By Nunnie Robinson, Westside Gazette Sports Editor
The 2025 World Series ended in dramatic fashion as the LA Dodgers overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to defeat the tenacious Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in a predicted winner take all game 7. After splitting the first 2 games in Toronto, the Dodgers lost 2 of 3 in Los Angeles, placing them in the untenable position of having to win the final 2 games on the road against a confident, motivated Blue Jay team with carpe diem momentum. The Dodgers won game six 3-1 but not without controversy. With a runner on first, the Blue Jays’ Addison Barger hit a ball that lodged at the base of the centerfield wall. The Dodger centerfielder raised his hand indicating that the ball was unplayable. The ground rule double was upheld, prohibiting the runners from advancing beyond third base. That ruling led to even more controversy combined with great individual play.
Of course, Dodger manager Dave Roberts, the lone African American manager in MLB post Dusty Baker’s retirement from the Houston Astros, made a bold, prescient move when he inserted Miguel Rojas in the lineup for games 6 and 7 to hopefully increase offensive production. This is the same player who hit the home run that tied game 7, then fielded a ball with the bases loaded, momentarily lost his balance, gathered himself to throw the runner out at home plate, preventing the Blue Jays from tying the game. Catcher Will Smith appeared to have taken his foot off home plate as he stretched to catch the ball. Replay confirmed that he got his foot on the plate milliseconds before the runner’s hand touch the plate. Many baseball fans disagree with the call. A tremendous defensive play by replacement centerfielder Andy Pages (Pay ha) was instrumental in the Dodgers’ series victory. Pages tracked a ball hit deep to left center, knocking down his left field counterpart Keke Hernandez to make an unbelievable game-saving catch. Then in the top of the ninth inning following these two dramatics plays, Will Smith hit the go ahead home run, giving the Dodgers a 5-4 lead. Toronto threatened in the bottom of the ninth, one out, runners on first and third when the inimitable shortstop Mookie Betts fielded a sharply hit grounder, stepped on second for out number two, then threw a perfect strike to first for the final out to win the’25 World Series.
Significant contributions were made by catcher Will Smith, third baseman Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and unicorn Shohei Ohtani, but ultimately the MVP trophy was presented to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the winner of 3 games, a complete 9 inning masterpiece in game 2, and 2 in relief, including game 7.
Politically speaking, I applauded Canada’s stance against America and its intrusive tariff nonsense, and the Dodgers have been at the forefront of DEI before it was in vogue, i. e., Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe, Roy Campanella, and Junior Gilliam, et al, and even today Magic Johnson is part owner. Too bad this World Series couldn’t have ended in a tie. It was certainly one of the greatest in World Series history.
