Dodgers Fans Flood L.A. Streets in Championship Party
LOS ANGELES – Thousands of Los Angeles Dodgers fans lined city streets Monday to celebrate the team’s recent championship victory, offering a moment of unity and joy for a region navigating a challenging year. The parade route was filled with supporters eager to honor the players and share in the collective excitement.
The outpouring of enthusiasm underscored the Dodgers’ significance to the city, providing a much-needed boost following a series of hardships. In January, Southern California was ravaged by wind-driven firestorms that destroyed thousands of homes. Later in the summer, increased immigration enforcement by the Trump administration specifically targeted Los Angeles, adding to the region’s anxieties. The Dodgers’ success offered a welcome respite.
Mark Krojansky, sporting knee-high Dodgers socks, expressed his delight, noting his children had already witnessed three Dodger championships. He recounted waiting three decades between the 1988 win and 2020, stating it was “well worth it.” “This could be the only time for many, many years, you never know,” Krojansky said. “We deserve it.”
The championship has been a source of positivity during a difficult period, according to San Bernardino resident Carlos Soto. “I definitely feel the city needs a lift,” Soto said. “It is indeed something that brings the community together across nationalities and political lines and unites everybody – it’s something that’s very needed.”
Longtime Dodgers fan Chuck Berez emphasized the team’s resilience, stating, “they stick together. … You got to weather the storm and look at the big picture. The way they came through in the clutch, you know, just showing you their resilience and their experience.”
Even those new to Los Angeles embraced the celebratory atmosphere. Aaron Wole, a hospital worker originally from Florida, donned an Ohtani jersey, acknowledging, “when in Rome, you got to do as the Romans.… This doesn’t happen much in Florida.” He added, “In moments like these, you feel included in the community. it really feels like a great atmosphere with all these fans.”
Times staff writer Jack Harris contributed to this report.
