Conquering heroes: The Dodgers, who reached the World Series two of the last three years, finally found a way to win their first title in 32 years. Relive their memorable World Series run against the hardcharging Rays.
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Dodgers were the best team in baseball all season and last week walked away with the ultimate prize, holding the World Series championship trophy for the first time in 32 years.
Dodgers fans, who took over Globe Life Field, danced in the aisles and screamed into the night.
The 21st-century Dodgers, defeating the Rays 3-1 to clinch the World Series in six games, finally have their own heroes and piece of history to celebrate.
“This is our year,” said Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts. “We said it. This is our year. Everyone in this ballpark wearing Dodger blue, everyone all over the world wearing Dodger blue never wavered. This is our year. These players right here showed what toughness is all about. Resiliency. I’ve never been around a group that’s closer, that’s tougher, that I love more.”
Mission accomplished. There were plenty of heroes to go around, but all anyone could talk about was the ultimate move that led to their glory. It was the decision by Rays manager Kevin Cash to pull ace Blake Snell in the sixth inning of Game 6, which backfired in a colossal way.
“I’m not exactly sure why,” Dodgers star Mookie Betts said when asked about the move. “I’m not going to ask any questions. He was pitching a great game.”
Betts quickly helped the Dodgers rally for two runs to go up 2-1, and they never looked back.
So after winning eight consecutive National League West Division titles, three pennants and suffering two painful World Series losses, the Dodgers are atop the baseball world. No more talk of blown championship opportunities.
It doesn’t matter that this was a 60-game regular season, or that the World Series was played at a neutral site, or even with the trophy called a “piece of metal,” the Dodgers are true World Series champions.
“It’s been 32 long years since the Dodgers last celebrated as World Series champions,” said
Dodgers owner and chairman Mark Walter. “While our schedule was abbreviated, this pandemic year has felt longer than any other. There were times when it looked like we were headed for disappointment yet again.
“These players had their backs against the wall, but they stuck together and never gave up. They showed what can be accomplished when we believe in each other and when we believe in that dream. Thirty-two years ago, when Kirk Gibson hit that walkoff home run in Game 1 of the World Series, Vin Scully said: ‘In the year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened.’
“We have a rich history, but no other team has faced the impossible with a year like this.”