It felt like the entire baseball world was holding its breath. The lights at Yankee Stadium were blinding, the tension was thick enough to choke a horse, and everyone—honestly, everyone—thought we were headed back to Los Angeles for a Game 6. But baseball has a funny way of ripping up the script right when you think you've got the ending figured out. If you’re looking for the short answer: the Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2024 World Series. They didn't just win it, though. They snatched it.
They took down the New York Yankees in five games, finishing the job on October 30, 2024. It was the eighth title in the history of the franchise. For a team that has spent billions to assemble a "dream team" roster, this felt like the inevitable destination, but the path they took to get there was anything but predictable.
The Epic Collapse and the Dodgers' Five-Run Miracle
Let’s talk about Game 5. This is the game people will be talking about at bars in Echo Park and the Bronx for the next twenty years. The Yankees were up 5-0. Gerrit Cole was absolutely cruising. He looked untouchable. It felt like the Yankees had finally found their rhythm and were going to force the series back to California.
Then the fifth inning happened.
It wasn't a barrage of home runs that did it. It was a comedy of errors—literally. A dropped fly ball by Aaron Judge, a bad throw by Anthony Volpe, and then a bizarre mental lapse where Gerrit Cole didn't cover first base on a grounder. You just don't see that at this level. The Dodgers, being the vultures they are, smelled blood. They put up five unearned runs in a single inning to tie it.
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Basically, the Yankees gave them an inch, and the Dodgers took a marathon.
Freddie Freeman: A Narrative for the Ages
If you want to know who won the 2024 World Series, you have to start and end with Freddie Freeman. The guy was playing on one healthy ankle and still managed to put up numbers that look like they came from a video game.
He was the unanimous World Series MVP.
Freddie hit a home run in each of the first four games. That had never been done before. But the moment everyone will remember forever? Game 1. Bottom of the 10th. Bases loaded. Two outs. He turned on an inside fastball and launched the first-ever walk-off grand slam in World Series history. It was a Kirk Gibson moment for a new generation. He finished the series with 12 RBIs, tying a record that had stood since 1960.
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By the Numbers: The 2024 World Series Stats
- Final Series Score: Dodgers 4, Yankees 1.
- Freddie Freeman's Stats: .300 BA, 4 HRs, 12 RBIs.
- The Comeback: Game 5 featured a 5-run deficit erased, the largest ever in a clinching game.
- Shohei Ohtani: While he wasn't the focal point of the World Series due to a partially dislocated shoulder suffered in Game 2, his presence alone changed how the Yankees pitched to the entire lineup.
Why This Win Was Different for Los Angeles
A lot of people like to put an asterisk next to the Dodgers' 2020 title because it was a shortened "bubble" season. This 2024 win? There’s no asterisk here. This was a 162-game grind followed by a postseason where they had to survive a brutal series against the Padres and a slugfest with the Mets.
Dave Roberts, the Dodgers manager, finally got the monkey off his back. He managed his bullpen like a chess master. In Game 5, he even brought in Walker Buehler—a starting pitcher—to close out the 9th inning on just one day of rest. Buehler struck out Alex Verdugo to end it, and the celebration was on.
It’s kinda wild when you think about it. The Yankees had the AL MVP in Aaron Judge and one of the best hitters of this generation in Juan Soto. On paper, that lineup is terrifying. But the Dodgers’ depth was just too much. When Shohei Ohtani wasn't hitting, Mookie Betts was. When Mookie was quiet, Teoscar Hernández or Tommy Edman stepped up. It was a relentless wave of talent that the Yankees' defense eventually buckled under.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2024 Series
There’s a narrative that the Yankees "choked." While those Game 5 errors were catastrophic, it’s a bit unfair to say they just handed it over. The Dodgers forced those mistakes by putting constant pressure on the basepaths and making every pitcher work through deep counts.
Also, don't overlook the Dodgers' pitching staff. They were decimated by injuries all year. No Tyler Glasnow, no Clayton Kershaw, no Gavin Stone. They won a World Series largely through their bullpen and "bullpen games," which is sort of a revolution in how modern baseball is played.
Actionable Takeaways for Baseball Fans
If you're looking to relive the magic or understand the impact of this win, here's what you should do next:
- Watch the Game 1 Highlights: If you only watch ten minutes of baseball this year, make it the 10th inning of Game 1. It’s the highest high the sport can offer.
- Study the "Bullpen Game" Strategy: The 2024 Dodgers are the blueprint for how teams will handle pitching injuries in the future.
- Check the 2025 Odds: Believe it or not, the Dodgers are already favorites to repeat. With Ohtani expected to return to the mound as a pitcher in 2025, they might actually be better next year.
- Appreciate Freddie Freeman: We are watching a first-ballot Hall of Famer in his prime. Don't take it for granted.
The 2024 World Series wasn't just a win for Los Angeles; it was a statement. The Dodgers proved that while stars win games, a relentless, deep, and mentally tough roster wins championships. The Bronx may have been the stage, but Hollywood got the ending it wanted.