest game I’ve ever seen, and the fact that it was game seven in the World Series made it even more intense. With all the twists and turns the game had, no one ever knew which play would be the one to win it all.
Amid the celebration, some Dodgers fans were unsure about how they should feel after the team allowed ICE agents to use their parking lot for their base of operations. The team was protested against by many fans who chose not to attend the games due to fear of deportations. The Dodgers, however, did not make a statement until later in the season, saying “ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization”.
As a Latino and Dodger fan, it is hard to balance both sides of the coin: joy in winning and anger at how it took them so long to speak on the situation, especially considering how much of the team’s fan base is Latino. It’s hard knowing that this team will be attending the White House despite the criticism they received at the beginning of the year for doing so with the ongoing ICE raids.
Just like the Dodgers chose to do at the rally, it’s time to speak on what was saved best for last. Clayton Kershaw will be retiring as a Dodger for life and a champion, something he’s undoubtedly earned after what he’s endured for most of his postseason career.
Kershaw shared his gratitude and love for all the fans who were a part of his 18-year career and for making LA his home. Many fans in the stadium shared the same sentiment, as every time Kershaw would appear on the screen, he would get the loudest ovation of any player on the entire team. Tears were shed and applause was heard as we said goodbye to one of the greatest.
But now that the 2025 season is over, there was one thing every single player shared that fans will be excited for: a three-peat. A dynasty without a doubt was born, but will its dominance continue into 2026? The players and fans surely think so; now it’s up to them to celebrate and bring their A-game next year, to prove they are the team of the decade.
In the words of Kiké Hernandez, “We’re a dynasty, baby.”
