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After 36 long years, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally held a parade again on Friday afternoon to celebrate their 2024 World Series championship through the streets of downtown Los Angeles.
Athletes and their families rode double-decker buses through the streets of downtown Los Angeles, starting at City Hall and ending at the corner of 5th Street and Flower, near the Los Angeles Central Library.
After an hour-long parade route in which hundreds of thousands of Dodgers fans lined the streets of Los Angeles to catch a glimpse of the World Series champions, the team returned to Chavez Ravine to celebrate in front of fans.
The celebration at Dodger Stadium featured a mariachi band, Ice Cube, celebrity sightings, And speeches by most of the players. Here are the top 5 best moments from parades and celebrations.
No. 5 Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman—MVPs tell their stories
Los Angeles, California – November 1, 2024: Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) speaks at a celebration at Dodgers Stadium. Victory parade celebrating the Dodgers’ World Series victory on Friday, November 1, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The National League MVP trophy will soon be on Shohei Ohtani’s mantle. The Dodgers’ biggest sing-along of last winter’s offseason was coy and soft-spoken. So it was exciting for fans to hear him address the crowd at Dodger Stadium. And it’s also in English! With his dog Decoy by his side on the parade float, Otani excited the crowd by expressing his gratitude and talking about his future goals. Fans, already overjoyed by his signing with LA, got a glimpse of Herro’s personality and humor, as well as a glimpse of the Dodgers dynasty he would build.
Shohei Ohtani didn’t need an interpreter to thank fans at Dodger Stadium during his World Series championship celebration on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.
Next up was World Series MVP Freddie Freeman, who poured his heart out to the crowd and talked about the physical and mental hurdles he has faced this season. He thanked his fans for their support, especially during the health crisis his young son Maximus faced this summer. It was an emotional moment and a reminder of how deeply connected these players are to the city and its people.
Freddie Freeman gives a moving speech at the World Series victory celebration at Dodger Stadium.
No. 4 Clayton Kershaw proclaims ‘Dodger for life’ as LA crowd roars
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Clayton of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates holding up the championship trophy during the 2024 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers Celebration on Friday, November 1, 2024 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.・Car show. (Photo) Keith Birmingham/Media News Group/Pasadena Star News via Getty Images)
Legendary left-handers have had their moments of brilliance, but none drew as much attention as Clayton Kershaw. Dodger Stadium went completely wild when Roberts introduced Kershaw as “GOAT” and brought him on stage. With tears in his eyes, Kershaw began to soak in the scene and the love of his fans who have been there through thick and thin. At the end, he said something that touched everyone’s heart. “I love you guys, Dodger forever!”
It was the culmination of a great journey with the Dodgers, but Kershaw wasn’t the only one who got emotional on stage. Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who sacrificed a lot of money in the offseason to sign a one-year contract with the team, wept as he addressed the crowd who were chanting his name.
The moment got even better when he hugged Walker Buehler after clinching the championship with a shutout in Game 5 at Yankee Stadium. Buehler wore his actual road jersey in Game 5 to pay tribute to Orel Helshiser, who won the historic 1988 World Series and was the MVP, and pitched a complete game in the final game to seal the Dodgers’ title.
Of course, Buehler kept the mood light by rocking his jersey and bonging beer on the float. He gave a wild nod to Dodgers history as fans cheered him on. He then linked up with Hershiser and surprised him by wearing Buehler’s home jersey.
No. 3 Ice Cube, Dave Roberts, and the viral twerk you never expected.
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 1: Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Ice Cube attend a celebration for the 2024 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Friday, November 1, 2024 in Los Angeles. (Photographer: Keith Birmingham) /MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News (Getty Images))
Parades and celebrations take a new turn when West Coast rap legend Ice Cube takes to the Dodger Stadium stage to perform his classic hits “Bow Down” and “Today Was a Good Day.” It was exciting.
And it was a pretty good day — until manager Dave Roberts decided they were getting a little too comfortable with the rhythm. Roberts joined Ice Cube on stage, ready to show off his best tricks, but midway through he transformed into the ultimate hype man, attempting a hilarious but slightly embarrassing twerk.
Let’s just say Roberts probably logs more time in the dugout than on the dance floor. As social media exploded, so did the audience’s laughter and cheers. It’s a moment Dodgers fans will talk about for years. Roberts may be sick of watching the replays, but you can’t blame him for going all in on the celebration.
Second place finisher Quique Hernandez excited the audience with the best speech of the day.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 1: Los Angeles Dodgers No. 8 speaks with the Commissioner’s Trophy during the 2024 World Series Celebration Show at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Enrique Hernandez. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Leave it to Quique Hernández to inject some unfiltered energy into this celebration. With his usual aplomb, Kike grabbed the microphone and delivered what could only be described as the most epic speech of the day. Kike wowed the audience as he cracked jokes about Ice Cube, Fat Joe, and anyone else that comes to mind. His energetic performance perfectly reflected his personality and love for the game.
Dodgers’ Quique Hernandez gives an epic speech during the championship celebration at Dodger Stadium on Friday, November 1, 2024.
As a final cheer, Kiké brought the crowd to its feet, shouting and laughing along with him, cementing his status as the unofficial team’s hype man. This moment encapsulated everything fans love about him. He’s fun-loving, passionate, and always trying to make Dodgers fans smile.
No. 1 In Honor of Fernando Valenzuela: Birthday Greetings to the Legend
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 1: A monument honoring former Los Angeles Dodgers player Fernando Valenzuela during the 2024 World Series Celebration Show at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Panoramic view. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Only in Los Angeles will a World Series championship celebration turn into a heartfelt tribute to Fernando Valenzuela on what would have been his 64th birthday. The Mexican pitching icon, who passed away just over a week ago, was on everyone’s minds and hearts. As the parade floats made their way along the route, fans spontaneously erupted into choruses of “Happy Birthday,” marking one of the biggest moments in Dodger lore since the magical 1981 season when Valenzuela led the Dodgers to a World Series victory. We honor the man who left his mark. Yankees.
The celebrations got even more exciting once the parade arrived at Dodger Stadium. Fans held placards that read “Viva Fernando!” And his name was chanted at a rally that showed how deeply Fernando’s influence resonates in Los Angeles. It was a touching and bittersweet reminder that even though Valenzuela is gone, his spirit will forever be a part of Dodgers history.
As the sun set and night fell, the city of Los Angeles was buzzing with the energy of much-anticipated celebration. The Dodgers’ victory was about more than baseball. It was a tribute to teamwork, resilience and the power of a city that never stops believing. These top five moments were just the highlights of a parade that Dodgers fans will remember for generations.
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