Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
Wow! World Series Game 3 ended at 12:26 a.m. Tuesday morning, and I’m still bleary-eyed as I write this. Perhaps the most thrilling, exhausting and inspiring baseball game of our lives, we witnessed history being rewritten again and again. After 18 innings of pure slug-fest baseball, the Dodgers finally outlasted a powerhouse Toronto Blue Jays team in what will be remembered as a forever, never-to-be-forgotten classic. Shohei Ohtani hit two more home runs and somehow reached base an unbelievable nine times. Retiring Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw was thrust into a two-out, bases-loaded nightmare — only to escape with an inning-ending grounder, earning the final exclamation point of his career: Man of Steel. Ordinary men would’ve had strokes on the mound last night. Local hero Tyler Glasnow pitched a strong game, but by inning 18 every Dodger reliever was called up — even through Rōki Sasaki to unlikely hero Will Klein, who, after pitching only a handful of innings in the majors, delivered the performance of his life — shutting out the Jays for four straight, hair-raising innings. And then — mercifully — Canadian-American Freddie Freeman freed us all with his walk-off homer, ending the delirium and the suffering at 18 innings and 12:26 a.m. If you missed it, find a replay. It was pure Dodger magic. Pure baseball magic. We love L.A. Go Dodgers! Much has been said about the Dodgers’ astronomically expensive roster. And it’s true: This is serious money in a serious sports town. But give management and Dave Roberts credit — their inventive thinking and gobs of money built a dynasty with global reach. While we were up witnessing this victory until 12:26 a.m., a nation of Japanese baseball fans cheering Ohtani and Sasaki was glued to their TVs at 5:26 p.m. in Tokyo. Ditto for H. Kim fans in South Korea. Venezuelan fans of Edgardo Henríquez and Miguel Rojas stayed up until 4:26 a.m., as did Puerto Rican fans of Alexis Díaz and Kiké Hernández. Cuban fans of Andy Pages — those with access to TVs or radios — held out until 3:26 a.m. Believe me, all these baseball fans represented by the Dodgers’ nationality-diverse lineup are thrilled, if not bleary-eyed and exhausted today after being treated to such a spectacle. This was more than sport — it was living proof of what happens when borders fade and team achievement is the priority. What we witnessed wasn’t just a baseball game—it was a global community, stitched together by one team in Dodger blue. The Dodgers have become both an international baseball powerhouse and a timely metaphor for what America should be itself. Because here’s the simple truth — and one our current anti-immigration politicians might consider: If you want to build the world’s best baseball team, you go out into the world and find the best players. You bring them here. You build greatness out of global talent. When winning matters, nationality doesn’t. Skills matter. Dedication matters. Desire matters. There’s no room for racism or nationalism when excellence is the goal. The Dodgers proved this decades ago, breaking down race barriers with Jackie Robinson — and they keep proving it today. In baseball, diversity doesn’t just win games; it elevates the sport. We saw Yoshinobu Yamamoto literally pick up trash from the dugout after pitching nine full innings — a simple act of respect. We watch Ohtani’s humility and laser focus. These immigrant athletes have much to teach us, and by playing with us, they lift everyone’s performance. Want to win? Bring in the best, from wherever they are. That’s true in baseball, in technology, in medicine, in science, and in every competitive field. When Donald Trump slammed doors on tech, medical, and educational immigrants, China and the EU cheered. We handed our competitors a gift of human talent. Isolation doesn’t make nations strong — it quickly sends them down to the minor leagues. How can America remain a world-beater if we refuse to include the world? How can we innovate, cure, or create if we block those with skills we need to win? “America First” sounds tough — but in reality, it’s America alone. And that’s a losing record. The Dodgers have 12 international players on their 40-man roster. Strip them away and what’s left? Maybe a .500 team. Maybe worse. Empty seats, falling ratings, shrinking revenues, and no October baseball. But keep them in, and we lead the entire world — and earn its love and respect, too. As the Dodgers go, so too goes the USA. We can’t afford to isolate ourselves. Bring in the best. Learn from the best. Teach them in return. Win-win. Because win-win deals built on talent build champions — whether it’s the Dodgers lifting a World Series trophy, or America leading the world in science, tech, and everything else for generations to come. But only if we’re smart. Only if we stay open. And if not? Well, we’ll all be playing in the minors. And as you know, Minor League play doesn’t pay very well, does it? Gary Horton is chairman of the College of the Canyons Foundation board. His “Full Speed to Port!” has appeared in The Signal since 2006. The opinions expressed in his column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Signal or its editorial board.
