For the first time in 36 years, Los Angeles held a championship parade for the Dodgers. Tens of thousands of fans lined the streets of downtown Los Angeles Friday afternoon to celebrate the franchise's eighth World Series championship. Thousands more filled Dodger Stadium for a pep rally in center field to cap off the celebration.
The celebration began in the stadium at 8:30 a.m. and the parade wrapped up by noon as the buses carrying the World Series champions made their way to the field.
Dodgers fan and Grammy Award-winning rapper Ice Cube kicked off the celebration with a performance in the stadium. For many players and manager Dave Roberts, the day was a celebration of both of the Dodgers' two World Series titles in the last five seasons. The Dodgers couldn't celebrate their most recent World Series win in 2020 because it came during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local public health protocols prevented that. "In 2020, we just didn't have that opportunity," Roberts told MLB.com .
"This right now, it really put a bow on the season where there was some unfinished business in 2020. This city needed this parade. And we got our parade.
" Pitcher Clayton Kershaw, the longest-tenured Dodgers player who was part of that 2020 championship, got choked up while speaking to the crowd at Dodger Stadium. "I've waited for this day for a long time," he said. "I've waited to celebrate for a long time.
I can't imagine being anywhere else right now and I can't imagine doing it with a better group of.