The Atlanta Braves are 2021 World Series Champions. It may be have been a bitter pill to swallow for Dodger fans. It sure beats having to see the Houston Astros win a championship. In winning the 2021 World Series, the Braves’ Joc Pederson put himself in rare company by winning the World Series two years in a row, with two different teams.
Once A Dodger, Always A Dodger
The photos hit the World Wide Web almost immediately of course. Pederson was seen wearing his Dodgers 2020 World Series ring while celebrating his 2021 World Series victories.
Not sure if this is real — found it on a Facebook group, so you literally never know — but if so, @yungjoc650 was wearing his 2020 Dodgers World Series ring while celebrating his 2021 World Series win with the Braves last night.
Dude is a legend. pic.twitter.com/AaYV6DW5xA
— Clint Pasillas (FRG) (@realFRG) November 3, 2021
Pederson has certainly built his reputation for having a colorful and exuberant personality. He has the joy of a child when he plays and appears to be walking through the clouds, but that is unfair to Pederson and how he must feel about beating the Astros in the World Series. I suspect the poetry of beating the Astros is not lost on Pederson. Wearing his Dodgers World Series ring may have been a vindicating act of completion upon a team that cheated Pederson and the Dodgers out of a World Series victory in 2017.
Joc already told the media back in July that his choice to wear number 22 was in tribute to Clayton Kershaw. Perhaps Pederson’s motivation in beating the Astros was all centered upon revenge and closure. Dodger fans sure took to social media to express their joy in seeing the Astros humiliation. Dodger fans seemed happy to take schadenfreude as a consolation prize to a Dodgers World Series victory.
Congratulations, Joc Pop!
The Dodgers and Dodger fans have to be happy for Pederson. He gave his heart and soul as a Dodger, and despite often struggling during the regular season, there is a reason “Joctober” was born. Dodger fans will never forget huge home runs in October provided by Joc. “You Like That?” was something he screamed at his teammates after hitting a homer against the Astros in 2017.
We all liked it, Joc. Congratulations, champ.
NEXT: Important Dates For Free Agents and Potential Offers