The Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2016 for the first time in 108 years, and the celebration was reignited this year as they raised a championship banner on Monday before their home opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Then prior to Wednesday’s game, Cubs players and personnel received their World Series rings, which include 108 diamonds as a symbol of the drought. The Dodgers were on hand to witness it all, which evoked memories of the Cubs eliminating them from last year’s National League Championship Series.
Watching the Cubs receive their spoils led to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman romanticizing over a similar celebration for the Dodgers next season, via Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times:
“It gives me goosebumps thinking about the excitement and the parade and how long our fans have waited for us to bring a championship back to L.A.,” Friedman said.
Falling just short of reaching the World Series last year played a role in the Dodgers re-signing Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner and Chase Utley. The quartet is part of the Dodgers’ core group that remains intact from 2016.
Los Angeles added new faces to the organization by signing Franklin Gutierrez and Sergio Romo, and trading for Logan Forsythe. Expectations remain high for the team this season, as they’re considered among the World Series favorites.
Friedman previously remarked that he feels a significant amount of personal pressure on himself to bring the organization their first World Series trophy since 1988.
In his short tenure with the Dodgers, Friedman has led a replenishing of the farm system, which is now considered one one of the best in baseball. That’s been accomplished while the Dodgers field a competitive roster.
Often compared to Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, it remains to be seen if Friedman can bring the same celebration to Los Angeles that Epstein did in Chicago.
