On Friday night, March 28, 2025, LA Dodgers fans got their first chance to see the 2024 MLB World Series champions in action, along with a look at their gleaming championship rings. The ceremony capped a two-day celebration at Dodger Stadium as the team returned home to take on the Detroit Tigers. It’s the second time in the last five years that Dodgers fans have welcomed home the world champions, but their 2020 championship was celebrated in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, making this one all the more special.
Manager Dave Roberts expressed his excitement, saying, "Just to kind of have the fans here to enjoy this with us... The players, to kind of close the book on 2024 and still staying focused on the baseball game tonight. There’s just a lot of excitement. Probably more than I can ever recall, with the Dodger fanbase. Our players feel that." The ceremony was not only a chance for fans to salute the players but also the official ring-giving event for those involved in the 2024 triumph.
The rings were individually hand-crafted by Jostens and contain 14-karat gold, diamonds, and sapphires. Each ring features eight diamonds to represent the Dodgers’ eight World Series victories, while the team’s 142-year history is marked with notable dates. The top of the ring opens up to reveal a tiny replica of Dodger Stadium, while the underside of the lid features a piece from a World Series base. Players were issued the rings in a special presentation box, which includes an in-built screen playing highlights of the historic 2024 World Series campaign.
Dodgers chief marketing officer Lon Rosen joked, "Modern-day championship rings have essentially turned into wearable sculpture pieces." The 2024 World Series ring is made of 14 karat gold, more than 300 diamonds, and 120 sapphires. The team’s LA logo is spelled out in blue gems, with a bed of oval-shaped diamonds serving as a backdrop. Around the edge lies a circle of 34 sapphires honoring late Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who died during last year’s World Series run. Eight more diamonds were included to recognize the organization’s eight all-time championships, and the words "World Champions" are spelled out in more bling on the top and bottom of the ring.
As the ceremony unfolded, the Dodger Stadium faithful gave Roberts a standing ovation when he strode down the blue carpet to receive his ring. It was the first time he got to take a look at the Dodgers' 2024 rings, which are gold with blue stones and personalized for each player. The design is rich with symbolism, including five diamonds on the bottom of the band representing the five-run comeback the team made in the clinching World Series Game 5 against the Yankees.
In a fitting twist, the rings were presented on the same night that a key piece of the Dodgers’ 2024 team, L.A. native Jack Flaherty, pitched against the club as a member of the Tigers. Flaherty was re-signed by the Tigers after being traded to the Dodgers at last year’s deadline. Roberts spoke highly of Flaherty, saying, "He was somewhat of a savior, to be honest with you. He was the right person at the right time for our club. And I'm happy that he got family and friends who got to see him in a Dodger uniform, get a championship ring. Now we can go beat him up today, and give him his ring tomorrow."
Friday night also marked a special occasion for Kiké Hernández, who played a key role in the Dodgers’ 2020 title but missed the team’s season-opening ceremonies last year after signing with the Boston Red Sox. Hernández was feeling strong enough to return to the ballpark on Friday, although he wasn’t in the starting lineup. Roberts mentioned, "He is not going to be here at the ballpark early on, doing work, just make sure that he kind of stays strong and builds up. But he wasn't going to miss this one."
Injured pitchers Tony Gonsolin and Evan Phillips faced hitters in live batting practice on Friday. Reliever Michael Kopech threw a flat-ground session in the outfield, and Clayton Kershaw, recovering from offseason toe and knee surgeries, told reporters he would face hitters for the first time this year on Saturday. Gonsolin, who tweaked his back while doing squats, is the closest to returning to the active roster, while Phillips is likely to throw another live BP before beginning a rehab assignment.
As the game commenced, the excitement continued to build. Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts both hit crucial home runs, with Betts delivering the final blow in a 10-inning thriller, his second homer of the game, to beat the Tigers 8-5 in walk-off fashion. This marked the Dodgers’ second ring ceremony in five years, but the atmosphere was electric due to the capacity crowd at Dodger Stadium. The fans were treated to a display of power and skill as Freeman and Betts showcased their championship pedigree.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty took the mound as starting pitchers, but this time as opponents rather than teammates. Yamamoto struck out 10 across five innings, setting a single-game career high in the big leagues, despite giving up a pair of early solo homers. Flaherty, on the other hand, managed to keep the Dodgers at bay until Freeman’s game-tying two-run blast in the sixth inning.
The night encapsulated not just a celebration of past achievements but also a glimpse into the future as the Dodgers look to continue their winning ways. With Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman leading the lineup, along with Yoshinobu Yamamoto looking like a possible Cy Young contender, the odds are high that the Dodgers could be holding another ring ceremony at this same time in 2025. As Roberts put it, "There’s just a lot of excitement. Probably more than I can ever recall, with the Dodger fanbase. Our players feel that."
