Photo from the official Los Angeles Dodgers Instagram account shows the 2024–2025 back-to-back World Series champions, celebrating their historic repeat victory.
TORONTO — The final swing traveled fast and true. In the 11th inning of Game 7, catcher Will Smith sent a pitch into the seats, a go-ahead home run that lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 and secured a second straight World Series title for a franchise built on depth, patience, and belief.
The rally that would not die
Los Angeles trailed 4-3 entering the ninth when shortstop Miguel Rojas delivered a solo home run to tie the score. Two innings later, Smith’s shot over the left-field wall gave the Dodgers a lead they never surrendered. The ballpark fell silent as the defending champions completed a comeback that felt inevitable.
A championship 25 years in the making
The victory marked the Dodgers’ ninth World Series crown and made them Major League Baseball’s first repeat champion in 25 years, a feat not accomplished since the late-1990s New York Yankees. The win underscored Los Angeles’s dominance in a modern era defined by parity and short playoff runs.
Yamamoto delivers under pressure
Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto came on in relief on short rest and threw two and two-thirds scoreless innings to close the game. His poise and precision earned him the World Series Most Valuable Player Award, capping a debut season that lived up to its hype.
A series that tested every edge
Game 3 stretched to 18 innings before Freddie Freeman ended it with a walk-off home run at Dodger Stadium. The marathon tied a World Series record for innings and previewed a matchup that would test both teams’ endurance, strategy, and mental strength across seven tightly contested games.
Toronto’s dream season ends one swing short
The Blue Jays, seeking their first championship since 1993, fought to the end. Stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette gave Toronto early momentum, and the bullpen held firm until the ninth. A missed scoring chance in the tenth left the door open for Los Angeles to strike.
A city of champions
The Dodgers’ repeat reflects a system built on global scouting and player development as much as payroll muscle. They blended veteran leadership with emerging talent and thrived in high-leverage moments that often define October. Their success also mirrors the diversity of the city they represent, with players from Japan, Latin America, and across the United States contributing to a shared standard of excellence.
