Dodgers Kick Off 2025 World Series Celebration While Setting the Stage for 2026

Dodgers Reflect on Championship Past as Season Begins

In a recent conversation outside the Dodgers’ home dugout, first baseman Freddie Freeman cast his gaze toward the right-field foul pole, where the team’s championship banners are proudly displayed. These eight signs commemorate the years the Dodgers clinched the title: 1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988, 2020, and 2024. A ninth banner, still covered, awaits its reveal.

"You want to just keep putting those banners up," Freeman remarked. "That one’s blocked for a reason. You want to do it again. You want to keep doing it over and over and over again. And that’s what’s fun, and then that’s what makes everything else just take care of itself."

As the Dodgers prepare to unveil the 2025 championship sign, they simultaneously celebrate the achievements of the previous season while setting a competitive tone for the current one.

On Friday, the team will receive their World Series rings while gearing up for a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "Everyone’s different," Freeman said, acknowledging players’ varied perspectives on moving forward. "Some people want to move on… I’m one of the guys that can appreciate what we did last year, even in the present year."

The significance of the championship resonates with Freeman, who noted the importance of celebrating with fans, who have not had a chance to reflect on the victory since the parade. Catcher Will Smith held a different view on the ring ceremony, stating, "I get my ring, and I put it in the safe, and I don’t really look at it ever again." Smith emphasized that his primary motivation remains winning alongside his teammates.

Veteran third baseman Max Muncy echoed this sentiment, highlighting the focus of the team on the future rather than dwelling on past accolades. "It’ll be one of the few days where we really think about what we did last year, versus what we’re trying to do right now," he noted.

Entering the new season, PECOTA, Baseball Prospectus’ projection system, places the Dodgers’ chances of winning a third consecutive World Series at 20.8%, the highest in Major League Baseball. The Mariners follow closely with a 14.2% chance. Despite these favorable odds, the Dodgers understand the unpredictable nature of postseason play and the need for cohesion, health, and a positive mindset to achieve continued success.

"You know what the goal is every single year, and that’s to be the last team standing at the end," Muncy said. "But we more so preach, how do you get there, instead of that being the goal. And for us, it’s always been, you have to take it one day at a time."

Manager Dave Roberts reinforced this approach, underscoring the importance of daily focus: "Let’s win a baseball game. That’s our mantra, and everyone in this building, that’s the goal."

The resolve to maintain high standards is evident among the team, as Freeman pointed out the hard work and commitment from both teammates and the front office. "When you put on this uniform… that’s the expectation. It’s a different standard, and you just want to be part of that standard that keeps the level high."

As the season unfolds, the mantra of “let’s win a baseball game” will guide the team through the early excitement of championship celebrations, with hopes for yet another banner to grace their walls in the future.