A special season got its reward on Oct. 3, when on the 161^st game of the 2009 season a fly ball settled into the glove of Andre Ethier at precisely 10:12 p.m. That’s when the Dodgers officially became NL West champs for the second year in a row, the first time this has happened since 1977-78.

 

Dodger players jumped on one another. Fans sang along with “I Love L.A.” and cheered lustily for the newly crowned champions. It was a festive atmosphere that hopefully will continue on in 2010.