The Dodgers conquer the Yankees to clinch a second World Series title, marking the crowning achievement of the franchise’s blossoming “golden era.”
Walker Buehler spread his arms wide, an inviting gesture as his teammates converged upon him, encapsulating the indomitable resolve that marked this season. Summoned for an urgent, unexpected appearance, Buehler delivered the final strike that silenced the New York Yankees, sealing a thrilling 7-6 victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series.
The game veered far from the Dodgers’ blueprint. Yet, the surprises, like most of their 2024 season, only fortified them. Their journey ended triumphantly, and much of it is owed to Buehler’s heroics—pitching a flawless inning on a single day of rest after Game 3, a mere two years after his second Tommy John surgery. His scoreless inning shocked Yankee Stadium, igniting a joyous on-field celebration among his teammates.
Freddie Freeman’s selection as World Series MVP was a foregone conclusion; his home runs in each of the first four games and a pivotal two-run single in the fifth inning erased a five-run deficit, dismantling Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. Cole unraveled, his defense collapsing around him, surrendering five unearned runs amidst a series of fielding blunders.
This valiant comeback set the stage for a nail-biting finale. Blake Treinen, summoned in the sixth, held the Yankees at bay over seven outs. In the eighth, timely sacrifice flies by Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts nudged the Dodgers ahead. Buehler preserved the lead, ensuring that a parade would soon wind through Figueroa Street.
“This one has no asterisk,” manager David Roberts asserted.
The franchise’s eighth championship now stands alongside their pandemic-season title of 2020, reaffirming a lavish $1.4 billion offseason that introduced Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the roster, bolstering the legacies of Roberts and Andrew Friedman. “My ultimate, big-picture goal is that when we’re done, we’ll look back and say, ‘This was the golden age of Dodger baseball,’” Friedman said. “That’s an incredibly lofty benchmark to strive for.”
The legacy traces back to an era when the Dodgers embodied baseball royalty, capturing four titles between 1955 and 1965. From Brooklyn’s iconic “Boys of Summer” to the Southern California powerhouse, they were a team of legends—Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Duke Snider, and Roy Campanella. Today’s Dodgers hope to mirror those Hall of Fame days, building on a foundation laid when Mark Walter’s consortium acquired the team for a staggering $2.15 billion, rescuing it from bankruptcy in 2012.
The path to preeminence was defined by near-misses and heartbreaks. Under Friedman, the Dodgers dominated the West, but the 2017 and 2018 World Series defeats to the Astros and Red Sox—both later shadowed by controversy—lingered. It wasn’t until the abbreviated 2020 season that they hoisted the trophy again, albeit in a season marred by COVID-19, an event capped off by a subdued, masked celebration and private flights home. Joc Pederson likened it to “a Navy SEAL mission: completed, yet uncelebrated.”
The subsequent seasons were marred by high expectations and stinging exits. A 111-win 2022 Dodgers team was abruptly ousted in October, as was a 100-win squad the following year. Public confidence waned, as did the team’s collective spirit, leading to accusations and grievances, some directed internally. After an ignominious defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023, Roberts reminded his team, “Our only option is resilience.”
This offseason, Friedman targeted stars Ohtani and Yamamoto to revive the Dodgers’ competitive edge. Walter’s unwavering commitment convinced Ohtani to sign a historic, deferred $700 million contract. Coupled with hefty investments in Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Teoscar Hernández, the Dodgers’ offseason spending soared into the billions. A rival general manager quipped, “How many games are they winning this year—120?” In reality, it was a hard-fought 98.
Yet, obstacles plagued them. A scandal involving Ohtani’s interpreter marred the season’s start. Injuries struck Betts and Yamamoto in June, and Glasnow’s recurring elbow troubles benched him for October. “Not again,” Max Muncy lamented.
Facing adversity in Atlanta, Roberts reminded the team of their lineage and legacy. “Look around,” Muncy told his teammates. “We’ve got future Hall of Famers and All-Stars right here.”
Their postseason journey was arduous. The Padres, poised to eliminate them in the NLDS, crumbled as the Dodgers rallied, with a Game 4 shutout and a decisive Game 5 win. From there, the Dodgers decimated New York’s teams, with Freeman’s dramatic Game 1 walk-off setting the tone.
The final game against the Yankees tested every ounce of their resolve. Jack Flaherty struggled early, surrendering four runs. By the fifth, the Dodgers were down by five, yet they seized their chance after Yankees errors—Judge dropped a fly ball, Volpe misfired, and Cole failed to cover first base. Freeman’s two-run single tied the game, and Hernández’s double cemented it.
The Yankees mounted a spirited response, working Dodger relievers, with Judge doubling and Jazz Chisholm Jr. walking to spark the crowd. But Treinen held the line, stranding runners in the eighth.
At 11:43 p.m., the bullpen door swung open for Buehler. Earlier, he’d assured Roberts, “If it gets tight, I’m ready,” and he delivered. Volpe grounded out, Wells struck out, and on a final knuckle curveball, Verdugo swung and missed. The Dodgers, triumphant, mobbed Buehler.
For Los Angeles, this victory carries no asterisk. A celebratory parade awaits, and this era inches closer to the golden legacy envisioned by Friedman.
