The Los Angeles Dodgers held 2020 World Series ring ceremonies — both private and in public — for former players as they have visited Dodger Stadium throughout this season with their respective new clubs.
However, for Ross Stripling and the Toronto Blue Jays, the closest they would come was this week’s visit to Anaheim for a series with the L.A. Angels. With Stripling not getting a chance for an actual return this year, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman made the drive down Interstate 5.
“Have had this series circled on my calendar since Spring Training,” Stripling told DodgerBlue.com. “I knew Andrew and I were going to sync up somewhere for a handoff. I had obviously seen the rings on social media, from pictures with my Dodger teammates, but until you see it in person, feel the weight of it, you just can’t appreciate it fully.
“Every detail was thought about and whoever designed it couldn’t have done a better job. It blew me away. And for Andrew to drive it down and hand deliver it in person is such an awesome move. He could have easily mailed it or sent someone else. But he took time out of his busy week to drive 90 minutes each way to deliver the ring to me in person.
Leaving SoCal with some new hardware! #WorldSeries2020 pic.twitter.com/Hy6viaQkhr
— Ross Stripling (@RossStripling) August 12, 2021
“Testament to why people love working for and playing for him and why his teams are successful. I’m really glad I could have my family here with me to receive the ring. It’s about as big as my 6-month-old’s full fist.
“Just an awesome moment we were able to capture as a family and it really means a lot to us.”
Stripling’s time with the Dodgers came to an end when he was sent to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline last year. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as a player and person,” Friedman said at the time.
Stripling went 23-25 with a 3.68 ERA and 404 strikeouts in 143 games (59 starts) across five seasons with the Dodgers. He was selected by the team in the fifth round of the 2012 Draft.
Dodgers World Series ring recipients
Along with Stripling, former Dodgers who have received a World Series ring this season include Dylan Floro, Joc Pederson, Alex Wood and Jake McGee. The team also gifted a ring to Champ Pederson, and sent one to Vin Scully and Alanna Rizzo as well.
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