Clayton Kershaw deserves a parade. Los Angeles too.
Let’s do this, okay?
Four years ago, the The Dodgers won the World Seriesbut one pandemic canceled the parade.
These Dodgers are four wins from a parade, four wins from a civic celebration that would toast the greatest pitcher of our generation and a golden age in the history of a legendary franchise, four wins that would let slip a chorus of raucous joy from players and fans deprived of a proper celebration, four victories with more than a million people gathered to celebrate were delayed far too long.
“The fans really deserve it,” Dodgers owner Mark Walter said Sunday after the team won the National League pennant.
Obstructing the parade: the American League champions, the New York Yankees.
“We didn’t come here to win the pennant,” Walter said. “We came here to win the World Series.”
The night the Dodgers won the 2020 World Series – as a home team, but playing in a coronavirus bubble in Texas – then mayor Eric Garcetti told me he intended to have a celebration – if not a parade, at least some sort of socially distanced party. THE The Lakers won the NBA championship in the NBA bubble 16 days earlier, and perhaps a joint celebration would be in order.
“I think we were all waiting for the moment, the moment when this would be feasible. » Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “They were even talking about doing something with the Lakers, doing it together. That would have been incredible. But it just wasn’t possible.
Kershaw said he never really counted on this celebration, given public health restrictions in the county and state.
“I don’t think we ever thought we could do this, especially in California,” Kershaw said. “That definitely wouldn’t happen here.”
Infielder Max Muncy said, “It was very disappointing that we didn’t have that parade, but obviously there were more serious circumstances going on in the world.”
Kershaw is now on the injured list, but eight of the players on this year’s NLCS roster were on the 2020 World Series roster: Muncy; outfielder Mookie Betts; infielders and outfielders Kiké Hernández and Chris Taylor; receivers Austin Barnes and Will Smith; and pitchers Walker Buehler and Blake Treinen.
The Dodgers won the 2020 championship during a 60-game season that took them through four playoff rounds. A parade in 2024 would be the first in Los Angeles in 36 years.
Learn more: Nine concerns the Dodgers should have facing the Yankees in the World Series
“There’s something to be gained for all of us who came here,” Roberts said. “We know we won a championship, and it was justified.
“But we want this parade. This is another incentive for us.
Kershaw said he doesn’t believe a parade would be very special for the players on the 2020 team.
“I think it would be special no matter what,” he said. “Having a parade here would be pretty cool. »
Buehler said: “That would be crazy. We haven’t had one in a long time. Obviously, we and the Lakers in 2020 couldn’t do it. It would be a great moment.
Even as they washed down champagne and beer Sunday night, Dodgers players were happy to visualize a parade but be careful not to count on just one. They don’t look beyond the Yankees.
Learn more: Dodgers overcome ‘most trying year’ to defeat Mets and reach World Series
“We have to win four more games before a parade,” Betts said. “It’s going to be a tough task with the Yankees.
“This match is difficult. It’s tough to get to the World Series. We just have to enjoy being here now and playing some good baseball, and then we can get a chance to have a parade.
That didn’t stop Roberts from igniting the crowd on Sunday night. Just before he held up the National League championship trophy, he shouted a question that didn’t need an answer.
“You want a parade in Los Angeles?” Roberts shouted, “Four more wins!”
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This story was originally published in Los Angeles Times.
