LOS ANGELES — The past month has been a tough one for Freddie Freeman. After spraining his right ankle in the final week of the regular season, he underwent daily treatment and several hours of rehab before games, just hoping to get dressed. This postseason, there were many days when even the act of walking was difficult for the former MVP.
But he couldn’t be left out of Friday’s Game 1 lineup as he seeks to become the Dodgers’ first team to win a second World Series. And the Dodgers were on the verge of losing 1-0 to the Yankees of the world. On a night when chances slipped through their hands in the series, the 10th inning provided yet another chance at redemption.
“I think you know the end result,” Freeman said after his team’s 6-3 win. “I see myself on TV. This trophy allows you to go out of your way every day. … That’s what makes it worth it to me.”
With two outs and bases loaded in the 10th inning, the stage was set for Freeman, who came into this World Series struggling to find his swing while dealing with constant swelling in his ankle. After a flyout by Shohei Ohtani and an intentional walk to Mookie Betts, Freeman found himself facing the Yankees’ crafty left-hander Nestor Cortez with his team trailing by one run.
The Dodgers’ first baseman didn’t have many productive moments for the team this October. But it only takes one chance to change that.
One swing. One pitch. a little bit. As soon as they heard the sound of the bat, everyone in the packed Dodger Stadium knew what had happened.
Freddie Freeman didn’t take long to make history vs. Nestor Cortez
Freeman beat Cortez’s first pitch and launched a 92.5 mph fastball 409 feet into the right field seats, giving his team the victory. He raised his bat in the air and carried the Dodgers and the city of Los Angeles on his shoulders.
With one swing, Freeman instantly turned Game 1 of the 2024 World Series into a classic.
“I couldn’t feel anything. I just felt like I was floating,” Freeman said after taking what was arguably his best swing in weeks. “When you’re five years old and you’re playing Wiffle ball in the backyard with your two older brothers, that’s the dream scenario: Two outs, bases loaded in the World Series.
“If that actually happens and I hit a home run and get a walk and get a 1-0 lead, that’s just awesome.”
And it wasn’t just walking away. The World Series lends itself to more drama. Freeman’s walk-off grand slam was the first in World Series history to close out Game 1.
The moment that followed Freeman’s best swing of his life was one of pure jubilation, as his teammates rushed out of the dugout and celebrated like kids on the playground. As Randy Newman’s silky voice singing “I Love L.A.” rained down on him and 52,394 fans screamed and celebrated in a shaking building, Freeman was slumped at the plate.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game, “This is definitely one of the greatest moments in baseball history that I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great moments.”
“After the game, it’s not often that a team celebrates after a walk-off like that, but I think it was deserved. No, it was a great game before that, but seeing how it ended, I couldn’t be more excited for the players.”
Starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, who pitched 5 1/3 innings and surrendered just two runs in the game, said: He hit it, and there was no doubt about it. …Freddie can’t believe it. ”
It was an instantly iconic moment, and nothing else rivals Kirk Gibson’s legendary swing. Gibson’s walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series remains one of baseball’s greatest postseason moments. Freeman added his name to that list with his walk-off hit.
He was swinging and limping. The only thing missing was a double fist pump.
“But I played the whole game,” Freeman corrected with a wide grin when asked about Gibson’s comp.
Special father-son moment after Grand Slam
In fact, Freeman has been suffering from power outages recently. The Grand Slam was his first long ball since September 16th. Until Friday’s triple in the first inning, he hadn’t had an extra-base hit all postseason.
But Freeman looked different in Game 1. Even before his heroic performance in the bottom of the 10th inning, he had a confidence he didn’t have before. During the NLDS and NLCS, Freeman’s routine was a daily grind focused on just getting through the game. But going into the biggest at-bat of his career, he wanted to do some damage.
This change at first base could loom large heading into Saturday’s Game 2.
“I love the history of this game, and it’s special to be a part of it,” Freeman said. “I’ve been playing this game for a long time, and when you come out in that moment, you dream about that moment. Even if you’re 35 and have been in the league for 15 years, you want to be a part of it.” You would think so.
“The energy that the crowd brought tonight was just like that. Game 1 of the World Series — everyone has been talking about this all week, especially to get our first win like that. It’s very good that we did it, but we still have three wins left.”
It was a great night for Freeman, the Dodgers, this postseason, and the World Series, but it may have been even more important on a micro level. After celebrating with his teammates at the plate, Freeman pointed behind home and began running toward the backstop.
When he got there, his father, Fred, was waiting for him. And they shared time together, just as fathers and sons have done in backyards all their lives. This time more than 50,000 people shared it.
“It’s mostly his moment, because if he didn’t let me take batting practice, if he didn’t love the game of baseball, I wouldn’t be here playing this game.” he said. “So it’s a Fred Freeman moment.
“He’s been there, so I just wanted to share that with him. He’s been through a lot in his life, too, but to have moments like that, I wanted to be with him in that moment.” I wanted to be a part of it.”
