The LA Dodgers are one of the most recognizable baseball teams in California, from the iconic blue caps with the LA logo, the dodger dogs, and to the jam packed games at Dodgers Stadium. The baseball team is loved by all fans and proud LA residents, and this year, the LA Dodgers competed against the New York Yankees in the World Series.
The World Series has been the annual championship series of Major League Baseball since 1903, played between the champions of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) and the National League Championship Series (NLCS). A series of best-of-seven games determine the winners of the Commissioner’s Trophy, meaning that the team that wins four games first are the champions.
The games are held in both home and away cities, giving fans of both teams the opportunity to attend the games. Nick Doom, recounts memories of going to Dodger opening games for 25 years with his grandfather. “I think sports’ impact is to unify our diverse populations around a central theme that everyone can talk about, feel joy, and express themselves freely without hurting anyone,” Mr. Doom said. For the 2024 games, it was decided that games 1 and 2 were to be played in Los Angeles, while games 3, 4, and 5 were to be played in New York.
“I had never been to a Dodgers game until Armenian Heritage night at the Dodgers Stadium back in August. I had always wanted to go, but never got around to it. Seeing bits and pieces of the games during the World Series were so much cooler after having gone to a game. For students that have never been to one, I highly recommend adding it onto your bucket list!” Mrs. Narine Tatevosian said.
The Los Angeles Dodgers earned their spot in this year’s world series by winning the National League Championship Series (NLCS). The win against the New York Mets not only guaranteed participation in the World Series, but also proved how strong the team is, with a record breaking total of 46 runs scored during the NLCS.
The New York Yankees secured their spot in the World Series by winning the American League Championship Series (ALCS) against the Cleveland Guardians. The Dodgers and Yankees are very familiar with one another, as they have met eleven times in the World Series, the first in 1941. Through the course of the eleven games, the Yankees had a total of 8-3 in series wins. In 2024, the two teams fought for the The Commissioner’s Trophy for the twelfth time.
The World Series kicked off in Dodgers stadium on October 25th, with the Dodgers starting off strong with a 6-3 win against the Yankees. During the first game, Freddie Freeman smashed a walk-off grand slam for the Dodgers. A walk-off grand slam occurs when the batter hits a grand slam, or in other words, a home run with the bases loaded. This means there are runners on all three bases, so four runs would be achieved.
This historic moment is celebrated as the first ever to occur in World Series history and the second to occur in postseason history. Fans compare this iconic moment to Dodger Kirk Gibson’s legendary pinch-hit walk-off homer in the first game of the 1988 World Series against the Yankees. “My dad and I watched the World Series Dodgers game together, and seeing Freddie Freeman do something that hasn’t been done in over 30 years was a memory I’m sure neither of us will ever forget,” senior Aleen Yadegarian said.
The Dodgers went on to win the second game in LA, as well as the third game in New York, meeting a total of three out of the four games needed to win. At that point, if the Dodgers won another game, they would become the champions in the competing teams state of New York. However, during the fourth game, the Yankees won a victory of 11-4, which meant a fifth game would be added to the championship.
On October 30th, during the fifth game in New York, the Dodgers won a 7-6, signifying the four out of the seven needed to win. The Dodgers closed out the series in Game 5, beating the New York Yankees and securing their eight World Series title.
