“Finally, the wait is over in a year like no other, where joy has been so hard to come by. Tonight, tears of joy. Let ‘em flow. The Dodgers are the champions of 2020.” – Dodgers broadcaster Charley Steiner
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Many Dodger fans are still celebrating the World Series Championship while simultaneously dealing with the first stages of baseball offseason withdrawals.
Well, they are not alone. Some of the Boys in Blue shared similar feelings during Wednesday night’s airing of the ‘This Is Our Year’ Championship Celebration streamed live (via Zoom) on Spectrum SportsNetLA, AM 570 LA Sports, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. The show was hosted by Los Angeles Dodgers commentators Joe Davis, Orel Hershiser, and Alanna Rizzo.
“This year is our year … This is OUR year!” yelled Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after his team overcame a three-games-to-one deficit to win the 2020 National League pennant by beating the Atlanta Braves in the best-of-seven series. It was the perfect title for Wednesday night’s show and a soon-to-be released video/DVD narrated by Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully.
The Dodgers finished the COVID-19-shortened 60-game regular season and extended postseason with a combined record of 56-22, culminating with their first World Series title since 1988.
The initial participants included Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, Roberts, right fielder and recent Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner Mookie Betts, shortstop and World Series MVP Corey Seager, and third baseman and unofficial team captain Justin Turner.
Kershaw admitted that he hasn’t stopped celebrating, and doesn’t plan to anytime soon.
“I just play ‘We Are the Champions’ over and over at the house … I play it every day. My kids are sick of it,” kidded the future Hall of Famer.
As for Betts, he credits their success on the team’s consistency.
“As a unit, we were just consistent, and it’s hard to beat someone who’s super super consistent, and I think that’s why we won,” said the Dodgers other future Hall of Famer.
The group was then joined by Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen and right-hander Walker Buehler.
Several dignitaries dropped in on the broadcast to congratulate the group on winning their first World Series title in 32 years. Among them was Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley a huge Dodger fan.
“These Dodgers reminded us time and again never to give up or to give in,” Garcetti said. “Because hard work pays off and hope springs eternal, and there is nothing we can’t do and we can’t overcome.
“Thank you for bringing the City of Angels this stunning victory and showing us the meaning of resilience,” Garcetti added.
The mayor was followed by LA City Councilmember Gil Cedillo, who also offered his congratulations and support.
A number of celebrities also checked in during the broadcast, including actor and super fan Ken Jeong, comedian George Lopez (a fan since 1967 and Ball Boy for a day in 2015), and country music star Brad Paisley, who performed the National Anthem during the 2017 and 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium. Paisley was even rocking a ‘Blow Kisses, Not Leads’ T-shirt, making light of the tense moments between San Diego Padres infielder and former Dodger Manny Machado and Dodgers rockstar reliever Brusdar Graterol.
Asked when he knew that this team was special, Seager told viewers he knew this would be a good year for the Dodgers during Spring Training and summer camp, adding that he was finally healthy, felt strong, and was where he wanted to be body-wise.
Also dropping by was longtime fan-favorite and former Dodgers All-Star outfielder Andre Ethier, who shared a video clip of he and his sons celebrating in the backyard of their Arizona home spraying Martinelli’s all over each other. Dre had high praise for Dodgers catcher and fellow Arizona State University Sun Devil Austin Barnes, who had a huge World Series. Ethier made his debut with the Dodgers on May 2, 2006, and spent his entire career with the team until his retirement on October 1, 2017.
The panel also discussed the impact that first baseman Max Muncy and outfielder Joc Pederson had during the extended postseason. They also spoke of the contributions that left-hander and Game-6 hero Julio Urias and “Bazooka” Graterol made throughout the season and postseason.
Roberts also congratulated those players who pitched in from the ‘elusive’ alternate site and the taxi squad guys who backed up the regular roster to help the team secure their first World Series win since 1988.
The special then went on to revisit past Dodgers World Championship with pre-recorded messages by Scully and fellow Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrin.
“I’ve never played, but I know how hard it is to win,” said Scully.
Dodger great Steve Garvey also chimed in, telling the current World Champions how winning a World Series is a life-changing experience.
“We’re defined by how we play the game, how we love our fans, and how we respect each other,” said Garvey. “It’s going to be tough to repeat, but I have faith in you.”
Fans got their offseason baseball fix with Kershaw sharing how he is celebrating daily, with no plans to put his celebration on the backburner yet. Turner concurred, saying that he will enjoy this one for a while before resuming baseball activities. Seager added that he now knows what it’s like to win after being on the other side of this. Jansen commented on his relationship and connection with Dodgers legend Don Newcombe, who passed away on February 19, 2019. Jansen said that ‘Newk’ left an indelible mark on many members of the current roster.
Roberts said that he is excited to be a World Series Champion, adding that he fulfilled his promise to Dodgers Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda to bring home a championship. This seemed to be a recurring theme for all of the participants throughout the evening.
The live stream wrapped up with Roberts expressing his gratitude for fans. He explained that he feels that this win was so emotional because of the generational ties to the team. He mentioned the fans that made the pilgrimage to participate in the drive-ins at Dodger Stadium during the NLCS and World Series, and that it sounding like the Fourth of July when LA clinched it, as well as those watching and celebrating from home.
“The fans never wavered,” said the Dodgers skipper.
Turner concluded the party by saying that he would do his best Clayton Kershaw impersonation by celebrating every day, adding that he was going to listen to “We Are the Champions” as soon as the show ended; just as we all should.
After all…
“This is our year!“