The champagne was still sticky on the clubhouse floor at Yankee Stadium when the realization finally hit. For fans of the Boys in Blue, the narrative had finally shifted. Honestly, it feels like forever ago, but the last time the Dodgers won the World Series was just a few months back, in October 2024. They did it in five games. It wasn’t just a win; it was a massive exorcism of every "Mickey Mouse ring" joke and postseason collapse narrative that had trailed the franchise for years.
People forget how fast things move in baseball.
The 2024 Fall Classic pitted the two biggest titans of the sport against each other: the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees. It was the matchup everyone—from the MLB executives to the casual fan in a bar in Des Moines—actually wanted to see. You had Shohei Ohtani, the literal face of the sport, playing on a partially torn labrum. You had Freddie Freeman turning into a folk hero with a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 that looked like a carbon copy of Kirk Gibson’s 1988 miracle.
What Really Happened When the Dodgers Won in 2024
If you look at the box scores, it looks dominant. 4-1. But that doesn't tell the whole story of the last time the Dodgers won the World Series.
Game 5 was a fever dream. The Dodgers were down 5-0 early. In the Bronx. Against Gerrit Cole, who was absolutely dealing. Most teams fold there. Most fanbases start looking toward next season. But then, the fifth inning happened. A series of defensive blunders by the Yankees—a dropped fly ball by Judge, a missed throw at first, a mental lapse on a grounder—opened the door just a crack. The Dodgers didn't just walk through it; they kicked the door off the hinges.
Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernández drove in runs. Suddenly, it was 5-5. The stadium went from a deafening roar to a library in about ten minutes.
The bullpen work in that final game was nothing short of heroic. Dave Roberts, often criticized for his pitcher management, pushed every single right button. He brought in Blake Treinen for a high-leverage bridge. He then turned to Walker Buehler—the guy who had been struggling with his identity all season after surgery—to close it out on short rest. Buehler looked like the 2018 version of himself. He was mean. He was clinical. When Alex Verdugo swung through that final strike, the drought (if you can call it that) was officially over.
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The Freddie Freeman Factor
You can't talk about the 2024 victory without talking about Freddie's ankles. He could barely walk during the NLCS. Yet, he ended up winning World Series MVP. He homered in the first four games of the series. Think about that. No one had ever done that before. His Game 1 walk-off grand slam is already being etched into the permanent history of Dodger Stadium.
It’s kinda crazy when you think about the pressure on this team. They spent over a billion dollars in the offseason. Anything less than a ring would have been labeled the biggest failure in the history of North American sports. They carried that weight for 162 games plus the playoffs.
Addressing the 2020 "Bubble" Comparisons
For a long time, rivals pointed at the 2020 title and shrugged. "It was only 60 games," they’d say. "There were no fans in the stands."
The last time the Dodgers won the World Series before 2024 was indeed that chaotic pandemic year in Arlington, Texas. While that title was statistically valid and incredibly difficult to win given the mental strain of the "bubble," it didn't provide the parade the city of Los Angeles craved. The 2024 win effectively silenced that noise. They beat the Padres in a grueling five-game NLDS, outlasted the Mets in the NLCS, and then dismantled the Yankees.
The Numbers That Defined the Run
Let’s get into the weeds for a second because the stats from this last championship are wild.
The Dodgers’ offense in the postseason was a juggernaut of plate discipline. They didn't just hit homers; they walked. A lot. Max Muncy set a postseason record for consecutive plate appearances reaching base safely. By the time they reached the World Series, the Yankees' pitching staff was exhausted just from trying to find the strike zone against these guys.
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The payroll is the elephant in the room. Yes, the Dodgers spent $700 million on Ohtani and $325 million on Yoshinobu Yamamoto. But games aren't won by bank accounts; they’re won by guys like Tommy Edman. Edman, a trade deadline acquisition from the Cardinals who hadn't played all year due to injury, ended up being the NLCS MVP. That’s the nuance of a championship team. It’s the superstars getting you there and the role players finishing the job.
Pitching Through the Pain
The rotation was held together by duct tape and prayer. Tyler Glasnow was out. Clayton Kershaw was on the bench in a sweatshirt. Gavin Stone was done. The Dodgers basically won a World Series with a three-man rotation and a "bullpen day" every fourth game.
Jack Flaherty, a local kid from Burbank, started Game 1 and Game 5. He wasn't always perfect, but he was gritty. Yoshinobu Yamamoto proved he was worth every penny in Game 2, shutting down a potent Yankees lineup and showing that his stuff translates to the biggest stage in the world.
Why the 2024 Title Matters for Baseball
Baseball needed this. The Dodgers are the closest thing the sport has to a global brand right now, largely thanks to the Ohtani effect. Millions of people in Japan were waking up at 9:00 AM to watch these games. The TV ratings were the highest they’ve been in years.
When the last time the Dodgers won the World Series happened, it wasn't just a win for LA; it was a win for the "super-team" concept. It proved that you can actually buy a championship if you also have the scouting and player development to back it up.
Some fans hate it. They want the small-market teams to win. But there’s something special about seeing the pinstripes versus the Dodger blue. It feels like "prestige" baseball.
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The Celebration in Los Angeles
The parade was a catharsis. For thirty-six years (excluding the 2020 celebration that couldn't happen), the city had waited for a moment to gather at 5th and Flower. When the buses rolled through downtown LA in late October 2024, it was estimated that over 200,000 people showed up.
Kershaw, the veteran who had seen the highest highs and lowest lows, was visibly emotional. He’s the bridge between the old era and this new, high-spending dynasty. Even though he didn't pitch in the postseason due to his toe injury, his presence in the dugout was the glue.
Looking Ahead: Can They Do It Again?
The scary part for the rest of the league? This team is built to stay.
Most of their core is under contract for a long time. Ohtani will be back on the mound eventually. Yamamoto is just getting started. The last time the Dodgers won the World Series might not be the "last time" for very long. We could be looking at the start of a genuine dynasty that rivals the late-90s Yankees.
Basically, the Dodgers have figured out the formula. You combine unlimited financial resources with a front office that values analytics more than anyone else, and you get a team that is never truly out of a game.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to commemorate the 2024 championship or just want to understand the historical context better, here’s what you should focus on:
- Authentic Memorabilia: Focus on Freddie Freeman World Series MVP items. His performance was historic, and his 1-of-1 cards or signed jerseys from this specific series are likely to hold immense value because of the "Kirk Gibson" parallel.
- Rewatch the "Innings of Death": If you want to learn the game, go back and watch the 5th inning of Game 5. It is a masterclass in how pressure forces mistakes and how a disciplined team capitalizes on them.
- The Ohtani Impact: Keep an eye on the 2025 season. Ohtani winning a ring in his first year with the Dodgers changes his legacy forever. He is no longer just a "stats guy" on a losing team; he’s a champion.
- Visiting the Stadium: If you head to Dodger Stadium, the "Centerfield Plaza" now houses the 2024 trophy display. It’s a great spot to see the evolution of the franchise's success from the Brooklyn days to the modern era.
The 2024 World Series wasn't just a sporting event. It was a cultural moment that redefined what success looks like in the modern MLB. Whether you love them or hate them, the Dodgers are the gold standard. They took the "World Series or bust" ultimatum and actually delivered. That’s rare. Usually, the "bust" part happens. Not this time. Not for the 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers.