By Ami Medina, Nov. 12, 2024
It’s Game 5 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees Oct. 30, and the Dodgers, having won three games already, are just one strike away from clinching the 2024 World Series title.
Outside in LA, the fireworks have gone silent. The smell of carne asada lingers in the air, but no one’s eating—everyone is glued to the game. The whole family has gathered, but the room is dead silent, the tension is real.
Dodger’s pitcher Walker Buehler winds up and delivers the pitch. Yankees’ Alex Verdugo swings and misses. Strike three. The LA Dodgers are World Series champions.
Soon after the win, celebrations spilt out into the neighborhoods of East LA, where the echoes of triumph are heard down the block. In that moment, the deep, unshakeable love for LA, and for this team, is on full display.
For decades, East LA has been the home to a large Latino community where culture and tradition run deep. The Dodgers are more than just a team here; they symbolize pride and identity. With this victory, la Raza, a term that embodies the pride of the Latino community, showed out.
Swarms of cars cruised down Whittier Boulevard, honking and waving their Dodger flags. Dedicated fans gathered on the streets, creating a lively commotion for the big win.
“I think this city has impacted me as a Dodger fan because the raza doesn’t play around,” Leslie Saldivar, an East LA native, said. “We love this team, and we always support them. This win is huge for us, and I think it not only has brought the Hispanic community a lot closer, but everyone in LA closer.”
Although the Dodgers led the series 3-1, Game 5 was a nail-biter, especially after they found themselves down 5-0 in the first four innings.
“In the first three innings Gerrit Cole was pitching really well for the Yankees and our offense couldn’t do much,” Abraham Medina, a former Garfield High School baseball player and East L.A. resident, said. “On the other hand, the Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty, wasn’t locating his pitches so the Yankees were able to score five runs by the fifth inning. But in the fifth inning, the Yankee’s defense couldn’t make field plays and blew their team’s lead on five unearned runs”
The Latino community members in LA were not always Dodger fanatics like they are today. The bond between the team and its Latino supporters took time to develop.
According to LAist, when the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958, the impact on the surrounding communities, particularly Mexican Americans in the Chavez Ravine area, were profound. The Battle of Chavez Ravine, in which hundreds of Mexican American families were displaced to make way for the new Dodger Stadium, left a bitter legacy.
Despite this, over time, the team began to forge a deeper connection with the community, as the Latino population in LA grew and began to see the Dodgers as more than just a baseball team.
Fernando Valenzuela nicknamed “El Toro” was a player who was a critical link that connected the Latino community with the Dodgers. Fernando Valenzuela was a key pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1980s.
Born in a small town in Sonora, Mexico, Valenzuela was the youngest of 12 children. His journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most beloved players in Dodgers history resonated deeply with the Latino community in Los Angeles.
As Valenzuela’s career flourished, Dodger fandom grew to be part of the culture. Over time, the team would see a growing number of Mexican and Latino players, further strengthening the bond between the Dodgers and their expanding Latino fanbase.
“Our community celebrates differently for sure,” said kinesiology student at Cal Poly Pomona Javy Valenzuela. “Since childhood I remember our celebrations were huge celebrations. When the Dodgers won the World Series, my whole family celebrated by having a few drinks together and watching the fireworks outside. We grilled carne asada and rewatched the game.”
Javy Valenzuela and his family’s experience with the Dodgers victory is more than just a win—it’s a reason to come together, celebrate and honor the team they love deeply.
While the Latino community has long held a special bond with the team, this victory united Angelenos of all backgrounds, cultures and neighborhoods. The celebrations were a reflection of shared pride not just by LA fans, but by supporters from Pomona, across California and beyond.
As fireworks lit up the sky and families gathered to celebrate, one thing was clear: the Dodgers, and the community that cheers them on, will forever be intertwined, bound by a love that goes far beyond the ballpark.
Feature image courtesy of Ami Medina