Ice Cube and Dave Roberts celebrated the 2024 World Series title with fans at Dodger Stadium. (Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers)
by Megan Garcia
Dodger Stadium Opening Day was a coronation. And a win.
There was plenty to celebrate beginning with a memorable pregame ceremony to the Dodgers’ 5–4 victory on Thursday.
From Ice Cube in a low rider to a trio of home runs, it was a tailor-made Opening Day to officially start the season.
These are some of the best photos from Opening Day:
(Gary A. Vasquez/Los Angeles Dodgers)
The blue carpet stretched out across center field and into the infield signified the grand entry of a new start to the season.
(Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Dave Roberts waved to the crowd in his 10th Opening Day ceremony since being at the helm of the Dodgers.
(Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Shohei Ohtani, the 2024 National League MVP, was the first player to be announced from the Dodgers’ starting lineup, as he batted leadoff as the designated hitter.
(Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Veteran Clayton Kershaw was welcomed by a thunderous applause as he enters his 18th season with the Dodgers.
(Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Major League rookie Roki Sasaki participated in his first Opening Day ceremony after playing four seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball league and signing with the Dodgers in the offseason.
(Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Donning gold-lettered and gold-numbered jerseys to commemorate the 2024 World Series championship, players and coaches took their place on the third-base line for introductions.
Left — (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers); Middle — (Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers); Right — (Gary A. Vasquez/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Ice Cube, who opened Game 2 of the World Series with some of his iconic songs, delivered the World Series trophy in a Dodger-blue low rider.
(Gary A. Vasquez/Los Angeles Dodgers)
The Guggenheim ownership group helped raise the championship banner in center field.
(Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
The 2024 World Series championship marked the eighth title in the Dodgers’ franchise history.
(Kate Foltz/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Los Angeles Fire Department fire captain Jerry Puga and Pasadena Fire Department fire captain Jodi Slicker had the honor of unveiling the 2024 World Series disc in right field prior to first pitch.
(Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Two F-15C aircrafts from the 144th Fight Wing in Fresno, California and two F-35A Lightning II fighter jets from the 63rd Fighter Squadron of Luke Air Force Base in Arizona flew over Dodger Stadium as Grammy-nominated artist Josh Groban sang the national anthem.
(Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers)
World Series MVP Freddie Freeman and his family were honored before first pitch for his World Series Game 1 grand slam, walk-off heroics.
Left — (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers); Right — (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Dodger broadcaster Joe Davis introduced Kirk Gibson, the 1988 World Series Game 1 walk-off hero, to the crowd before the ceremonial first pitch by quoting his memorable call from Freeman’s walk-off grand slam: “Gibby, meet Freddie!”
(Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Blake Snell earned his first win of the season as he made his Dodger debut. He gave up two earned runs over five innings on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts.
Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernández and Shohei Ohtani each hit a homer on Thursday to help propel the Dodgers over the Tigers.
