Every Series is Like That…Right?

In a season that can only be described as insane, the fall classic does not disappoint. With four lead changes in the World Series, it is safe to say that every Dodgers and Blue Jays fan was on the edge of their seat from Yesavage’s first pitch until Will Smith led the charge in the extra innings of game 7. I have never seen a series like this, each game telling a different story entirely. There were moments where I was sure the Dodgers were winning back-to-back; within the same game, I was convinced the Commissioner’s trophy was heading to the Great White North. I know the 2025 World Series did two things for certain: cemented its memory in every baseball fan alive and caused me irreparable harm through unbelievable stress. 

Randy Newman Says it Best, “I Love LA”

  One MLB.TV subscription, a baseball ticket, a last-minute flight, and a hostel booking led me to the City of Angels to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers play in the World Series. As I entered the gates of “Blue Heaven on Earth”, I was immediately thrown into a state of euphoria. While I had seen this roster over 100 times in the regular season, every player’s introduction and walk-up music left me feeling like a kid again. The ballplayers seemed larger than life, fans were tuned in like no other crowd I’ve ever seen, and a bubble of tension hovered over the stadium, ready to burst with one swing of the bat. What no one expected was that the swing of the bat would come in the bottom of the 18th inning. 

When I sat down in my seat, overlooking beautiful Chavez Ravine, I was greeted by two sisters sitting next to me. These two ladies (M and B) had been Dodgers fans for over 60 years, coming to games at Dodger Stadium since they were kids. M and B shared that they were born in LA just a couple of years after the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. One shared a story about watching Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax take the mound in his last season, and how, similarly, she was there that night to watch Clayton Kershaw take the mound one final time. 

In my experience, Dodger Stadium is a venue built for stories. It is the perfect venue to share stories of baseball’s past, while leaving room to write new ones. After all, the road leading to the stadium is named after the greatest baseball storyteller of all, Vin Scully. Vin’s aura remains at Dodger Stadium, even years after his death. His mark on the team is much more than just the iconic phrase, “It’s time for Dodger baseball.”

Legend of Chavez Ravine

  While many future Hall of Famers were on the field, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, Dave Roberts, and maybe others, there was one who received his flowers that night. As the game wore on into extra innings, everyone knew that both teams were running out of pitchers. In the Dodgers’ bullpen, a left-handed reliever was warming up, and the crowd started to whisper. We all knew there was only one lefty remaining for LA, but it was confirmed after seeing the man come set and lift his hands to the heavens. 

Clayton Kershaw’s lengthy career came to an end in the top of the 12th inning. With bases loaded and two outs, everyone jumped to their feet after hearing the announcement that “Number 22, Clayton Kershaw” will be taking the bump. Kershaw’s legacy at Dodger Stadium will be remembered for generations: 3 Cy Youngs, an MVP, 3 (2 at the time) World Series, 223 victories, and a franchise-leading 3052 strikeouts in Dodger Blue, all led to this final moment. Kershaw came set with a full count, delivered a pitch, and got the groundball he was looking for to keep the game tied in extra innings.

I can’t explain how lucky I feel to have been able to see Kershaw’s final outing. Number 22 will forever be special for the Dodgers, and Cooperstown can get started on his plaque right now. 

Getting My Money’s Worth

When walking into Dodger Stadium, I never would have guessed that I would still be there over 9 hours later. The game began around 5:00 local time and ended just before midnight. At 18 innings, the game is tied for the longest game in World Series history. A couple of interesting things about baseball games that are nearly 7 hours… 

1. Beer sales stop at the 7th inning, meaning that by the end of the game, it was the most sober crowd I have ever seen. 

2. When a game goes to the middle of the 14th inning, 7 innings have passed since the initial 7th inning stretch, so they do it again.

3. When the Dodgers’ game passes the three-hour mark, the organist plays the theme song from “Gilligan’s Island”. The fans at Dodger Stadium that night heard the theme song twice.

4. When the home team walks off the game in the bottom of the 18th, the emotions are less celebration and more relief. 

The Final Days of Baseball

Game 3 of the World Series was everything. I will be telling my friends, family, future children and grandchildren, and pretty much anyone who will listen about this game for the rest of my life. It was the day I was moved to tears seeing Shohei Ohtani hit a ball over the right field fence, the day I celebrated the wonderful stories of this historic franchise with two lovely strangers, the day I saw Clayton Kershaw pitch one last time in Dodger Blue, and of course the day I saw the Los Angeles Dodgers win a game in the World Series.

Now, where do we go from here? Winter is the hardest season for a baseball fan. It is a season of anticipation, a season of hope for the new year, and a season of farewells. To sum it up best, I will let the greatest storyteller of all take it from here. “But you know what— there will be a new day, and eventually a new year. And when the upcoming winter gives way to spring, rest assured, it will be time for Dodger baseball. So this is Vin Scully, wishing you a very pleasant good afternoon, wherever you may be.” Thank you all.

Sources

Clayton Kershaw Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News. (n.d.). MLB.Com. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from https://www.mlb.com/player/clayton-kershaw-477132

Dodgers 6-5 Blue Jays (Oct 27, 2025) Play-by-Play. (n.d.). ESPN. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from https://www.espn.com/mlb/playbyplay/_/gameId/401809299

Weisman, J. (2016, November 8). Vin Scully’s farewell words. Medium. https://dodgers.mlblogs.com/vin-scullys-farewell-words-5a590c6d9c78