AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
The 2025 World Series is in the books, and it was an epic one. Early this morning in Toronto, the Los Angeles Dodgers, on the verge of defeat, stormed back to win one of the most memorable Game 7s in baseball history - an 11-inning thriller over the Blue Jays to repeat as World Series champions. Steve Futterman was there.
STEVE FUTTERMAN, BYLINE: Everything was looking good for the Toronto Blue Jays. They were up by one run and just two outs away from victory in the 9th inning when this happened.
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UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER: Drill to left field and deep. And gone. No way. Miguel Rojas.
FUTTERMAN: Second baseman Miguel Rojas - not known for his batting - smacked a home run as heard here on Fox. Suddenly, the Dodgers, who had trailed almost the entire game, tied it 4-4, forcing extra innings. In the 11th, another Dodger hit another home run.
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UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER: Smith hits a high fly ball to deep left field. It's got a chance. It is gone. It's Will Smith in Game 7.
FUTTERMAN: That put LA on top 5-4. Toronto had a chance in the bottom of the 11th. The Blue Jays had runners on first and third with one out when the series ended on a double play.
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UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER: The Dodgers stand tall and win back-to-back titles.
FUTTERMAN: LA is the first team in 25 years to repeat as World Series champion. Dodger fan Jeff Reeve (ph) couldn't believe what he witnessed.
JEFF REEVE: You're down 3-nothing, but baseball, you got to play 9 innings, right? So it was amazing.
FUTTERMAN: This Blue Jay fan, Frances Louge (ph), was still trying to figure out how it all fell apart.
FRANCES LOUGE: It was pretty heavy, but here we are.
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FUTTERMAN: You'll make it through.
LOUGE: We'll make it through. Yeah. We'll make it through. We persevere. That's what Blue Jays do.
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FUTTERMAN: There were so many twists and turns in this game. Dodger great Shohei Ohtani looked exhausted and lasted just over two innings in one of the worst pitching performances of his Major League career. In the 4th inning, the benches cleared after a Blue Jay batter got hit by a ball. But the most remarkable aspect was Dodger pitcher Yoshi Yamamoto, who, after starting and winning Game 6 the day before, returned to the mound as a reliever late in Game 7 in front of a stadium full of Canadian fans trying to will their team to the title, which they last won in 1993. He ended the series with three wins and was named MVP. Dodger manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Yamamoto is unique.
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DAVE ROBERTS: It's unheard of, and I think that there's a mind component. There's a delivery, which is a flawless delivery. It's just he uses his body very efficiently, and it's the whole engine that works and not just the arm.
FUTTERMAN: And his fellow Dodger pitchers agree. Tyler Glasnow says there's something in Yamamoto's approach, his throwing style and his ability to conserve energy.
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TYLER GLASNOW: He's a freak, man. Like, his work ethic is insane. He's like a - his preparation and the way he moves in the weight room is different than anything or anyone I've ever seen.
FUTTERMAN: As for the Dodgers, they can now be called a modern dynasty, with the biggest payroll in baseball and the ability to stock their team with a powerhouse of players. The team's minority owner, former NBA basketball star Magic Johnson, argued that this World Series was great for the sport.
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MAGIC JOHNSON: This series probably going to be record viewership. It was outstanding. And we probably brought in new fans because it was so - a well-played series.
FUTTERMAN: And there is no telling how long the Dodgers can remain near the top. They are certain to be the preseason favorite when the 2026 baseball season begins in March.
For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman at the World Series in Toronto. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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