Dodgers fans in 'heaven' celebrating with champs
LOS ANGELES -- An estimated quarter-million people donning Dodger blue gathered in downtown L.A. on Friday with two World Series’ worth of celebrating to do.
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Everyone was abuzz from the Dodgers’ Fall Classic victory over the Yankees, which concluded with a historic comeback win in Game 5 on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. But there was also plenty of pent-up energy from L.A.’s 2020 championship against the Rays, when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the city from celebrating together in proper fashion.
That spurred fans to travel in from all over the Southland for the Dodgers’ first World Series parade since 1988. Before the sun was even up, scores had already assembled for a pre-parade rally at Gloria Molina Grand Park. Others lined the sidewalks and the balcony of City Hall, in front of which double-decker buses carrying the players, coaches, team employees and their families kicked off their 1.2-mile parade route, which culminated with a ticketed event at Dodger Stadium.
The World Series trophy was hoisted. The crowd chanted for World Series MVP Freddie Freeman, as well as for Shohei Ohtani’s dog, Decoy, who rode along. Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass made an appearance to lead a “Let’s go Dodgers” cheer and to encourage all to celebrate peacefully.
"Look at that. It's incredible," Clayton Kershaw said. "I've never gotten to experience anything like this, and it makes everything worth it."
For as much as Friday was about the current team, it was also a chance to commemorate all that came before. Ralph Lopez of Monrovia had memories of watching Sandy Koufax dominate on the mound. Bobby Trahan of Hollywood grew up admiring Dusty Baker. And, of course, countless fans owe their passion for Dodgers baseball to Fernando Valenzuela and Fernandomania.
The festivities included several renditions of “Happy Birthday” in honor of Valenzuela, who would have turned 64 on Friday. The legendary left-hander passed away on Oct. 22, three days before the World Series began.
Elvira Casas and her mother, Margarita Carrillo, of Commerce, remember listening to Valenzuela’s 1981 Opening Day start on the radio, as called by Jaime Jarrín. Friday was the first Dodgers parade for both, as life circumstances upended their plans to attend the one in 1988.
“At the time, we were like, ‘OK, well, next year, because they'll do this again really soon, right?’” said Casas. “And then next year came, and then the year after that, and then there was a decade, and then there was two, and then it was three. And then in 2020, there was no way that we could come. So [my mother] texted me yesterday like, ‘So are we going or what?’ … I immediately called in, and we're here. We're so excited.”
Love for the Dodgers is, quite often, a family affair. But for many, it’s also a way to build community. Stephanie Torres, who attended the parade with two of her friends, pointed to the Dodgers’ heritage nights as a meaningful way that the team brings people together.
“I'm half-Mexican, half-Salvadoran, so I love going to those,” said Torres. “Those sweatshirts we get are always so nice. … We get to see our community and our people get together.”
For Matt Gilson, Amy Pircher and Daniel Brim, the community they formed was more virtual. Even as all three lived outside of Los Angeles, they found each other through a Dodgers fan blog, Dodgers Digest, communing there and on social media for more than a decade before finally getting the opportunity to enjoy a parade together. (The author was previously a contributor to Dodgers Digest.)