The Los Angeles Dodgers made history over the weekend by clinching its second consecutive World Series title, becoming the first repeat champs since the 1998-2000 Yankees. It marks the ninth title in franchise history, the third-most by any team in the league, as the Dodgers forced the matchup to seven games after trailing 3-2 in the series.

Five USA Baseball alumni were a part of the Dodgers’ success, as Mookie Betts (2023 WBC), Michael Conforto (2012 & 2013 CNT) Freddie Freeman (2005 16U, 006 18U), Clayton Kershaw (2005 18U) and Will Smith (2023 WBC) all won World Series rings. Betts, Freeman, Kershaw, and Smith were all a part of the 2024 title and have each won at least three World Series titles in their respective careers. Conforto played for the Dodgers throughout the regular season but was not a part of the postseason roster.

Betts started all seven games at shortstop and captured the fourth World Series title in his career, having won previous titles with the 2018 Red Sox and 2020 and 2024 Dodgers. He is the only active player with four to his name. His highlight of the series at the plate was when he hit a two-run single in the third inning of Game 6 to help L.A. even the series at 3-3. His stellar defense is what made the difference for his team, though, as his biggest moment was arguably the double play that he turned in the 11th inning of Game 7 to clinch the series.

Like Betts, Freeman started every game at first base and picked up his third title after winning his first with the Braves in 2021 and his second last year with the Dodgers. He hit the walk-off home run in the 18th inning of an epic Game 3 to become the first player to have two career World Series walk-off home runs, as he also hit a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.

For Kershaw, the World Series title was the third of his career and it capped off an illustrious 18-year career with the Dodgers. He threw a third of an inning in Game 3, a matchup that went 18 innings, to help his team take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Clayton Kershaw’s legendary career officially comes to an end. 👏

⚾️ 2014 MVP
⚾️ 2011 Triple Crown
⚾️ 3x World Series champ (’20, ’24, ’25)
⚾️ Gold Glove Winner
⚾️ 3x Cy Young award winner
⚾️ 11x All-Star pic.twitter.com/kpmXQyA8cm

— ESPN (@espn) November 2, 2025

Smith himself, who now holds three titles and all with L.A. (2020 and 2024), had two heroic moments in the series that both came in Game 7. In the bottom of the ninth, he managed to apply the tag at home in a force play with the bases loaded to help Yoshinobu Yamamoto escape the jam. Then, in the 11th inning, he hit a go-ahead home run to help the Dodgers take the lead and ultimately win the World Series. He also homered in Game 2 as part of a 2-for-2 outing with three RBIs and hit an RBI double in Game 6, which proved to be the game-winning run in a close 3-1 result. Defensively, he started every game behind the plate and set a record for the most innings caught in a single series with 74, breaking a record that stood for 122 years (Lou Criger in 1903).