“I’m a Champion for Life”: Clayton Kershaw’s Emotional Farewell Headlines Dodgers’ Back-to-Back World Series Parade.vc
As Mookie Betts declared “I love being a Dodger,” the legendary pitcher held back tears, thanking Los Angeles for 18 years in a perfect “fairytale ending” to his career.
LOS ANGELES — Downtown Los Angeles was painted blue on Monday as tens of thousands of fans, with estimates reaching 250,000, roared in joy, celebrating the Los Angeles Dodgers’ second consecutive World Series championship. The victory, a thrilling extra-innings Game 7 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, marked the first back-to-back MLB champions in a quarter-century and the Dodgers’ third title since 2020.
The parade, which moved from Temple Street to a massive, ticketed rally of 52,700 fans at Dodger Stadium, was a celebration of a new dynasty. But above all the confetti and cheers, the day was defined by two moments: a heartfelt goodbye from the franchise’s greatest legend and a powerful declaration from its current heartbeat.
Clayton Kershaw’s Fairytale Send-Off
The emotional peak of the rally came when Clayton Kershaw, a Dodger for his entire 18-year career, took the microphone for his final address as a player. Having announced his retirement in September, the 37-year-old pitcher was given the perfect send-off: winning a World Series Game 7 in his final season.
“I’m gonna try not to cry today,” Kershaw started, his voice cracking as he looked out at the massive crowd. “But I don’t know if that’s going to work. I’ll try not to make it weird. Thank you. Thank you for 18 years. Thank you for showing up and watching us play for the last 18 years. And thank you for being here for me and my family and supporting us.”
He then turned to his teammates: “You guys are the best in the world… Last year, I said I was a Dodger for life. And today, that’s true. And today, I get to say that I’m a champion for life. And that’s never going away.”
It was a “fairytale ending” that wasn’t lost on the three-time Cy Young Award winner. While the Dodgers won Game 7, Kershaw’s final, heroic on-field act came in the 12th inning of the marathon Game 3. With the bases loaded, two outs, and the score tied, he was called upon from the bullpen and induced a crucial groundout, a defining moment of perseverance.
“You can’t script that,” Kershaw said after the Game 7 victory. “I will forever for the rest of my life be able to say we won Game 7 of the World Series in the last game I ever played… It’s just the perfect way to end it.”
Mookie Betts and the New Dynasty
While Kershaw said goodbye, the man who has become the “steady pulse” of the franchise, Mookie Betts, cemented the team’s future. Atop the team’s parade bus, the superstar—whose defensive brilliance helped seal Game 7—delivered a simple, powerful message that MLB’s official X account highlighted:
“It’s amazing… I love being a Dodger.”
The 12-year veteran’s words carried the pride of a new era. With this 2025 title, Betts won his fourth ring, the most of any active player in baseball. His message symbolized the continuation of a “golden standard” built through years of fine-tuning, from the arrival of Shohei Ohtani to the dominance of Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The parade was more than just a celebration; it was a passing of the torch. As tens of thousands of fans bid farewell to a tearful Kershaw, they simultaneously roared with Betts, the leader of a new dynasty built on unity, resilience, and an enduring love for Los Angeles.
