Dodgers celebrate back-to-back glory, eyes firmly set on a three-peat

LOS ANGELES — Downtown Los Angeles was painted blue on Monday as tens of thousands of fans lined the streets to celebrate what’s becoming an autumn tradition — a Dodgers championship parade. The procession wound its way from the heart of downtown to the hills of Chavez Ravine, where 56,000 fans packed Dodger Stadium for one last roar of the 2025 season.

If last year’s celebration was about validation, this one was about domination — and what’s next.

“What’s better than two? Three! Three-peat! Three-peat! Let’s go!” shouted manager Dave Roberts, his words echoing through the stadium as the crowd erupted. Roberts’ rallying cry captured the mood of the day: satisfaction mixed with expectation.

The Dodgers aren’t hiding from it — they want history.

Before the players even arrived, Dodger Stadium was rocking. DJ Mustard, stepping in for last year’s headliner Ice Cube, turned the ballpark into a full-blown block party, spinning West Coast classics for a half hour that felt like a home run derby of beats.

Ice Cube still made his mark, rolling up in a gleaming blue 1957 Chevy Bel Air to deliver a surprise message — a quintessentially L.A. touch.

But once the players arrived, it was all about them — the repeat champions, the faces of a dynasty in motion.

Freddie Freeman, now a three-time World Series champion, soaked in the moment with his trademark calm and gratitude.

“This is insane. I feel like it’s almost doubled from last year. It feels like a lot more, but it’s probably about the same. These fans are crazy,” Freeman said, smiling through the confetti.

And yet, the first baseman’s focus was already shifting. “Job in 2024, done. Job in 2025, done. Job in 2026? Starts now.”

Shohei Ohtani, who continues to transcend the game, stunned fans by addressing the crowd — without his translator.

“You guys are the best fans in the world.  I’m ready to get another ring next year.’ Ohtani said, in English, to a thunderous ovation.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto echoed that competitive fire. “You know what? Losing isn’t an option. We did it together. I love the Dodgers! I love Los Angeles!”

That type of conviction — from two of Japan’s finest stars — has become part of the Dodgers’ identity. If Ohtani and Yamamoto are the engines, Max Muncy remains the heartbeat. The slugger, nearly a decade deep in Dodger Blue, reminded everyone why he’s a fan favorite.

“All I’ve got to say is it’s starting to get a little comfortable up here. Best team in the world. Best city in the world,” Muncy said.

His Game 7 heroics — a solo shot in the eighth that sparked the comeback — will be replayed for years. Right behind him, Miguel Rojas, the emotional catalyst of October, stole the stage once more.

Rojas brought out Roki Sasaki — on his 24th birthday — and got him to dance to his viral entrance song “Báilalo Rocky.” Sasaki, bashful but grinning, pumped his fists to the rhythm as the crowd chanted his name.

And then came the moment everyone knew would be bittersweet. Clayton Kershaw, holding back tears, said goodbye.

“Last year, I said I was a Dodger for life. And today, that’s true. And today, I get to say that I’m a champion for life. And that’s never going away,” Kershaw said, his voice breaking as fans chanted his name one last time.

The lefty legend reflected on his 18 seasons in Dodger Blue — three Cy Young Awards, an MVP, a no-hitter, and now, a fitting exit as a three-time champion.

“I really don’t know what the next year, two years, five years looks like... but it’s kind of exciting not to have a schedule, not to have a routine. Never do an arm band again. Never try to throw a weighted ball again. There’s a lot of things I’m looking forward to,” Kershaw said.

Kershaw lingered on stage, his family by his side — a living symbol of Dodger greatness and devotion.

Of course, no Dodger celebration is complete without Kiké Hernández stirring things up. Hernández playfully trolled Drake, referencing the rapper’s infamous post after Toronto briefly led the Dodgers in the World Series.

“It’s October’s Very Own,” Kiké grinned. “This really big team that has a lot of really big rings.”

Betts, now a four-time World Series champion, summed it up best:

“I got four. Now it’s time to fill the hand all the way up, baby. ‘Three-peat’ ain’t never sounded so sweet. Somebody make that a T-shirt.”

Los Angeles might just do that — and if history is any guide, they’ll be wearing those shirts at another parade this time next year. For now, the job is done. The city of Los Angeles celebrates another championship — and dreams of one more. Because, as Dave Roberts said, what’s better than two? Three.