The World Series is the pantheon of sports championships. It takes an Iliad and the Odyssey for any MLB team’s journey to raise the chalice. The first World Series was played in the 1903 classic between the Boston Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Sox won the best of 9 series 5-3. The NFL was decades away from its founding and basketball was still played at the YMCA. The Americans would become the Red Sox and would go on to win five WS titles by 1918 when they traded Babe. The second curse of baseball mythology was hatched in that transaction. The Red Sox broke the curse in 2004 and won another three WS in the 2000 teens.
The Sisyphean effort of pushing the rock for 162 games was ingrained in the Yard like a continuous loop documentary via the LA Times sports section. The Dodger historical grapples in WS history percolates in our intestines each fall. The Azul has lost in the WS 14 times. The Toronto Blue Jays have never lost in the WS. Our Magic 8 Ball says Future Uncertain. The first two games at Dodger Stadium were emblematic of our strife. Most certainly, either the BJ’s finally lose one or the Dodgers take the overall title for most WS lost. They are currently tied with the Yankees at 14. Yard tea leaves request to see two victories on the horizon for our team. Dreams like the foliage, fall to the ground and get bagged.
In 2018, the stars aligned and World Series tickets became available to the Yards. It was the uncursed version of the Red Sox. They had this kid Mookie Betts playing right field. Betts would win the AL Batting Title, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and AL MVP in 2018. October 26 was a beautiful fall night in Los Angeles. The Dodgers had already lost the first two games in Bean Town so a lot was at stake that night. Of course, Kenley Jansen blew a 4 out save opportunity with a homerun to the first batter he faced. The Dodgers battled that night for 18 innings. It was 1-1 through 13 innings before the Sox scored in the top of the 13th. The Dodgers returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning. The game would be scoreless until First Baseman Max Muncy homered in the bottom of the 18th. It would be the last gasp for that version of the Dodgers.
First Son of the Yard has inherited some of our genetic bile as well as managing the season seats. With the malaise in the bullpen and the injuries the World Series did not seem certain in early August. Expectation dipped with the reality of attempting to repeat as champions. Everyone hates the Yankees, but the Dodgers are a close second according to some of our industry insiders. You know you raised your kid right when he takes you to a WS game, bravo son. Monday October 26 would be game 3 of the 2025 World Series. We settled into our seats at 4:30 PM PST. The Yard does not need to report on how the Monday game turned out. A few other outlets released the details before I could get to my MacBook Air. Let Freddie Reign! It was a 2 for 1 sale. First game balls flying everywhere, Ohtani showing all his $700 million portfolio. Second game 1-0 with another First baseman walk off homerun.
Being an LA Dodger fan beyond the constant base level anxiety is also knowing when to stay and when to go. As the game persists, getting out of Dodger Stadium looms in your psyche. Ball one, Fletcher Drive or Stadium Way? Fouled off. Maybe sneak through ChinaTown. Is Phillipe’s open late? Ball two. What is the score again? Who is warming up? Foul ball down the line stays foul. When Kirk Gibson hit his momentous homerun in 1988, in the corner of the shot are all the redlights heading out the Academy Road gate. We are pilloried fans and deservedly so, but LA traffic is real. Both games had a 14-inning stretch. First game only the Churros and Sodas finally played after the 11th inning. Monday night, 25 people were in line for Dodger Dogs when Freddie went to the Yard. Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes were there at the finish. And so were we!
This is not a David vs. Goliath Series with the big bad overpaid Dodgers beating up on Canada. Canada has been a bit brow beat since late January by mouths that are loud. The Blue Jays have the 5th highest payroll in the MLB. They have Vlad Jr getting his $500 million Canadian. This is US vs Canada, and the quiet kids always scared us.
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