LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Dodgers held a victory parade in downtown Los Angeles on Friday.
Downtown L.A. was transformed into a giant Dodger street party for the parade, with thousands of fans lining the streets since before 7 a.m. to get a good spot.
After the parade ended, the players headed to Dodger Stadium for a rally, where the atmosphere was electrifying.
World Series MVP Freddie Freeman was emotional as the crowd chanted "Freddie! Freddie!"
"When I came back after my son got sick, you guys showed out for my family. That was one of the greatest experiences I ever had on the field. I was so touched. I did everything I could to get on this field for you guys. I'm glad I did because we got a championship now."
Along the Dodgers parade route, ABC7 News interviewed fans who admitted they called in "sick" to work so they could celebrate the World Series win.
One fan chose to stay anonymous while talking to Eyewitness News.
A small crowd of Dodger fans got a surprising thrill Friday morning when half a dozen double-decker, open air buses with the world champions onboard exited the Dodger Stadium parking lot on their way to the parade route.
A heavy law-enforcement presence was visible, including a Los Angeles Police Department SWAT team and California Highway Patrol cruisers as part of the motorcade.
Some Dodger team members could be seen in a partying atmosphere aboard the buses, drinking beer and smoking cigars. The buses were later showered with blue and white streamers as they pulled away from City Hall to start the parade.
Tens of thousands of Dodger faithful filled downtown Los Angeles on Friday for the team's first World Series parade since 1988.
Throngs of fans descended on DTLA streets to show their love for the blue, creating an electric environment filled with Dodger blue.
The parade begins near Grand Park, then will make its way through the streets of downtown.
It will go from 1st Street to Grand Avenue, to 5th Street, then to the intersection of 5th and Flower.
The Dodgers will then head to Dodger Stadium, where there's a sold-out ticketed event.
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.
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
