Classic World Series

The stage was set for a celebration in Toronto, with 44,713 warm bodies crammed at Rogers Centre and rightly anticipating victory. There the Blue Jays stood, two outs from their first championship in 32 years and hitherto stifling the star-studded Dodgers. Unfortunately for the hosts, the sparks did come, but against them: in the ninth and then the 11th, as if they were fated to fail, and spectacularly.

- ANTHONY L. CUAYCONG

For much of the night, the Dodgers were in survival mode. Their offense had sputtered through the World Series, and Game Seven appeared to go the way of the previous contests. Their rotation was battered by injuries, their bullpen pushed to the limit. But, as the annals of Major League Baseball has shown time and again, adversity has its virtues. It coerces resolve. It demands character. And, with a second straight championship on the line, they found both. A game-tying homer by utility man Miguel Rojas in the ninth inning, an improbable throw home to kill a Blue Jays rally, and then a go-ahead blast in the 11th by Will Smith. And behind them all was the pitcher who towered under pressure, delivering the final two and two-thirds innings and ultimately claiming Most Valuable Player honors follo