Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Freddie Freeman etched his name into the history books with a dramatic walk-off grand slam in the tenth inning, leading the Dodgers to a thrilling 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game One of the World Series. The first baseman described the surreal feeling as he rounded the bases after his historic blast. “It felt like nothing,” Freeman said, “I was just kind of floating. Those are the kind of things when you’re five years old with your two older brothers playing wiffle ball in the backyard. Bases loaded, two outs in a World Series game—it’s the scenario you dream about.”
The decisive swing came just after the Yankees had intentionally walked Mookie Betts to face Freeman. Freeman wasn’t surprised by the decision, given the potent lineup surrounding him. “We’ve been seeing it all year,” he noted. “They’ve been walking Shohei [Ohtani] to get to Mookie, Mookie to get to me. It doesn’t matter who you pitch to, we’ve got guys that can do that in every single spot in our order.”
Leading up to the at-bat, Freeman went through his mental approach and made adjustments. “I was just once they, once I saw Aaron give the four [fingers indicating the intentional walk], you know, I just started going through my plan and my process,” he explained. Freeman anticipated a fastball and was ready to make the most of it. “I just wanted to be on time for it and I was looking closer to me so I could leave the cutter and slider alone away.”
The grand slam was not only the first walk-off in Freeman’s postseason career but also marked the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. When informed about the historic achievement, Freeman was taken aback. “Oh really, first one? That’s pretty cool,” he said, adding, “To be a part of this game’s history, it’s special. I’ve been playing this game a long time and to come up in those moments, you dream about those moments even when you’re 35 and have been in the league for 15 years.”
Freeman’s journey to this moment was not without its challenges. He had been nursing a sprained ankle leading up to the series, which made his heroic performance even more impressive. “This last week has been really good for me,” he shared. “The first time I ran was when I ran out to give high fives to my teammates when we got introduced. I tried to stay off running as much as I could this week and treated it as much as I could.”
Reflecting on the significance of his father’s support, Freeman shared a heartfelt moment. “He’s been throwing me batting practice since I could remember. My swing is because of him, my approach is because of him,” he said. “I just wanted to share that moment with him because if he didn’t love the game of baseball, I wouldn’t be here.” Freeman’s father, who was seated near the front row, was one of the first people he sought out after the historic home run.
Dodger fans were treated to their first World Series game at Dodger Stadium since 1988, excluding the neutral-site 2020 World Series played in Texas. Freeman appreciated the significance of the moment for the fanbase, saying, “Dodger fans have been waiting a long time to see a World Series game at Dodger Stadium. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m glad we were able to deliver a win tonight.”
Freeman also credited his team’s preparation and resilience, especially in responding after the Yankees took a 3-2 lead in the top of the tenth inning. “It’s pretty hard to score runs in the postseason, get multiple hits,” Freeman said. “Just a great job by Gavin [Lux] and all those guys to get us up there and give us opportunities.”
As Freeman stood in front of reporters after the game, the adrenaline was still palpable. “Yeah, I want to run through this table and tackle all you guys,” he said with a laugh. “This is pretty cool. It’s going to be hard to sleep tonight.”
Looking ahead, Freeman remained focused on the ultimate goal of winning the World Series. “When you step into spring training in February, your eyes are on that trophy, and you do everything you can,” he emphasized. While he acknowledged the need to monitor his ankle’s progress, he expressed confidence in his ability to contribute going forward.
With his historic performance, Freeman has not only given the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the series but also set the tone for what promises to be an exhilarating World Series.
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