Residents of Long Beach and Seal Beach joined the rest of Southern California last Tuesday in celebrating the Los Angeles Dodgers first World Series win since 1988. While most chose to watch the final game at home, many fans gathered at local bars and restaurants to watch the game unfold. Seal Beach venues on Main Street and Long Beach venues downtown saw strong attendance, with many fans taking to the streets in celebration after the final out.

The Dodgers came up on top during a COVID-shortened 60 game season, leading all of baseball with an impressive 43 win (.717) regular season. Easily making the playoffs, they powered their way through to the National League Champion Series, only to struggle against a competent Atlanta Braves team, who at one point led the best of seven series three games to one. In the face of elimination, notable players Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts, Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger put on a string of flawless performances, leading the team to three straight victories to win the series. With momentum on their side, the team preformed well in the World Series, winning the championship in six games against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Despite COVID-19 postponing many professional sports in early March, fans in Southern California are now rejoicing with the Dodger’s World Series title, coming only weeks after the Lakers victory in the NBA Finals. In a year uncertainty, one thing is clear: Nothing—not even a pandemic—could stop Southern California sports from victory in 2020.

Published in the Seal Beach Sun Newspaper | November 5th, 2020 | Volume 52, No. 45.