The quiet week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve is supposed to be about reflection. About pausing, looking back on the previous twelve months, weighing triumphs against disappointments, and counting the blessings — both obvious and easily overlooked — that shaped the year. For Los Angeles in 2025, that accounting is remarkably simple.
The good far outweighed the bad.
Because in a city that lives and breathes sports, the Los Angeles Dodgers delivered something rare, emotional, and historic: an epic march to a second consecutive World Series championship, sealing their place not just atop Major League Baseball, but at the very heart of Los Angeles culture.
As the year winds down, that run is no longer just a championship — it’s a defining memory.
NBC Los Angeles reporter Michael Duarte captured that sentiment perfectly when he released his list of the 15 most unforgettable moments in Los Angeles sports in 2025. Six of those moments belonged to the Dodgers alone. And at the very top of that list sat one moment that eclipsed everything else: Game 7 of the World Series.
Nothing came close.
In a winner-take-all showdown filled with tension, doubt, and raw emotion, the Dodgers did what champions do — they survived. Trailing late, with the season slipping away, it was not a superstar who saved them, but an unlikely hero. Miguel Rojas, a veteran infielder better known for leadership than power, stepped into history with a ninth-inning, game-tying home run — just the eighth homer of his entire 2025 season.
One swing. One moment. One city holding its breath.
Moments later, the Dodgers completed the comeback, stunning Toronto and cementing their legacy. Duarte didn’t mince words afterward: “The Dodgers’ comeback win over Toronto delivered back-to-back championships — for the first time in 25 years — and opened a new chapter in Los Angeles’ reign as the City of Champions.”
It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.
For Rojas, the moment carried even more weight. Shortly after the season, he signed a one-year, $5.5 million extension, a deal widely viewed as a bridge toward the final chapter of his playing career. His offensive numbers may never dominate headlines, but inside the clubhouse, his impact is undeniable. Coaches and teammates consistently credit Rojas as a stabilizing force — a leader who kept the machine running smoothly during the most pressure-filled moments.
Even when his playing days end, few around the organization believe Rojas will ever truly leave. The expectation is clear: his future with the Dodgers likely continues in player development, helping shape the next generation of champions.
“This was my priority,” Rojas told The Athletic. “I wanted to sign here. I’ve told my teammates I want to stay with this organization. I think we deserve another chance.” In Los Angeles, that loyalty resonates.
But Rojas was only one thread in a tapestry of unforgettable moments.
NBC Los Angeles’ list also highlighted the blockbuster signing of Roki Sasaki, whose postseason heroics instantly made him one of the most anticipated arms in the Dodgers’ future rotation. Beginning in 2026, Sasaki is expected to play a major role — a reminder that while the Dodgers honor their past, they are always building forward.
And then there is Shohei Ohtani.
Already a global icon, Ohtani etched himself even deeper into Dodgers lore during Game 4 of the NLCS, delivering one of the most astonishing performances the postseason has ever seen. In the series-clinching win, Ohtani blasted three home runs, then took the mound to throw six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts — a superhuman display that instantly became legend.
It wasn’t just dominance. It was destiny.
As Los Angeles turns the page toward 2026, the tone is unmistakable. The Dodgers are no longer chasing relevance or redemption. They are chasing immortality. With Rojas’ leadership, Sasaki’s arrival, and Ohtani’s brilliance, the foundation is already set.
The next chapter begins on March 26, when the Dodgers open the season at Dodger Stadium against the Arizona Diamondbacks. But long before the first pitch is thrown, one truth remains undeniable.
In a year meant for reflection and gratitude, 2025 belongs to the Dodgers — a season of resilience, belief, and moments that will echo through Los Angeles for generations.
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro–Imagn Images
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