Every fall, millions of Dodger fans eagerly watch the World Series. From filling every available seat in the endless rows of Dodger Stadium to turning any nearby object into a T.V. stand, fans will stop at nothing to see the results of a game.
The World Series is a sequence of games between two baseball teams competing for the Commissioner’s Trophy, as well as the title of World Series Champion. The two teams play each other in a total of seven games, with one team having to win four in order to take home the title and trophy.
This year, the Los Angeles Dodgers played the New York Yankees. Starting off strong, the Dodgers won their first three games. However, on Oct. 29, the Yankees beat the Dodgers with a staggering score of 11-4. The next day, in the fifth game, the Dodgers took the title of champions and won with a final score of 7-6, making this their second championship in the last five years. The Dodgers’ successful performance was partly due to Freddie Freeman, a first baseman. Freeman’s record-breaking game on Oct. 30 secured their win and he was later awarded “World Series MVP.” He hit 12 runs batted in and four home runs helping the overall success of the team.
With the Dodgers being from Los Angeles, many students at NPHS are big fans and eagerly followed the World Series. Never missing a game, Jacob Pacheco, sophomore, claims he was “born into” being a Dodgers fan. Pacheco has been to multiple games over the years and hopes one day to own a Dodgers season pass. “Being a Dodgers fan has definitely made me more outgoing as a person, I can talk to more people than before, it also serves as a simple icebreaker. Having some common ground with someone is always a great way to know them and being a Dodgers fan is just another way to meet new people,” Pacheco said.
As a lifelong Dodgers fan, Monica Sackenreuter, junior, loves attending baseball games due to the energy the fans bring to the stadium. “I think a baseball game is something everyone should experience once. All the cheers and just the energy in general is way different than anything I’ve ever been to,” Sackenreuter said.
Watching the Dodgers win the World Series with her family this year was a fond memory for Noelle Montero, junior. Montero believes getting to share the experience of Dodgers games with her dad is what makes them special. “During playoffs my family takes it very seriously, you aren’t allowed to get up or move during the game and you have to wear what you were wearing when they won. It’s kind of silly but super fun,” Montero said.
Inspired by his father, Pacheco has grown up watching the Dodgers. Pacheco collects Dodgers jerseys, baseballs and hats. “Besides their great players it’s a great community because they are really invested in Los Angeles. You should like the Dodgers, not [because] they are just baseball players but [because] they represent the people. There is always someone you can look up to,” Pacheco said.