The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their World Series title with a championship parade on Friday, and no one was happier than a pitcher who wasn’t able to pitch an inning in the playoffs.
After sitting out the entire 2024 postseason due to a bone spur in his left big toe, Clayton Kershaw and his teammates enjoyed a parade through downtown Los Angeles. It was a moment a long time coming, as the 17-year MLB veteran didn’t get to enjoy such a celebration following his first title in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kershaw made the most of the moment after the team arrived for an event at Dodger Stadium. Once he took the mic, it wasn’t long before he as shouting his happiness.
Kershaw’s full speech:
“I’ve waited for this day for a long time. I’ve waited to celebrate for a long time. I can’t imagine being anywhere else right now and I can’t imagine doing it with a better group of guys than this group right here. I’m at a loss for words, but I didn’t have anything to do with this championship, but it feels like the best feeling in the world that I get to celebrate with you guys. Two-time champs and a lot more coming, let’s go!
“I love you guys, thank you! Dodger for life!”
Those last words are mighty interesting considering that Kershaw has a player option on his contract for next season. Kershaw has never played for any organization other than the Dodgers, who drafted him seventh overall in 2006, but his recent forays into free agency have presented the possibility of an exit. His hometown Texas Rangers long loomed as a possibility, especially after the started spending big on veteran starting pitching.
And yet, it now looks like Kershaw has no intention to play anywhere else. He said as much while speaking to reporters after the event, confirming he plans to pick up his option for 2025. He also revealed that he will undergo surgeries on both his left toe and his left knee during the offseason, his timeline unclear.
Clayton Kershaw said he will undergo surgery on his toe and left knee on Wednesday. But reiterated that he will be back with the Dodgers next season.
Clayton Kershaw will undergo two surgeries on Wednesday he said.
One, to address his toe — there’s more damage than the bone spurs, including a ruptured plantar plate.
The second, to repair the meniscus in his left knee.
Timeline TBD.
While Kershaw said he didn’t have anything to do with this championship, he did make seven starts with a 4.50 ERA after beginning the season late due to a shoulder surgery in 2023. More than half of the earned runs he allowed came in his final two starts, as the pain in his toe was getting worse.
There were plenty of other fun moments on Friday, from Shohei Ohtani addressing the Dodger Stadium crowd in English to Walker Buehler chugging beer in Orel Hershiser’s game-worn jersey from the 1988 Fall Classic. Here’s how it all went down at Yahoo Sports.
Live23 updates
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 10:31 PM GMT+1The Dodgers are once again triumphant, celebrating the World Series in style
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 10:08 PM GMT+1Magic Johnson gets his ring, too
Earvin “Magic” Johnson, one of the owners of the Dodgers, takes home a ring of his own with the World Series win. Between his playing career and his ownership career, Johnson now has 15 championship rings across multiple sports.
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 9:46 PM GMT+1Yoshinobu Yamamoto expresses his gratitude for fans after winning a championship in his first year in MLBFri, November 1, 2024 at 9:42 PM GMT+1Walker Buehler honors a past legend in the parade
During the parade, pitcher Walker Buehler honored past Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser with a game-worn 1988 World Series jersey. Hershiser started and ended his career as a Dodger, helping the team to the 1988 title — the last time the team won the championship before getting back to the top in 2020.
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 9:32 PM GMT+1Shohei Ohtani celebrates his first title
It took only one season with the Dodgers for Shohei Ohtani to become a World Series champion, and it seems like he’s still taking it in.
“This is [a] special moment for me,” Ohtani told the crowd at Dodger Stadium.
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 9:24 PM GMT+1It’s an emotional day for the Dodgers, with Teoscar Hernández and Clayton Kershaw among those sharing heartfelt speeches
“I’ve waited for this day for a long time.”
An emotional Clayton Kershaw finally gets a World Series parade 🥹💙
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 9:10 PM GMT+1Daniel Hudson bids farewell
Reliever Daniel Hudson, who came back for one more championship run with the team, .
“I came back for this moment right here,” Hudson told a packed crowd in Dodger Stadium.
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 9:07 PM GMT+1Mookie Betts wants more World Series rings
Mookie Betts is now a three-time World Series champ, but he wants more. Betts joked that he wanted to tie with Derek Jeter, who has five championship rings.
“I got three,” Betts said, holding up his left hand. “I’m tryin’ to fill this hand up, L.A.”
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 8:56 PM GMT+1MVP Freddie Freeman gets a hero’s welcome at Dodger StadiumFri, November 1, 2024 at 8:56 PM GMT+1Walker Buehler is thoroughly enjoying the parade
Between the beer funnel and jumping for joy with Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler is having the time of his life.
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 8:43 PM GMT+1Ice Cube is at Dodger Stadium for the festivities, and Dave Roberts is having a time
Ice Cube is back at Dodger Stadium to keep a sold-out crowd entertained, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sure is having fun with it.
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 8:30 PM GMT+1Dodger Stadium is packed with fans waiting for the paradeFri, November 1, 2024 at 8:29 PM GMT+1Fri, November 1, 2024 at 8:21 PM GMT+1The World Series trophy is hereFri, November 1, 2024 at 8:21 PM GMT+1
Shohei Ohtani has brought a noted Los Angeles celebrity along for the parade: his dog, Decoy.
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 8:01 PM GMT+1Clayton Kershaw shouts his appreciation for the fans
“It’s incredible, I’ve never seen so many people in my life,” Kershaw said in an interview with Sportsnet. Both Kershaw and the reporter had to yell to be heard over the crowd of Dodgers fans.
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 7:49 PM GMT+1Sun’s out, guns out: Kiké Hernández loses his shirt early in the paradeFri, November 1, 2024 at 7:39 PM GMT+1The parade begins, with the Dodgers buses greeted by thousands of fansFri, November 1, 2024 at 7:38 PM GMT+1A bittersweet birthday for the Dodgers, who honor Fernando Valenzuela
The Dodgers are celebrating more than one occasion today, paying tribute to Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela on what would have been his 64th birthday. Valenzuela, a pitcher and , .
Fans along the parade route took the time to sing “Happy Birthday” in Valenzuela’s honor.
Dodgers fans sing happy birthday for Fernando Valenzuela on what would have been his 64th birthday 💙
Fri, November 1, 2024 at 7:19 PM GMT+1Dodgers’ parade gets delayed by an L.A. traffic jam
In true L.A. fashion, the Dodgers’ buses are stuck in traffic, delaying the start of the championship parade.