Shohei Ohtani brings his dog and addresses the crowd in English as the Dodgers celebrate the World Series title

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Los Angeles Dodgers, included Shohei Ohtani and his dogcelebrated their eighth World Series championship with a downtown parade and a raucous party on the track on Friday.

“This is so special,” said Ohtani, who normally only speaks in public in his native Japanese, but spoke to a crowd of 42,458 at Dodger Stadium in English. “I’m so honored to be here. Congratulations, Los Angeles. Thanks, guys.”

Fellow Japanese Yoshinobu Yamamoto added in English: “Thank you Dodger fans.”

Rapper Ice Cube kicked off the bash by performing “It Was a Good Day,” with manager Dave Roberts dancing and singing along to the lyrics from a blue circular stage in the middle of the field.

“You guys wanted a parade. We’re having a parade,” Roberts said. “Boys, let’s get ready to run this back next year too.”

Players exchanged hugs and backslaps onstage as blue-and-white confetti floated in the air and the team’s signature song, “I Love LA,” blared. Their children played on the field, with Freddie Freeman’s 8-year-old son, Charlie, leading some of them up the lower retaining wall near the crowd.

The players took turns walking around the Commissioner’s Trophy.

“Who else has more championships than us in the 2020s?” asked the handyman Kiké Hernández. “Absolutely none.”

Roberts introduced Freeman as someone who ” played with a leg and a rib,” referring to the first baseman’s injuries.

“I did everything I could to get on the field for you guys and I’m so glad I did because we got a championship now,” Freeman said. “I can’t wait to run this back next year.”

Earlier, seven double-decker buses filled with players, their families and the coaching staff rolled through streets lined with blue-clad fans on both sides. The Los Angeles Police Department estimated the crowd at over 200,000.

“This is unbelievable,” said Freeman, the World Series MVP. “LA really showed itself today.”

Several players smoked cigars and drank beer aboard the buses on the sun-splashed day.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever been a part of,” pitcher Clayton Kershaw said. “I’ve never seen so many people in my life. They’re all Dodger fans.”

A shirtless Hernández was hanging over the front of his bus with a beer in hand. Ohtani held his dog, Decoy, in his arms with his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, nearby.

“I’m completely overwhelmed by the amount of fans that are here,” Ohtani said through an interpreter as the bus rolled off. “It’s been an incredible year. I’m so glad I could contribute.”

Asked if he would take his shirt off like Hernández, a smiling Ohtani shook his head and replied in English, “No, never.”

Walker Buehler, who pitched the ninth inning in the series finale, made a beer bong while wearing Orel Hershiser’s jersey from the team’s 1988 World Series championship.

“This is crazy, man. I love this,” outfielder Teoscar Hernández said.

Fans cheered and waved to the players. The parade took place on what would have been the 64th birthday Fernando Valenzuelathe 1981 NL Cy Young Award winner and Rookie of the Year who died days before the World Series began.

The Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in five games to win the title with a 7-6 win in the Bronx on Wednesday.

A portion of the proceeds from the ticketed stadium event will be donated to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.

There were more than a dozen arrests during informal celebrations following the team’s comeback victory to win the series. Burglary, vandalism and fires occurred in some parts of the city.

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