Downtown Los Angeles turned into a sea of blue on Friday, Nov. 1, as the Dodgers paraded to celebrate their 2024 World Series Championship.
I attended the parade alongside four of my classmates, who shall remain unnamed. We all contracted “Dodger fever,” a condition that infected the over 200,000 Angelenos who participated in the celebration. The city was buzzing with excitement, and even Loyola was severely hit by the outbreak; Assistant Dean of Men Jorge Torres ‘99 said that over 300 Cubs were absent on Friday.
My friends and I decided to go to the parade immediately after the Dodgers won their eighth title on Wednesday night. While missing class is never a good idea, we ultimately decided that the once-in-a-generation opportunity to celebrate a Dodgers World Series title was worth missing a few assignments for. I’m glad we did. Although each one of Mr. Annarelli’s AP European History classes is great, the parade was an experience I’ll truly never forget.
The boys arrived at my house at 8 a.m. so we could secure an optimal spot to view the festivities. After a short journey to the Metro station at Vermont and Sunset, we hopped on a Union Station-bound train. The car was packed with Dodger fans, and chants of “Let’s Go Dodgers!” echoed through the cavernous halls of the Civic Center Metro Station as we got off.
Despite our early wake-up, we soon realized we were still too late to get a good street-level view. The roads were jammed with Dodger fans and vendors selling championship gear and concessions. Cleverly, my unnamed friend pointed to a ledge 30 feet above the sidewalk.
“We need to get up there,” he said definitively.
Climbing a chain-linked fence, we reached the plateau and found picturesque panoramic views of the scene around us, observing the tens of thousands of fans rejoicing in the Dodgers’ triumph. Soon enough, the Dodgers players and their families rolled by on double-decker buses, celebrating with copious amounts of champagne and waving to their supporters. After about 90 minutes, the parade ended, and we grabbed Lime scooters to take us back to the Metro.
It was amazing to be united with Angelenos from all walks of life to celebrate the Dodgers’ monumental victory. Baseball is more than just a game played on a grass diamond. As the “national pastime,” it is an integral part of our American identity and fundamental to who we are as citizens of the United States of America. By celebrating the Dodgers, my friends and I are not only celebrating the 2024 World Series but also the 150 years of baseball history and culture that have tied the American people together since the sport’s inception. Sorry, Mr. Utley. Go Dodgers!