The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a World Series comeback with consecutive victories over the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre to become MLB’s first repeat champion in 25 seasons.
The Dodgers won their 23rd National League pennant in franchise history and continued to overcome inconsistent offense and a shaky bullpen to capture their second World Series title in a row.
The Dodgers have now won three championships since the turn of the decade. Three World Series titles in six years has seemingly added significant weight to the legacy of the organization and select players.
“It would mean everything for me,” Mookie Betts said when looking ahead to the potential of winning a fourth World Series ring. “We play the game to win a World Series. You’re doing pretty well if you can win three titles in six years.
“Obviously my end goal and probably the goal of everyone is to be in the Hall of Fame one day, so I definitely think that helps the cause.”
Betts hadn’t given much thought to what a title in 2025 would have meant to the Dodgers, instead choosing to live in the moment. But he allowed for the notion that the accomplishment likely would put the Dodgers in rarified air.
“I’ve never really thought about dynasties just because I’m in it,” he said. “I know how hard it is. I just don’t really think about dynasty, so I don’t know what it consists of.
“But I guess if you’re thinking about going to the postseason and obviously having a chance to win a World Series year after year, that would probably qualify as some type of dynasty. But I don’t know what it takes to call it that. So I’m just going to enjoy being in whatever mode we are now.”
Freddie Freeman recalled an early message from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts that seemingly helped set the tone for the long year ahead.
“I think it kind of started in Spring Training when Doc does his meetings,” Freeman said. “At the start of Spring Training, he was talking about how special it would be to do something that hasn’t been done in 25 years. Honestly, that’s just to get everyone fired up and excited about Spring Training.”
Freeman added he had lost track of that speech during the season, but remembered his words and the thought of a dynasty as the Dodgers began advancing in the postseason.
“It came up a few times for me last week,” Freeman said days before the World Series began. “I think it’s special. To be in that position is pretty amazing.
“Just to be considered that. To win titles, if we win this one, three in six years for the Dodgers, you’re looking at the Yankees, and the Giants in the early 2010s with three in five years. Just winning one is hard.
“Dynasty, I think if you can get three in a matter of five, six years, I guess you could say it is one. I think the sustained winning the Dodgers have done for so long and then to obviously cement it with some championships, if we do it, I guess you could call it a modern day dynasty.”
Dodgers end MLB’s repeat champion drought
With the Dodgers outlasting the Blue Jays in the World Series, MLB now has their first repeat champion since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.
The Dodgers additionally are the first National League team to win back-to-back titles since the Cincinnati Reds from 1975-1976.
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