The Los Angeles Dodgers have carved out an even bigger place in baseball history. They’ve clinched their ninth championship and, for the first time in a quarter-century, gone back-to-back as World Series champs.
The Dodgers fought through a wild seven-game duel with the Toronto Blue Jays. Their tense 5–4 win in 11 innings capped a postseason loaded with grit, wild performances, and those moments fans never forget.
It wasn’t just about raw talent this year. The Dodgers showed off determination, sharp strategy, and nerves of steel when it counted most.
Dominance That Began in the Early Rounds
From the first pitch of the postseason, the Dodgers played like a team on a mission. They blasted through the opening rounds, taking nine of their first ten games.
Veteran leadership and a defense that just refused to break fueled that blazing start. That’s the kind of baseball that wins October.
Mookie Betts Sets the Defensive Tone
Mookie Betts made his presence felt in the NLDS against Philadelphia. Early in the series, Betts pulled off a defensive gem that reminded everyone the Dodgers could win with their gloves, not just their bats.
That play set the tone for a disciplined, all-in approach the team carried all month.
Historic Heroics in the NLCS
The Dodgers faced huge expectations and somehow managed to deliver. Game 4 of the NLCS, in particular, instantly became part of baseball folklore.
Shohei Ohtani’s Legendary Game 4
Shohei Ohtani didn’t just shine on the mound—he lit up the batter’s box too. Ten strikeouts and three home runs in a single postseason game? That’s just absurd, but Ohtani pulled it off.
He powered the Dodgers back to the World Series and showed why he might be the most unique talent we’ve ever seen in the sport.
World Series Drama: Resilience in Every Inning
The World Series against Toronto pushed the Dodgers to their limits. They scraped out two extra-inning wins and bounced back after dropping two straight at home.
That kind of mental toughness? Not everyone’s got it.
Yamamoto Channels Hershiser
Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw two complete-game gems in the postseason, including one in the World Series. Watching him pitch, you almost had to think of Orel Hershiser’s legendary ’88 run.
Yamamoto’s calm under fire mattered just as much as his stuff.
Kershaw’s Redemption
Clayton Kershaw came into October with plenty of playoff baggage. In Game 3—a marathon 18-inning slog—he wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam with laser-precise pitching.
That moment quieted the critics and moved the Dodgers closer to their goal.
Freddie Freeman Delivers Again
That same Game 3? Freddie Freeman ended it with a walk-off homer, almost a replay of his magic from last year’s World Series.
Freeman’s knack for the big moment fired up the whole team—and the crowd.
The Decisive Final Battles
Games 6 and 7 showed just how much every Dodger mattered in the push to bring the Commissioner’s Trophy back to L.A.
Kiké Hernández Forces Game 7
Game 6 saw Kiké Hernández pull off a highlight-reel catch and outfield throw that killed a Blue Jays rally. That play pretty much swung the momentum and set up a winner-take-all Game 7.
Game 7: Rojas and Smith Seal History
The Dodgers trailed late in Game 7 until Miguel Rojas smashed a game-tying homer in the ninth. He then locked down the infield with a couple of huge defensive plays.
Finally, Will Smith stepped up in the 11th and launched a go-ahead home run. Yamamoto came out of the bullpen to shut the door on Toronto and grabbed World Series MVP honors for good measure.
Legacy of a Championship Team
The 2024 Dodgers didn’t just win. They built a legacy, fueled by clutch performances from every corner of the roster.
Betts’ defense shined. Ohtani’s NLCS showing felt almost unreal.
Freeman came through in the biggest moments. Yamamoto owned the mound when it mattered most.
Each player chipped in something vital. This was a team effort—exactly the kind of story that keeps baseball fans coming back, season after season.
- Ninth championship in franchise history
- First repeat World Series winners in 25 years
- Two extra-inning victories in the Fall Classic
- Historic performances from Ohtani and Yamamoto
- Kershaw’s playoff redemption
With back-to-back titles, the Dodgers have set the bar for what a modern MLB dynasty looks like. Who knows what’s next, but for now, Los Angeles gets to savor a run that’ll stick in everyone’s memory for a long, long time.
Here is the source article for this story: 11 improbable moments that defined the Dodgers’ repeat World Series run
Experience Baseball History in Person
Want to walk the same grounds where baseball legends made history? Find accommodations near iconic ballparks across America and create your own baseball pilgrimage.
Check availability at hotels near: Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium
Plan your ballpark visit: Get MLB Ballpark Tickets and find accommodations nearby.
- Biographies
- Stadium Guides
- Current Baseball Players
- Current Players by Team
- Players that Retired in the 2020s
- Players that Retired in the 2010s
- Players that Retired in the 2000s
- Players that Retired in the 1990s
- Players that Retired in the 1980s
- Players that Retired in the 1970s
- Players that Retired in the 1960s
- Players that Retired in the 1950s
- Players that Retired in the 1940s
- Players that Retired in the 1930s