Champions Series: the Los Angeles Dodgers
From Brooklyn to LA, with titles all along the way.
Another day, another championship won. What started with the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Stanley Cup win, progressed into the Los Angeles Lakers NBA Championship, and has now moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers World Series win. The Dodgers, an organization which now has now earned seven world titles, finally got back to the top of the mountain with their win over the Tampa Bay Rays. In what was an excellent back and forth series, the Dodgers won 4 games to 2 with a final score of 3-1. However, not all was well in what would be the final game of the series, at least not according to Tampa Bay fans as Blake Snell, pitcher for the Rays, was removed for Nick Anderson despite Snell’s performance. Obviously, that decision didn’t work for Rays manager Kevin Cash.
Current series fumbles aside though, the Los Angeles Dodgers themselves have had a recent history of World Series fumbles trying to return to the World Series crown. In 2017, the Dodgers lost in Game 7 to the Houston Astros, losing 5 – 1. Then, in 2018, the Dodgers would fall once again under the lights, this time to the Boston Red Sox, losing 5 – 1 in Game 5. However, despite the losses, the Dodgers win this year marks an end to a 32 year title drought, marking the Dodgers last World Series win back in 1988.
Continuing with the history of the Dodgers, it wasn’t all misfortune. The organization, especially back in the mid-50s to mid-60s, had a string of World Series wins that any club would envy (maybe not the Yankees, but I digress). Something worth bringing significant attention to is the Dodgers’ 1955 World Series win, which was earned while they were still under the mantle of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Why this specific series is unique was due to it featuring Jackie Robinson, who would win his only championship in 1955. Despite only earning one title, Robinson’s legacy would stand the test of time.
The following championships would be earned as the organization transferred to Los Angeles. 1959 would be their next World Series win against the Chicago White Sox, then in 1963 where they swept the New York Yankees, and, finally, ending their championship era of the 50’s and 60’s, 1965 would be the next win against the Minnesota Twins. They eventually would find success again in the 80’s, specifically 1981 and 1988, where they defeated the Yankees and the Oakland Athletics, respectively.
All in all, the story of the Dodgers success is a storied one among baseball fans. So much so that those who reside within the Brooklyn area are still die-hards when it comes to the team. Yes, despite the lack of titles that organization possesses, there is still a lot of love to be had. I have a funny feeling that it’s only a matter of time before we see this originally New York based baseball team win the World Series again. Who knows, it might even be next year (he said as a way, way too early prediction).