Freddie Freeman was born and raised in Southern California. Since being selected by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the 2007 MLB Draft, Freeman has solidified himself as one of the most consistent and productive hitters in baseball. After spending 11 seasons with the Braves and helping the team win a World Series title in 2021, Freeman signed a six-year deal with his hometown team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2024, he found himself seeking the second World Series ring of his illustrious career.
During Game One, the Dodgers honored longtime star pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who had passed away two days prior at the age of 63. The team wore a patch on their jerseys during the series to honor him. That year, Valenzuela became the first and still only pitcher to ever win Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in the same season. He led the Dodgers to a World Series title that year, winning 4 – 2 over the New York Yankees. Forty-three years later, the two longtime rivals find themselves in the Fall Classic for the 12th time but the first time since ‘Fernandomania’ took the baseball world by storm.
Finding themselves down 2 – 1 in the 8th, the Dodgers were able to tie the game via a sacrifice fly from 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts to score two-time (and soon to be three-time) MVP Shohei Ohtani. The game headed into extra innings and the Yankees manufactured a run in the top of the 10th to put pressure on the Dodgers in the bottom half. With one out, youngster Gavin Lux drew a walk, followed by a single from NLCS MVP Tommy Edman. Yankees manager Aaron Boone elected to bring in Nestor Cortes Jr., who had not pitched since Sept. 18. He induced a pop-fly from Ohtani that Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo made an incredible leaping catch in foul territory but since Verdugo fell into the stands making the catch, the runners advanced to second and third with two outs. The Yankees elected to intentionally walk Betts and bring up Freeman for the lefty-lefty matchup. Freeman unloaded on a first-pitch fastball from Cortes into the right-field bleachers, and much like Kirk Gibson’s unforgettable home run in Game One of the World Series in 1988, sent Dodger Stadium into mayhem. The blast was the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history and only the third walk-off home run while a team was trailing in the game, joining Gibson and Joe Carter’s series-winning home run in 1993. Freeman, while in the midst of celebrating with his teammates, ran over to the netting behind home plate beside the Dodger dugout to celebrate with his father.
“I [was] just screaming in his face. Sorry, dad.” – Freddie Freeman, Dodgers First Baseman
Announcer Joe Davis referenced Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully’s iconic call from that moment, shouting “SHE IS GONE!”, much to the delight of fans everywhere. Gibson and Freeman were both playing through lower leg injuries at the time of their respective home runs, adding even more magic to the story.
“My swing is because of [my dad]. My approach is because of him. I am who I am because of him. It was kind of spur of the moment. I just wanted to share that with him because he’s been there. He’s been through a lot in his life too and just to have a moment like that, I just wanted to be a part of that with him in that moment.” – Freddie Freeman, Dodgers First Baseman
Freeman went on to hit a home run in the next three games, setting a World Series record for most consecutive World Series games in a row with six dating back to 2021. The Dodgers would go on to win the Fall Classic, their first title since 2020, and first title in a full season since 1988. Freeman was named as the 2024 World Series Most Valuable Player, adding yet another accolade to his illustrious career.
