By dawn's early light: Paisley's anthems mean an all-nighter
This browser does not support the video element.
Even before the start of World Series Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, those in attendance might have been struck with a bit of déjà vu.
Country singer/songwriter -- and avid Dodgers fan -- Brad Paisley performed the U.S. national anthem before Monday night’s game against the Blue Jays. Just like seemingly every time Paisley performs during the postseason, the Dodgers were in for a long night.
For the fourth time, a night at Chavez Ravine beginning with the first notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner” on Paisley’s guitar ended in extra innings -- this time, on a walk-off home run by Freddie Freeman in the bottom of the 18th inning for a 6-5 Dodgers victory.
That’s right: It was Paisley who performed the anthem for three memorable (and long) World Series contests in Los Angeles: 11 innings in Game 2 in 2017, 18 innings in Game 3 in 2018 and 10 innings in Game 1 in 2024.
Paisley has been the pregame performer for both of the longest games in World Series history -- the two 18-inning marathons.
This browser does not support the video element.
In three of those four games performing the anthem, Paisley and the Dodgers faithful went home happy thanks to some late heroics.
In 2018, Max Muncy’s walk-off homer in the 18th gave L.A. its only win of the Series against the Red Sox. And in 2024, Freeman crushed the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history in the 10th before the Dodgers beat the Yankees in a five-game Fall Classic.
While Game 2 of the 2017 World Series, featuring a Paisley pregame performance, didn’t end well for the Dodgers -- the Astros won it in 11 en route to a seven-game Series victory -- having the country star in attendance seems to pay off more often than not for L.A.
It just might take a while.