The 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays was not just a spectacle; it was an absolute masterclass in baseball drama, etched into the history books with a Game 7 that pushed past midnight, with millions watching as Will Smith crushed a fastball deep into the night sky to secure the title for the Dodgers.
Yet beneath the headline-grabbing heroics of Smith and the masterful performance of Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, this series delivered several under-the-radar moments that deserve just as much attention from baseball historians.
A Historic Game 4 That Slipped Under the Radar
Start with Game 4, which was a pivoting point in the series. Though it ended in a lopsided 9-2 win for Toronto, the game marked the first time in World Series history that a team recorded back-to-back triples in the same inning twice.
The Blue Jays, known for their power, flipped the script with aggressive baserunning and surgical hitting. It didn’t swing the series, but it rattled L.A.’s bullpen enough to create ripples that showed up in Game 5.
The Unexpected Rise of Mateo Ruiz
Then there’s the unheralded performance of Dodgers rookie center fielder Mateo Ruiz. Called up late in the season and left off the NLCS roster, Ruiz was a surprise addition to the World Series lineup. His diving catch in the sixth inning of Game 6, which robbed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of what looked like a go-ahead three-run double, will live in highlight reels, but it was his patience at the plate that turned heads among scouts. Ruiz worked a walk in the 10th inning of Game 7 that ultimately set up Smith’s fateful at-bat.
Managerial Mind Games Reach New Heights
And how about the chess match between managers, Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts and Jays manager John Schneider made a combined 47 pitching changes across the series, now a World Series record. While some criticized the constant turnover, the moves kept both lineups on their heels and turned late innings into high-stakes psychological warfare.
Yes, Yamamoto was surgical on the mound, and Smith’s swing will go down in Dodgers lore. But the 2025 Fall Classic offered more than a finale—it offered a feast of subtle, strategic, and statistical anomalies that elevated it from great to legendary. For those watching closely, history wasn’t just made—it was layered, rich, and waiting to be fully unpacked.
