The energy in New York was heavy, almost suffocating, during the fifth inning of Game 5. If you were watching, you saw it. The New York Yankees had a 5-0 lead. They were cruising. Gerrit Cole was absolutely dealing. It looked like the series was headed back to Los Angeles for a Game 6. And then, everything just... broke.
In a bizarre sequence of fielding blunders that’ll be replayed in New York nightmares for decades, the Los Angeles Dodgers clawed back. They didn't just win; they ripped the soul out of the Bronx. The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2024 World Series, defeating the New York Yankees 4 games to 1. This marked their eighth title in franchise history, and honestly, it felt like the most resilient run they’ve ever had.
The Night the Bronx Froze
Game 5 was weird. There's no other way to put it. You had Aaron Judge finally waking up with a massive home run. You had Jazz Chisholm Jr. going back-to-back right after him. The Yankees looked invincible until the top of the fifth.
Then came the "Infield Meltdown." Judge dropped a routine fly ball. Anthony Volpe threw wide to third. Gerrit Cole—who was pitching a masterpiece—forgot to cover first base on a Mookie Betts grounder. It was a comedy of errors at the highest possible stakes. The Dodgers capitalized with five unearned runs in that single frame.
Basically, the Dodgers proved they were the more disciplined team. While the Yankees gift-wrapped opportunities, guys like Teoscar Hernández and Freddie Freeman just waited to pounce. Even after the Yankees took the lead back 6-5, the Dodgers stayed cool. Sacrifice flies from Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts in the eighth inning turned the tide for good.
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Freddie Freeman: The One-Legged MVP
If you want to talk about "who won the baseball world series 2024," you have to talk about Freddie Freeman. The guy was playing on a severely sprained right ankle that probably should have had him in a walking boot. Instead, he put together one of the greatest World Series performances we've ever seen.
Freeman tied a record with 12 RBIs in the series. He homered in the first four games. But nothing tops Game 1. Imagine the scene: bottom of the 10th, bases loaded, two outs. Freeman swings and launches the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. It was pure Kirk Gibson vibes, but in 4K resolution.
He didn't just win the MVP; he essentially authored the story of the series. Even when the Yankees tried to fight back in Game 4 with an 11-4 blowout, Freeman still managed to go deep. He was inevitable.
The Shohei Ohtani Factor
It's kinda wild that the biggest superstar in the world, Shohei Ohtani, wasn't actually the main reason they won the ring. Ohtani suffered a subluxation (a partial dislocation) of his left shoulder while sliding into second base during Game 2.
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He stayed in the lineup for the rest of the series, but he was clearly hurting. He went 1-for-11 in the final three games. You could see him wincing and holding his jersey to keep his shoulder stable. While he didn't put up his usual "50/50 club" numbers, his presence alone changed how the Yankees pitched to the top of the order. He was a decoy with a $700 million price tag, and it worked.
Why the Yankees Fell Short
A lot of people are pointing fingers at Aaron Boone or the defense, and they’re not wrong. The Yankees’ fundamentals were, well, bad. You can't give a team as talented as the Dodgers extra outs.
- The Fifth Inning Gaffes: Three errors/mistakes in one inning is a death sentence.
- Star Power Silence: Outside of Game 5, Aaron Judge struggled significantly, finishing the series 2-for-15.
- Bullpen Usage: The Dodgers' "bullpen game" strategy actually held up better than the Yankees' traditional rotation.
Dave Roberts, the Dodgers manager, caught a lot of flak over the years for his postseason decisions. Not this time. He managed the pitching staff like a chess grandmaster. In Game 5 alone, he used seven different relievers. He even brought in Walker Buehler—a starter who hadn't relieved since 2018—to close out the ninth.
When Alex Verdugo swung through that 77-mph knuckle curve from Buehler for the final out, the narrative changed. This wasn't the "Mickey Mouse" 60-game season title of 2020. This was a 162-game grind where the Dodgers overcame a decimated starting rotation to stand alone at the top.
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How the Series Was Won: Game-by-Game
- Game 1 (LAD 6, NYY 3): The Freeman Grand Slam. A historic 10th inning that set the tone for everything else.
- Game 2 (LAD 4, NYY 2): Yamamoto dominates. Ohtani gets hurt. Dodgers take a 2-0 lead.
- Game 3 (LAD 4, NYY 2): Walker Buehler pitches five scoreless innings in the Bronx. The stadium was quiet for the first time in years.
- Game 4 (NYY 11, LAD 4): Anthony Volpe hits a grand slam of his own. The Yankees show life, but it was too little, too late.
- Game 5 (LAD 7, NYY 6): The comeback for the ages. Dodgers erase a 5-run deficit to clinch the trophy.
What’s Next for the Champions?
If you're a Dodgers fan, life is good. They’re already favorites for 2025 because, honestly, the roster is terrifying. They won this without Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, or a fully healthy Ohtani on the mound.
For everyone else, the 2024 World Series served as a reminder: talent wins games, but fundamentals win championships. The Yankees had the talent. The Dodgers had the poise.
To keep up with the offseason moves or to see if the Dodgers can actually pull off a repeat, keep an eye on the luxury tax threshold and the health of their pitching staff. Most experts agree that if Yamamoto and Glasnow are healthy at the same time, the rest of the league is playing for second place.
If you want to relive the glory, the official World Series film is usually the best place to catch the locker room celebrations and the Mic'd Up moments you missed during the broadcast. Grab a Freeman jersey while they're still in stock—the guy is officially a Los Angeles legend.