Freddie Freeman: The all-around “good guy” who is now a World Series MVP

CNN
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Freddie Freeman has basically done it all in Major League Baseball.

He is an eight-time All-Star. Five-time All-MLB team member. A former National League (NL) MVP. The owner of several regular season awards.

Now the 35-year-old can call himself World Series MVP.

Freeman and the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the 2024 World Series title on Wednesday by defeating the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 to win the series four games to one.

It is the eighth championship in Dodgers franchise history and the second of Freeman's career, in addition to the title he won with the Atlanta Braves three years ago.

The 15-year MLB veteran entered the Fall Classic with an ankle sprain, but almost immediately reassured Dodgers fans with a history-making performance in Game 1 and was the team's standout performer throughout the series.

For Freeman, the only thing that counts is victory.

“That’s it,” Freeman said after being named MVP. “I wouldn’t be here without the support of everyone wearing these shirts tonight. The last three months have been stressful…it's been a lot. This is it here.”

Freeman was alluding to the health problems of his three-year-old son Max, who was diagnosed earlier this year with Guillain-Barré syndrome – a rare neurological disease in which the body's immune system attacks nerve cells.

In July, Max suffered complete paralysis and Freeman left the Dodgers to be with his family in the hospital. Eventually, doctors said his son would recover, and Freeman rejoined the team in August.

“These have been the hardest and scariest days of our lives,” Freeman’s wife Chelsea wrote on Instagram. “Maximus is such a special boy and he fought SO hard. This will be a journey of recovery, but we have faith that he will be fully healed.”

Freeman was born in Fountain Valley, California in 1989 to Canadian parents. He grew up playing baseball and showed signs of his powerful bat from a young age. He hit the ball so hard When he played tee ball at age 6, his swing was judged to be too powerful and he practiced with children twice his age.

He played college baseball at California State University, Fullerton and was drafted 78th overall by the Braves in the second round of the 2007 MLB Draft. He was drafted from the minors in 2010 and began a stellar 12-year career with Atlanta.

Freeman became the Braves' first baseman in 2011 and established himself as one of the league's best players at the position. During his time with Atlanta, he was selected to the All-Star Game in 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2021. He played on both sides of the ball and won the Gold Glove Award in 2018 before winning the Silver Slugger Award each after three seasons.

He was named NL MVP in the Covid-19-shortened 2020 season before essentially rounding out his resume with a World Series title with the Braves in 2021.

Freeman, who entered free agency after that World Series title, wanted to stay with Atlanta.

However, negotiations between the Braves and his agent did not result in an agreement, and Atlanta decided to move forward and sign first baseman Matt Olson. Freeman, who said it was “truly an honor” to be part of the Braves organization, bid farewell and signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers ahead of the 2022 season.

His love for his former organization was clear to see When the Dodgers visited Atlanta in June 2022, it was Freeman's first return to Truist Park since trading Braves jerseys for Dodger blues.

Freeman burst into tears at his first press conference back. Braves fans gave Freeman a long, rousing ovation as he received his 2021 championship ring — and Freeman cried again. Before his first record appearance he received another thunderous ovation.

With the Dodgers, Freeman immediately picked up where he left off and was an All-Star in each of his three seasons in LA. Most importantly for the Dodgers, he has maintained his reputation as one of the most accomplished players in baseball.

Freeman did not have a home run in either the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the San Diego Padres or the NLCS against the New York Mets. He entered the World Series with an ankle injury that cast doubt on his participation – let alone effectiveness – in Game 1, and tried to walk as little as possible as the Dodgers prepared for the Series.

However, Freeman gritted his teeth and fought through the pain, hitting a triple and later delivering an improbable walk-off grand slam to win the opener for LA – making him the first person ever to walk Series achieved off-Grand Slam in the world. He continued to show up when the team needed him most and hit home runs in Games 2, 3 and 4 to break a record – dating back to his time with the Braves – by hitting home runs in six consecutive Fall Classic games.

Popular with fans for his top-notch batting technique and amiable personality, Freeman is equally well-respected by his peers.

“Honestly, I don't know what I would do without him,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said in 2021. “He's my rock.” I go to him for things. I've been with him since day one when he came to the big leagues here. He is everything the Braves stand for.”

This year, MLB players voted Freeman the friendliest infielder to chat with on the bases, with one NL reliever simply describing him as a “good guy.”

“He's part Canadian, isn't he?” added an AL infielder, pointing to Freeman's heritage.

Although he was born in the United States, the 35-year-old chose to represent Canada internationally and played in two World Baseball Classics for the national team. He explained in 2023 that this was a decision he made for his mother.

“My mother died of melanoma skin cancer when I was 10 years old, and that's why I play for Team Canada,” he said. “I don't know if she would expect me to do that, but in my heart I feel like I should.

“I know a lot of people don’t understand. I was born in California, I know that. Yes, that was me. But in my heart, honoring my mother and playing for Team Canada is the right decision for me.”