It finally happened. On November 1, 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers did the one thing that has felt impossible in baseball for a quarter-century: they repeated. By the time Yoshinobu Yamamoto induced that final, breathless double play in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 7, the Rogers Centre in Toronto felt like it was vibrating.
The Dodgers took down the Toronto Blue Jays in a 5-4 thriller, winning the series 4-3 and clinching their ninth title in franchise history.
Honestly, if you missed it, you missed one of the most chaotic Fall Classics ever played. People are calling it a dynasty now. Can you blame them? They’re the first team to win back-to-back since the Yankees did it in 2000. That is a long, long time to wait for a repeat.
Who won the world series this year?
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2025 World Series. It wasn't exactly a cakewalk, though. They entered the postseason with a 93-69 record—solid, but they weren't even the top seed in the National League (that was the Brewers). But when the lights got bright, the Dodgers just stopped losing. They tore through the NL playoffs with a 9-1 record before running into a Blue Jays team that looked destined to win its first title since '93.
The series was a total seesaw. Toronto actually had the Dodgers on the ropes, leading the series 3-2 after a dominant Game 5. But then things got weird.
The Turning Point in Game 7
Game 7 was an absolute fever dream. It lasted 11 innings. It featured some of the weirdest strategy calls you'll ever see.
Toronto was literally two outs away from the trophy. Two. Outs. Then Miguel Rojas—yeah, the veteran infielder who spent most of the year being the "glue guy"—swung at a pitch he had no business hitting and sent a solo homer over the wall to tie it. The stadium went silent. You could hear a pin drop in Ontario.
In the 11th, Will Smith (the catcher, not the actor) crushed a go-ahead home run. It wasn't a cheapie, either. That ball was gone the second it left the bat. Yamamoto, who had already pitched earlier in the series, came out on basically zero rest to slam the door.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto: The $325 Million Bargain
If you want to know why the Dodgers are champions, look at Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He was named the World Series MVP, and frankly, it wasn't even close.
The guy was a machine. He went 3-0 in the series alone. Think about that. In a seven-game series, one pitcher accounted for three of the four wins. He finished with a 1.02 ERA. He was carving up Blue Jays hitters with a splitter that looked like it was falling off a table.
After the game, even Shohei Ohtani was gushing about him. Ohtani basically told reporters that Yamamoto is the best pitcher in the world right now. It's hard to argue when the guy is holding the MVP trophy and a champagne bottle at the same time.
Key Moments You Probably Forgot
- Game 1 Madness: The Blue Jays actually smoked the Dodgers 11-4 in the opener. Addison Barger hit a pinch-hit grand slam. People thought the Dodgers were cooked early.
- The 18-Inning Marathon: Game 3 was a six-hour nightmare. Shohei Ohtani set a record by reaching base nine times and getting intentionally walked four times in a single game. Eventually, Will Klein got the win for the Dodgers.
- The Rookie Factor: Toronto’s Trey Yesavage was terrifying. He broke records for strikeouts by a rookie in Game 5, making the Dodgers' high-priced lineup look like they were swinging garden hoses.
Why This Win Changes the "Dodgers Narrative"
For years, the knock on LA was that they couldn't win "real" titles or that they choked when it mattered most. Well, that talk is pretty much dead now.
They won in 2024. They won in 2025. They beat a stacked Phillies team in the NLDS and swept a very good Brewers team in the NLCS. They did this while dealing with a rotation that was constantly being patched together with duct tape. Guys like Andrew Heaney—who just announced his retirement, by the way—came in and gave them huge innings when they needed them most.
Dave Roberts has his critics, sure. But the man just steered a team to two straight rings. You have to respect the way he managed the bullpen in Game 7, pulling Shohei Ohtani (who struggled on the mound in Game 4) and trusting the "bridge" guys to get the ball to Yamamoto.
Practical Takeaways for the 2026 Season
If you're a fan or a bettor looking ahead, there are a few things we learned from this 2025 run that will definitely matter next year.
First, the "Superteam" era is officially working in Los Angeles. The combination of Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman provides a floor that is just higher than everyone else's. Even when Betts struggled (he hit .138 in the series, which is wild), the depth of the lineup saved them.
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Second, the Blue Jays are for real. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was the ALCS MVP for a reason. They fell short in Game 7, but their core is young and they've finally figured out how to win in the postseason. Don't be surprised if we see a rematch.
Third, the National League is getting top-heavy. The Dodgers went 9-1 in the NL playoffs. That's dominance. If you're looking for a "Dodger-killer" in 2026, you're looking for a team with three elite starters who can match Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow.
The 2025 World Series proved that while you can buy talent, you still have to have the guts to win an 11-inning Game 7 on the road. The Dodgers had both.
Next Steps for Baseball Fans:
- Check the 2026 Spring Training schedule: Pitchers and catchers report in about a month.
- Watch the Heaney retirement tribute: One of the unsung heroes of this run is hanging them up.
- Keep an eye on the Mets: They’ve already started spending big this offseason, signing Bo Bichette to try and keep pace with the Dodgers.
The parade in LA might be over, but the target on the Dodgers' back has never been bigger.
Fact Check Reference:
- Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers (4-3 over Toronto Blue Jays)
- Date: November 1, 2025 (Game 7)
- MVP: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
- Key Stats: 11 innings in Game 7; Miguel Rojas game-tying HR; Will Smith go-ahead HR.
- Historical Note: First back-to-back champs since 1998-2000 Yankees.