The Dodgers’ journey over the last few years has been a blend of triumph, challenge, and waiting for a celebration worthy of the team’s accomplishments. When they won the World Series in 2020, fans in Los Angeles should have been filling the streets, cheering on their team, and celebrating a moment that had eluded the franchise for over three decades. But 2020 had other plans. The COVID-19 pandemic had put the world on pause, and even as the Dodgers reached the pinnacle of their sport, a celebratory parade wasn’t an option.
It was a unique and bittersweet feeling. The players had worked their whole lives to win a championship, and the fans had waited since 1988 to see another World Series banner fly high. In any other year, the streets of LA would have been packed, and the city would have come alive with Dodgers blue. For Clayton Kershaw, this moment was especially meaningful. He had been the cornerstone of the team for so many years, enduring ups and downs, close calls, and heartbreaks. He’d reached the playoffs multiple times, only to come up short, often taking much of the criticism on his own shoulders. In 2020, though, he was finally a World Series champion, and yet, he and the rest of the team didn’t get to share that moment with the fans who had supported them every step of the way.
Fast forward to 2024. The Dodgers once again reached the pinnacle of the sport and emerged as champions, this time with the world more or less back to normal. As the final out was recorded, it wasn’t just another championship; it was a second chance to celebrate properly. The promise of a parade, something they had been denied four years prior, was back on the table, and the team, the fans, and the city of Los Angeles couldn’t have been more ready for it. Finally, the Dodgers would get their well-deserved victory parade, and for the players who had been through the highs and lows, it was a moment they had eagerly awaited.
Clayton Kershaw’s place in this celebration was particularly special. When he joined the Dodgers in 2008, he was a young left-handed pitcher with tremendous promise. Over the years, he transformed into one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation, racking up awards, breaking records, and becoming the face of the franchise. Kershaw has been with the Dodgers longer than any other player on the team, witnessing their evolution and growth firsthand. He’s seen teammates come and go, experienced different eras of Dodgers baseball, and been a rock for the franchise. Now, 15 years after he first took the mound for the Dodgers, Kershaw was finally part of a championship celebration.
For Kershaw, the timing of this parade must feel poetic. Many athletes don’t get the chance to stay with one team for the majority, let alone the entirety, of their careers. With the modern era of free agency and trades, staying loyal to a single team is rare. Yet, here is Kershaw, a pitcher who has donned the Dodgers uniform longer than anyone else on the current roster. He has been through it all, from rebuilding years to near-misses in the playoffs to finally breaking through in 2020. Now, with another championship under his belt, he can savor it in a way he couldn’t before.
Imagine the pride and relief that comes with knowing you didn’t just win once, but twice, and that the long wait for a proper celebration is over. Kershaw has embodied resilience, loyalty, and a dedication to his craft that’s rare in any sport. His longevity with the Dodgers is a testament not only to his talent but also to the strong bond he has with the organization and its fans. To see him at the forefront of this parade, leading the charge in the streets of Los Angeles, is a powerful symbol of what he means to this team and this city.
Kershaw’s impact on the Dodgers goes beyond the statistics. Yes, he’s a three-time Cy Young Award winner, an MVP, and an eight-time All-Star. He’s set records and redefined what it means to be an ace. But for Dodgers fans, Kershaw is more than just a player; he’s a constant, a familiar face in the ever-changing landscape of baseball. He’s been there through thick and thin, embodying the spirit of the team and carrying the hopes of millions on his shoulders. To see him finally get his chance to celebrate with a parade, to be embraced by the fans in a way that was impossible in 2020, is a moment that’s as much about gratitude as it is about victory.
This parade is more than just a celebration of the Dodgers’ success this season. It’s a chance to finally make up for the missed opportunity in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Shutdown which was dragging out. It’s a chance to give Kershaw, and the other players who were part of that championship team, the celebration they deserved four years ago. And for Kershaw, it’s a moment of vindication. He’s been the target of criticism in the past, with people questioning his performance in the postseason. But he’s proven his worth, time and time again, with resilience and determination. Now, he’s not just a one-time champion but a multiple-time winner, and he finally has the opportunity to celebrate that achievement with the fans who have supported him every step of the way.
For the fans, this parade is also a long-overdue release. Los Angeles is a city that lives and breathes baseball, and the Dodgers are woven into the fabric of its culture. In 2020, fans celebrated in their own way—by honking car horns, putting up decorations, and cheering from a distance. But it wasn’t the same. This year, as the team takes to the streets in a victory parade, the city can finally unite as one, in person, to celebrate the team that brought them so much joy in challenging times. For the fans, seeing Kershaw front and center in that parade is a reminder of the commitment and love he has shown to the Dodgers and the city of Los Angeles.
Kershaw’s journey with the Dodgers is a story of loyalty, perseverance, and excellence. Few players stay with one team for as long as he has, and even fewer can say they brought two championships to a city as passionate as Los Angeles. The parade is a moment of triumph, but it’s also a moment of reflection. For the Dodgers, it’s a celebration of not just one, but two championships, the second of which finally gives them a chance to bask in the victory they couldn’t fully enjoy in 2020. And for Kershaw, it’s a moment to look back on all he’s accomplished and to be celebrated by the fans who have supported him through the highs and lows.
As the parade winds through the streets of Los Angeles, Kershaw’s presence will be a reminder of what it means to stay true to a team and a city. He has been with the Dodgers through different eras, different rosters, and different managers. He’s seen the team grow and evolve, and he’s played a major role in its success. To see him finally get his moment in the spotlight, after so many years of dedication, is a moment of closure, not just for him but for the fans as well.
This parade isn’t just a celebration of a championship; it’s a tribute to the journey that Kershaw and the Dodgers have been on together. It’s a reminder of the challenges they’ve overcome, the moments they’ve shared, and the bond that exists between the team and the city of Los Angeles. For Kershaw, it’s a chance to be celebrated not just as a player, but as a legend, a figure who has given everything to the Dodgers and whose loyalty has been rewarded with not one, but two championships.
Here’s the thing folks: The 2024 parade was a moment for the ages, a chance to celebrate not just this year’s championship but the resilience of a team and a city that waited patiently for a moment that was four years in the making. For Kershaw, it’s the celebration he and the team missed out on in 2020, and the culmination of a career defined by excellence, loyalty, and a love for the game. As the fans cheer and the team rides through the streets of Los Angeles, this parade is a reminder that sometimes, the best things in life are worth waiting for. For Los Angeles, for the fans, and for Clayton Kershaw, this parade was more than just a celebration. It’s a moment of closure, a chance to look back on the journey and to celebrate a team that has given so much to the city.
With that… For Kershaw, this was a well-deserved victory lap, a chance to finally soak in the moment and to be celebrated as one of the greatest players in Dodgers history.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them.