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:
The blue carpet stretched out across center field and into the infield signified the grand entry of a new start to the season.
Dave Roberts waved to the crowd in his 10th Opening Day ceremony since being at the helm of the 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.
Veteran Clayton Kershaw was welcomed by a thunderous applause as he enters his 18th season with the 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.
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.
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.
The Guggenheim ownership group helped raise the championship banner in center field.
The 2024 World Series championship marked the eighth title in the Dodgers’ franchise history.
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.
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.
World Series MVP Freddie Freeman and his family were honored before first pitch for his World Series Game 1 grand slam, walk-off heroics.
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!”
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.
Snapshots of the return of the champions was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.