Jubilant celebrations cover the city of Los Angeles as the LA Dodgers secure their first Major League Baseball World Series in 32 years!
The Dodgers claim their seventh World Series after defeating Tampa Bay Rays 4-2, in a best of seven games, at the Globe Life Park – home of the Texas Rangers. Making it the first finals since 1944 held at a neutral arena, rather than having a home advantage for either team.
The shortened season, due to the coronavirus pandemic, had been played behind closed doors but MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred, had stated he wished to have some fans in the stadium for the finals and after approval, a maximum of 11,500 was admitted for these games. Winning a title in front of your fans makes all the difference.
Reaching their third final in four years, having lost in 2017 to Houston Astros and then losing to the Boston Red Sox the following year, the Dodgers were adamant to ensure history wouldn’t repeat itself.
Dodgers player, Corey Seager, gave LA the lead before teammate Mookie Betts hit a home run during the eighth inning to secure the victory on the night and overall. Late on, Seager was award the series’ Most Valuable Player award.
They now join the LA Lakers, in the winners’ circle, after they claimed their first NBA Championship since 2010, defeating Miami Heat 4-2 again in a best of seven matches.
It seems rather poignant that the team Kobe Bryant played most of his career for, went on to win the title, and it feels like a perfect way to honour him after Bryant’s shock passing earlier in 2020.
With this victory, it now makes them the joint-most successful team in basketball, alongside Boston Celtics with 17 Championships apiece. However, the Lakers have reached the finals eleven more times than their east coast rivals.
The city of Los Angeles will now be hoping that either LA Galaxy or Los Angeles FC can secure the MLS cup meanwhile LA Rams or LA Chargers can take home this years’ Superbowl.
By doing so they would leapfrog the city of Chicago and become the third most successful city in the history of sport in the United States of America with only New York City and Boston sitting above them. It will be an intense end to their respective seasons so watch this space.
