The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series and even though most of the games resulted in heartbreaking losses for the Yankees, many die hard fans enjoyed seeing their team make the series for the first time since 2009. 

Utica University psychology major Connor Hillis, a junior, was too young to remember the last time Yankees played in the World Series, but said it was “awesome” to see them play on that stage. 

“ Every year you pray for your team to make it, and for a while it seemed impossible for New York, so hopefully we can get there next year, I really think if we had another shot we can win it,” Hillis said. 

Senior Jeremy Horowitz, who is on the men’s baseball team, said he was ecstatic over watching his team go to a championship for the first time that he could remember. 

 “I was distraught when they lost,” Horowitz said. “ I sat on my couch with my hands on my face for a while. I think they’re definitely capable of getting back next year, but there’s a massive question mark on what Juan Soto will do. Without him there’s no chance.”

Series recap:

The World Series commenced on Oct. 25, as the Yankees traveled to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers. Game 1 was jam packed with action, as Giancarlo Stanton continued his postseason success with a two-run home run. However, even though Game 1 was hard-fought for the Yankees, Dodgers first baseman, Freddie Freeman, hit a towering walk off grand slam to take Game 1. 

In Game 2, despite superstar Shohei Ohtani injuring his shoulder, the Dodgers were able to pull through to take a 2-0 lead in the series. The Dodgers’ top of the lineup produced four runs, as the Bombers’ offense was practically nonexistent. All the momentum was leaning in the Dodgers’ favor.

Similarly, the Dodgers scored four runs in Game 3, which silenced the Yankees offense once again. New York was on the brink of elimination going into Game 4 and would be the first team in 12 years to be swept in the World Series.

Although Freddie Freeman hit another home run to start Game 4 on Tuesday, New York answered back with a grand slam from Anthony Volpe, and other home runs from Austin Wells and Gleyber Torres. 

As Volpe’s name was chanted throughout the stadium in the bottom of the ninth inning, he said in a postgame interview that it was the best experience of his life, and even better than the actual grand slam. This allowed the Yankees to slightly ease their worries as Game 5 approached.

However, in spite of the fact that the Yankees put up five runs through three innings, they made fatal defensive errors that allowed the Dodgers to tie the game, even after LA’s offense seemed to go quiet. This led to the game going sour for the Yankees, as they could not get their bats going after LA stunned them in the third inning. 

Los Angeles won their eighth World Series title, which makes them one of the most successful franchises in the past decade. New York looks to re-sign young sensation Juan Soto to keep improving their ever changing offense, and make key trades in the off season, to hopefully make it back to the Fall Classic in 2025.

“I was ecstatic man. never felt that way before, can’t even really describe it to be honest with you,” horowitz said. “It was my first time seeing my team go to the championship in their respective sport, at least that I’d be able to remember. I was distraught when they lost. I sat on my couch with my hands on my face for a while, then sat and watched the post game for two hours afterwards. I think they’re definitely capable of getting back next year, but there’s a massive question mark on what Juan Soto will do. without him there’s no chance.”