Ice Cube kicked off the special ceremony at Dodger Stadium, performing in front of a sold-out crowd that began filling the Elysian Park venue’s seats before the team arrived following their first World Series parade since 1988.
On the field, World Series MVP Freddie Freeman was introduced by Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts, who said he broke MLB records when he homered in four series games with a sprained ankle and other injuries: “This guy played with one leg because he likes you love boys.” Freeman’s grand slam to end Game 1 was the first in Major League history.
Freeman spoke to the audience about how fans rallied around him when his three-year-old son Max was diagnosed with the rare disease Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which led to the toddler being hospitalized and Freeman taking a 9 absence before his started playing again in August. .
“When I came back after my son got sick, you showed up for my family, and that was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on the field,” Freeman said. “I was so touched. I did everything I could to get on this field for you.”
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said. “I can’t wait to do this again next year.”
Earlier, as the players walked onto the field, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” played in the background amid the roar of fans. It was the first time fans packed the stands since World Series Game 2, when Los Angeles defeated the Yankees 4-2 before heading to the East Coast to close out the series.
People poured into the stadium all morning for the special, sold-out event, with players taking turns holding up the Commission’s Trophy just as the festivities began. On Thursday, as the team landed at LAX, Walker Buehler pumped the trophy into the air as he stepped off the plane.
Tickets for Friday’s event sold out within hours of going on sale Thursday.
