Dodgers Win the 2020 World Series for the First Time since 1988 — Inside Their Path to Victory

The Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged the winners of the 2020 World Series and the best team in Major League Baseball for the first time since 1988.

After about 32 years of a dry spell, the Los Angeles Dodgers have finally come out victorious after taking home the Commissioner's Trophy for the 2020 World Series on Tuesday night and cementing themselves as the MLB's best team.

The renowned team's path to victory began as far back as 1916 and has been characterized by failures, disappointment, and near wins, but all that has come to an end as they emerge world champions.

THE GREAT WIN

On Tuesday night, the Dodgers faced the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series finals at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Initially, the Rays took the lead with 1-0, but by the 6th inning, the Dodgers were by 2-1 after capitalizing on the exit of Rays pitcher Blake Snell.

At the bottom of the 8th inning, right fielder Mookie Betts delivered a home run, which was finished off by pitcher Julio Urias landing the team a 1-2-3 inning and putting an end to the more than three decades without a victory.

Other stars like Tiger Woods, Lana Del Ray, Vin Scully, O' shea Jackson jr., Magic Johnson, Larry King, and Alyssa Milano also congratulated the team.

The team's official Twitter page announced the great achievement with a poster of all the teammates alongside the Commissioner's Trophy, and it received over 131,000 likes and more than 68,000 retweets.

A PLAYER TESTED POSITIVE

By the 8th inning, it was clear that the Dodgers might take home the win, but the hope soon became dashed when baseman Justin Turner was pulled out of the game.

Fans' curiosity about the switch was, however, quelled after the game after it was announced that the red-headed athlete tested positive for COVID-19. He is the first of MLB payers to contract the virus, but it was a bittersweet diagnosis as it came at the end of the season.

He returned to the field an hour after the game ended to celebrate with his teammates while wearing a mask. Later in the day gave fans an update about his condition via a tweet that read:

"Thanks to everyone reaching out! I feel great, no symptoms at all. Just experienced every emotion you can possibly imagine. Can't believe I couldn't be out there to celebrate with my guys!"

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION

Social media was set ablaze during the game with several reactions about highlights of the match. When The Rays manager Kevin Cash took Snell out, many sports icons and analysts, including Stephen A. Smith, Chipper Jones, footballer Patrick Mahomes II reacted to the gesture with disappointment.

Celebrities then rallied around the Dodger after their win, with basketball icon Lebron James taking the lead. The Lakers player referenced his team's victory at this year's NBA Championship, writing:

"Man, can we PLEASE have a parade!!! I know we can't, but [explicit] I wanna celebrate with our @Lakers & @Dodgers fans!!! LA is the city of CHAMPIONS."

Other stars like Tiger Woods, Lana Del Ray, Vin Scully, O' shea Jackson jr., Magic Johnson, Larry King, and Alyssa Milano also congratulated the team.

THE DODGERS HISTORY

The Dodgers made their World Series debut against the Boston Red Sox in 1916 when they were still known as Brooklyn Robins. Unfortunately, they lost the game, and this was the pattern for the next six World Series until their first win in 1955 when they beat their longtime rival, the New York Yankees.

The Dodgers would win five World Championship before their hiatus in 1988, which kept them away from the Championship almost 30 years before their return in 2017.