Dodgers World Series celebration ends with roaring rally, 'We Love LA' playing through stadium

Talk about right place, right time. One dedicated Dodger fan had the good fortune to be at two of the most memorable World Series games in team history.

One lucky fan who is attending the celebration at Dodger Stadium says he feels blessed to have attended the World Series games where Kirk Gibson hit a home run in 1988 and Freddie Freeman hit his grand slam this year.

Hundreds of fans were gathered outside the Dodger Stadium sign, which was fashioned into an impromptu memorial to the late icon, pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, whose 64th birthday would have been Friday.

One fan told ABC7 he was there in person in 1988 for Game 1, when a hobbled Kirk Gibson blasted a walk-off home run, followed by an iconic fist pump as he rounded the bases.

And the same fan was also at Game 1 of this year's World Series, when Freddie Freeman hit the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.

"I'm one of the most blessed people in the world," he said. "I was at Game 1 in 1988 when Kirk Gibson hit the home run. And I was here when Freddie hit it. And there were miracles both times. So I feel like I witnessed two miracles. The Dodgers are such a big part of my core memories. It's a beautiful thing."

PHOTOS: Look back at 1988 Dodgers World Series celebrations, parade

1 of 16

General view of the Victory Parade for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, California in 1988.

Getty Images / Mike Powell

Dodger fan Hector is ready to cheer on the Boys in Blue at the World Series parade Friday. He and his friends found a great spot at the end of the parade route.

Hector also remembered late Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela, whose birthday is the same day as the parade.

Dodgers fan Hector was ready to cheer on the Boys in Blue at the World Series parade on Friday.

Dozens of young children at an school near Dodger Stadium assembled on the playground Friday to recreate the team's logo, which was visible from the sky above.

The tribute to the World Series champions was organized at Albion Elementary School on South Avenue 18, located just east of Chavez Ravine.

Children at an elementary school near Dodger Stadium assembled on the playground to recreate the team's logo, which was visible from the sky above.

The playground event took place less than two hours before the team's victory parade was scheduled to begin in downtown, followed by a sold-out celebration at the stadium.

More than 30 Metro buses were detoured onto alternative routes in downtown Los Angeles on Friday morning in preparation for the Dodgers' victory parade and a celebration event at Dodger Stadium.

"We are so happy for the city, for this team and all the members of Dodger nation," Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said Thursday. "I also want to uplift that we are also the City of Angels. So let's remember to respect each other, respect property and please respect our operators, and respect each other and celebrate this well deserved and well earned accomplishment for the entire city."

Detour maps are available at metro.net and service updates will be available at the agency's X account.

Metro will operate its Dodger Express to take people to Chavez Ravine for the sold-out event that will follow the parade, beginning at 12:15 p.m. Information on Dodger Express can be found at metro.net/riding/dodger-stadium-express.

City News Service contributed to this report.