Steve Webb
NEW YORK — Freddie Freeman entered this World Series with the hopes of a second championship ring and a fierce drive to give the Dodgers the lift they needed. Coming off a severe ankle sprain, fans and analysts alike weren’t sure what to expect from him. But Freeman’s grit and game-winning plays not only silenced skeptics; they transformed him into a Dodgers legend.
After his stunning walk-off grand slam in Game 1, Freeman continued to dominate, hammering homers in each of the first four games and setting an unprecedented record for consecutive World Series home runs, six in total dating back to 2021. This powerful performance led the Dodgers to a 7-6 victory over the Yankees in Game 5, sealing the series and securing Freeman’s place in baseball history as the Willie Mays World Series MVP.
“I did a lot of work in between the NLCS and the World Series,” Freeman shared. “My ankle got to a good place, and I found a swing cue that slowed everything down for me. I was able to swing at strikes, take the balls, and crush the mistakes.” That disciplined approach clearly paid off, as Freeman finished with a mind-blowing .300/.364/1.000 slash line, driving in 12 runs to tie a World Series record set by Bobby Richardson in 1960.
The MVP title is just one part of Freeman’s memorable postseason. His Game 1 grand slam came with the Dodgers down to their last out and the bases loaded. Freeman, who joined a distinguished list of players with both MVP and World Series MVP honors, launched a ball into Dodger Stadium’s right-field pavilion, marking the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. Fans were quick to draw parallels to Kirk Gibson’s iconic walk-off in 1988, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted, “He’s a good example for us all—posting up when you’re not healthy because it matters.”
Freeman’s series-long impact extended into Game 5, where he drove in two critical runs with a single and nearly homered again in the fourth inning, barely missing the right-field seats in Yankee Stadium. “He hurt us big time,” admitted Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “From the jump, he was Freddie Freeman at the plate.”
Throughout the series, Freeman’s steady focus helped him break out of the shadow of other Dodgers stars like Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani, both MVP winners themselves. But this October was Freeman’s moment. His hard-won MVP is a testament to his clutch plays, resilience, and elite performance—even on a painful ankle.
This season was also one of personal trials for Freeman, who missed eight regular-season games as his young son Max battled a serious autoimmune condition. Freeman credited his family as a deep source of strength throughout the season, and he was thrilled that Max could be there to watch his dad win it all.
“This is everything,” Freeman said, clutching the MVP trophy. But with his eyes on the ultimate prize, he turned his gaze to the World Series trophy and grinned. “This is it right here.”
With his MVP trophy in hand and a second ring on his finger, Freddie Freeman is now solidified not only as a star but as one of the Dodgers’ greatest October heroes.
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