Ohtani, his dog and Dodgers celebrate World Series title with parade, stadium party

The Los Angeles Dodgers, led by Shohei Ohtani and his beloved dog Decoy, celebrated their eighth World Series championship with a grand parade and a lively on-field party in downtown Los Angeles on Friday.

Ohtani, who typically communicates in Japanese, addressed the packed Dodger Stadium in English, expressing his gratitude and excitement for the special moment. Fellow Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto also thanked the Dodger fans in English, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.

The festivities kicked off with rapper Ice Cube performing “It Was a Good Day,” while manager Dave Roberts danced and sang along from a blue circular stage in the middle of the field. Roberts rallied the team, expressing his desire to repeat the success in the following year.

Players, coaches, and their families exchanged hugs and shared moments of joy on stage as blue-and-white confetti filled the air. The team’s signature song, “I Love LA,” played in the background as children played on the field, adding to the festive atmosphere.

The Commissioner’s Trophy made its rounds among the players, symbolizing their hard-fought victory. Utilityman Kike Hernandez proudly declared the Dodgers as the team with the most championships in the 2020s, celebrating their dominance in the decade.

Freddie Freeman, the World Series MVP, was praised by Roberts for his dedication to the team despite playing through injuries. Freeman expressed his joy in contributing to the championship win and eagerly looked forward to defending the title in the upcoming season.

Earlier in the day, seven double-decker buses carrying players, their families, and the coaching staff paraded through the streets filled with enthusiastic fans dressed in blue. The Los Angeles Police Department estimated a crowd of 150,000 people gathered to celebrate the team’s victory.

Players enjoyed cigars and beer under the sun, soaking in the adoration of the fans. Pitcher Clayton Kershaw marveled at the sea of Dodger supporters, calling it the best experience of his life. The celebration continued as players like Kike Hernandez and Shohei Ohtani, holding his dog Decoy, interacted with the crowd from the buses.

The parade coincided with what would have been Fernando Valenzuela’s 64th birthday, honoring the late Dodgers legend who passed away just before the World Series. The Dodgers clinched the championship in a thrilling 7-6 victory against the New York Yankees in five games, marking their triumphant return to the top.

A portion of the proceeds from the ticketed stadium event will be donated to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, giving back to the community that supported them throughout the season. Despite some incidents of unrest during informal celebrations after the championship win, the overall mood was one of joy and unity as the city came together to celebrate the Dodgers’ historic achievement.