LOS ANGELES -- It’s one thing to win a World Series. It’s another thing to hold the evidence in your hand.
Prior to their game with the D-backs on Friday, the Dodgers finally closed the loop on their 2025 championship run. Before a packed Dodger Stadium, the team held its official ring ceremony to celebrate a feat the league hasn't seen in a quarter century. By defeating the Toronto Blue Jays last October, the Dodgers became the first team to win back-to-back World Series titles since the New York Yankees’ three-peat in 2000.
The ceremony, emceed by actor and comedian Anthony Anderson, centered on a piece of jewelry designed to reflect that historical rarity. Created by The Champions Collective, the 14K yellow gold ring features a "ring-within-a-ring" design. The top of the piece is a literal statement of the season’s success, featuring 32 diamonds spelling out "WORLD" and 54 diamonds for "CHAMPIONS." At the center, the iconic "LA" logo is set with 17 custom-cut blue sapphires, representing the 17 postseason games it took to secure the trophy.
However, the most significant detail is hidden. Beneath the ring top, a small glass window reveals genuine dirt gathered from around home plate during Game 7 of the World Series. It is a literal piece of the ground where the title was won, encased alongside engravings of two Commissioner’s Trophies to mark the back-to-back achievement.
For manager Dave Roberts, who has now led the team to three titles, the ceremony wasn’t just about the physical prize, but the institutional validation it provides to the entire organization. He recalled the intimacy of previous ceremonies, noting that these moments are often most special for the people behind the scenes who don't always get the spotlight.
"I remember presenting the rings to the staff in the clubhouse,” Roberts said. “That was a special moment for the staff, the support staff, and those guys. I remember just getting in and being in awe of that piece of jewelry.”
Despite the craftsmanship and grandeur of the rings, Roberts admitted they rarely see the light of day once the celebration ends.
"It's just in a safe,” Roberts said. “I think that Stan Kasten wears his ring all the time, but I don't wear mine. I don't know. I don't know if it's presumptuous. It's not that I'm embarrassed of it, but I just kind of just keep it in a safe.”
The ceremony carried a different kind of weight for Clayton Kershaw. Before Friday's game got underway, the retired left-hander who spent 18 seasons in Los Angeles, took the mound for the ceremonial first pitch. Afterward, with the entire team surrounding him on the dirt, he was presented with his ring by Roberts -- a final, glittering piece of a career that has defined a generation of Dodgers baseball.
"For me, it's just a great ending to my career. I couldn't have scripted it any better. It was great,” Kershaw said.
Kershaw, who has long been known for his "eyes-forward" approach to the game, noted that the time for reflection is finally approaching. While many players might display their hardware prominently, Kershaw’s rings will likely serve as quiet reminders of his tenure in Los Angeles.
"No, I think when you're in it like Doc is and all these guys, [they're] trying to do something this year. But I've always said at the end of your career you get to reflect, so maybe I'll just start looking at them, I guess. I don't think I'll really wear them out too much, but maybe just look at them, I guess," Kershaw said.
The ring also serves as a permanent tribute to the fans who supported the run. Etched onto the exterior band is the number 4,012,470 -- the total attendance at Dodger Stadium throughout the 2025 season.
As the ceremony concluded, the focus shifted to the game against the Diamondbacks. The evidence of 2025 is now secure, but for a franchise that has officially entered "dynasty" territory, the hunger for a third consecutive title has already taken over.