The energy at Dodger Stadium during Game 5 of the 2024 World Series wasn't just about a trophy. It was about exorcising a ghost that had been haunting Chavez Ravine for four years. If you’re looking for the last time Dodgers won World Series titles, you have to look at October 30, 2024, when Los Angeles pulled off a historic comeback against the New York Yankees. It was messy. It was loud. It was exactly what the 2020 title wasn't allowed to be.
For a lot of fans, 2020 felt... unfinished. Sure, the rings are real. The banners fly. But winning in a "bubble" in Arlington, Texas, in front of a limited crowd during a global pandemic left a weird taste in people's mouths. 2024 changed that. When Walker Buehler struck out Alex Verdugo to clinch it in the Bronx, it validated an entire era of Dodgers baseball.
The 2024 Comeback: A Night of Chaos in the Bronx
Nobody expected the fifth game to go down the way it did. The Yankees were cruising. Gerrit Cole was dealing. Then, the fifth inning happened. It was probably the most "baseball" thing to ever happen in a championship game. A dropped fly ball by Aaron Judge, a throwing error by Anthony Volpe, and a weird mental lapse where Cole didn't cover first base.
Suddenly, a five-run lead evaporated.
The Dodgers didn't just win; they survived. Freddie Freeman, playing on essentially one good leg, put together a performance that will be talked about as long as baseball exists. He hit a home run in each of the first four games. He drove in 12 runs. That’s a record, by the way. He joined the likes of Bobby Richardson (1960) for most RBIs in a single World Series. Honestly, seeing a guy who could barely walk a week prior turn into Babe Ruth was the highlight of the season.
Why 2024 Felt More "Real" Than 2020
Critics love to talk about the "Mickey Mouse" ring of 2020. It's a tired argument, but you hear it constantly on sports talk radio. The 60-game season was a sprint, not a marathon. The 2024 victory was a 162-game grind followed by a gauntlet against the Padres and Mets before finally dismantling the Yankees in five games.
✨ Don't miss: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
The last time Dodgers won World Series before 2024, they did it in front of 11,000 fans in Texas. This time? Millions lined the streets of Los Angeles for a parade that looked like a sea of blue. It was the first time the city got to celebrate a title with a parade since 1988. Think about that. Nearly four decades of waiting for a proper party.
The Pitching Strategy That Saved the Season
Let's get into the weeds for a second. The Dodgers' rotation was a mess heading into the postseason. Tyler Glasnow was out. Clayton Kershaw was on the shelf. Gavin Stone was done. Basically, Andrew Friedman and Dave Roberts had to duct-tape a pitching staff together using Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and a prayer.
They relied heavily on the bullpen. Guys like Blake Treinen and Michael Kopech became the backbone of the team. In Game 5, Roberts used his leverage arms early. Then, in a move that felt like a movie script, Walker Buehler came out of the bullpen on short rest to close it out. Buehler hadn't been himself all year after returning from a second Tommy John surgery. But for those final three outs, he looked like the ace of 2018 again.
- The Freddie Freeman Factor: MVP honors were a no-brainer. His walk-off grand slam in Game 1 set the tone. It was the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.
- Mookie Betts' Consistency: While he didn't put up the flashy power numbers of Freeman, his defense and baserunning were clinical.
- The Teoscar Hernández Impact: A one-year "prove it" deal turned into a franchise-altering signing. His double in the fifth inning of Game 5 drove in the tying runs.
Comparing the Eras: 1988, 2020, and 2024
If you talk to older fans, 1988 is still the gold standard. Kirk Gibson's limp. Orel Hershiser's arm. It was a miracle run. But the 2024 team felt like a juggernaut finally fulfilling its destiny. This wasn't an underdog story; it was a $300 million payroll finally delivering the goods.
There's a lot of debate about which win was more impressive. 1988 was the most improbable. 2020 was the most difficult mentally, given the isolation. 2024 was the most dominant. The Dodgers trailed in all four of their victories in the 2024 World Series. They didn't just beat the Yankees; they broke them.
🔗 Read more: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
The last time Dodgers won World Series before this current run was that 1988 season against the Athletics. For thirty-two years, the franchise was a "regular season champion" that choked in October. 2024 officially killed that narrative. They are now a dynasty. You can't call a team with two titles in five years anything else.
The Shohei Ohtani Element
We can't talk about 2024 without mentioning the $700 million man. Shohei Ohtani didn't have a massive World Series at the plate. He was dealing with a partially dislocated shoulder suffered in Game 2. He was clearly in pain. Every swing looked like a struggle.
But his presence in the lineup changed everything. Pitchers couldn't navigate the top of the order without facing the greatest player on the planet. Even at 60% health, Ohtani forced the Yankees to pitch differently. It opened the door for Freeman and Teoscar. Plus, let's be real—the marketing and global eyes Ohtani brought to this series made the victory feel massive. It wasn't just an L.A. win; it was a global event.
What Happens Next for the Dodgers?
They aren't going away. The core of Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman is locked up for years. Unlike some teams that win and then dismantle, the Dodgers are built to do this again in 2025.
If you're a fan trying to soak this in, remember how rare this is. The Yankees haven't won since 2009. The Mets haven't won since 1986. Winning two in five years is a luxury that 90% of MLB fanbases will never experience.
💡 You might also like: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
The last time Dodgers won World Series honors, it felt like a relief. 2020 was about "finally." 2024 was about "obviously." They proved they could do it the "real" way, over a full season, in hostile territory, against their biggest historic rival.
How to Relive the Moment
If you want to dive deeper into the stats and the "how" of the 2024 win, check out the official MLB film of the World Series. It captures the mic'd up moments that you didn't hear on the broadcast. Seeing Freddie Freeman talk to his dad after Game 1 will make even a Giants fan a little misty-eyed.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Jersey Sales: Ohtani and Freeman jerseys are still breaking records. If you want a "World Series Champions" patch version, get it now before they switch to the 2025 spring training stock.
- Watch the Replay of the 5th Inning, Game 5: It’s a masterclass in how pressure can break even the best athletes. Watch Gerrit Cole’s face when he realizes he didn't cover first base. It's a lesson in fundamentals.
- Visit the Stadium Tour: If you're in L.A., the stadium tours now include the 2024 trophy display. It's a lot more impressive in person than it is on TV.
- Follow the Offseason: The Dodgers are already linked to more big-name pitchers. The "last time" they won might not be the last time for long.
The 2024 victory was a catharsis. It settled the "bubble" debate and cemented this group as one of the greatest collections of talent to ever wear a baseball uniform. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement that the Dodgers own this decade of baseball.