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As the World Series final game edged toward its conclusion, with the LA Dodgers holding a 5–4 lead over the Toronto Blue Jays in the bottom of the 11th inning, I found myself thinking, the Dodgers’ manager needs to bring in Yamamoto to pitch, NOW. And he did. What I didn’t know, until after the game, was that Manager Dave Roberts had been hesitant. Yoshinobu Yamamoto had pitched the day before, and he was already managing shoulder and elbow injuries.
It was Yoshi himself who told his manager, after warming up in the bullpen, that he believed he could do it. He knew, as we all sensed, that he would be the pivotal pitcher at the defining moment of the entire Series.
That decision alone took mental strength, deep self-belief, and a devotion to the team that was neither ego-driven nor self-serving. When you place your team and a larger purpose above yourself, the source of power becomes greater than your physical limitations. His mind willed his body to deliver what should not have been possible. That is the birth of heroism.
Well aware of the high stakes – one mishap can lead to the Blue Jay’s winning by up to 4 runs to clinch the Series – he embraced the challenge.
And he delivered. There is so much to learn from that moment:
It wasn’t luck or accident that the Dodgers climbed out of a 0–3 hole. Every move by every player reflected the blood, toil, and sweat of countless days of physical conditioning and mental preparation.
They earned their back-to-back, second championship pitch by pitch, hit by hit, one run after another. They won with grit, willpower, airtight teamwork, and extreme mental focus.
Heroism lives in those fleeting moments when action arrives almost unconsciously, but never without years of disciplined practice before it.
I feel fortunate to have witnessed, live, one of the most legendary performances in MLB history, and to watch Yamamoto being recognized as the MVP of 2025, and the GOAT (greatest of all time) by Dodgers’ Manager Dave Roberts.
© Joanne Z. Tan, Nov. 2025. All rights reserved.
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