Ending a 32-year drought fraught with disappointingly close runs, the Los Angeles Dodgers captured the 2020 World Series by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in six games.

In this playoff run, expanded because of the shortened regular season, the Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres. It was the seventh World Series title for the Dodger franchise, its sixth since moving to Los Angeles from Brooklyn in 1958. 

Though what used to be America’s national pastime has declined in popularity in recent years, some Diamond Bar High School students continue to follow the sport, and many are excited at the Dodgers’ success this season.

“I’m happy that Los Angeles teams are champions of the MLB and NBA,” sophomore Simon Worku said via Discord.

Many students expressed pride regarding the Dodgers’ drought-ending win. One such student, junior Isabel Urzua, praised certain Dodgers players’ outstanding performance in the World Series.

“Corey Seager definitely stood out to me because he was the highlight of the World Series, especially in the last game batting over .400 and being named the World Series MVP,” Urzua said via Instagram.

Sophomore Edward Delano viewed the situation from the standpoint of an overall Los Angeles sports fan, drawing comparisons to the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship win just two weeks prior.

“Other states might start to hate us because we won in basketball and in baseball in the same year, against the same state, which is Florida,” Delano said via Instagram.

Nevertheless, Los Angeles’ recent success came after a contentious back-and-forth throughout the World Series, with the Dodgers and Rays alternating wins for the first four games of the Series before a two-game sweep that granted the Dodgers an early victory.

Dodgers shortstop Seager was unanimously chosen as the MVP of the World Series for leading in scoring with two home runs and five runs. Other notable players include Dodgers star pitcher Clayton Kershaw and outfielder Mookie Betts.

The World Series was held from Oct. 20 to Oct. 27 at the Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. It was the first World Series to be played at a neutral stadium and the first since 1944 to be held at only one stadium. 

The COVID-19 pandemic led the MLB to implement precautions during the playoffs, such as keeping facilities within a protective social isolation bubble and limiting in-person attendance to 25% capacity. In addition, the 2020 season was shortened from 162 to 60 games, though it did have an expanded 16-team playoff bracket leading into the World Series. 

Furthermore, players who tested positive for COVID-19 were removed, even in the middle of the game, including Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, who was removed from the 8th inning of Game 6.

Despite the historic victory, the champions were limited in their celebration options due to COVID-19. The usual celebrations and parties were replaced by an immense show of support on social media by Dodgers fans from all over LA county—including DBHS.