Who is World Series MVP Freddie Freeman? : NPR

For Freddie Freeman, the story felt like floating.

“It felt like nothing. I was just floating,” he said when asked to describe the feeling of hitting the first walk-off grand slam the World Series had ever seen.

Freeman's historic exclamation point in Game 1 of this year's series between his Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees was an absolute highlight in itself – “as good as it gets,” Freeman said afterwards.

“It might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever experienced,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And I’ve seen some great ones.”

But Freeman's Game 1 grand slam was just the start of an all-time World Series performance for the Dodgers first baseman, who was named the Series' Most Valuable Player after Los Angeles tied the game with a 7-6 win in Game 5 title secured.

Freeman set a major league record for the most consecutive World Series games with a home run – a streak of six that began with the final two games of his 2021 Series appearance with the Atlanta Braves and continued through the first four Playing against the Yankees continued.

His streak ended in Game 5, but Freeman's two-RBI single in the fifth inning was key to the Dodgers' comeback victory. His 12 runs batted in in the five-game series tied a World Series record set in 1960.

Mastering challenges in 2024

His resume was already enough to earn a spot in Cooperstown in the National Baseball Hall of Fame – the 2020 NL MVP, eight All-Star appearances, a Gold Glove and three Silver Slugger Awards, and the 2021 World Series ring.

But this year, by Freeman's own admission, has been a struggle. The 35-year-old missed time at the start of the season when his three-year-old son Maximus was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome.

One morning in July, Max woke up with a limp that was rapidly getting worse. He could no longer walk at night, Freeman recalled during an emotional news conference in August. Eventually, the toddler was hospitalized and had to be placed on a ventilator.

“No one should have to go through something like this, especially not a three-year-old,” Freeman said at the time. “I don’t know how often [my wife] and I said, 'We wish we could switch.'” He missed eight games before returning to the lineup as his son's condition began to improve.

Freddie Freeman acknowledges applause from fans at the plate as he returns to the lineup on August 5, 2024 after missing eight games due to his hospitalized son.

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Then in late September, Freeman sprained his ankle during a game against the San Diego Padres, an injury that affected his offensive performance during the Dodgers' first two playoff series.

Now his son is expected to make a full recovery and his ankle is improving, Freeman said. “There has been a lot going on in the last few months,” he said on Friday. “But things were going so well at home. Max did great.”

During the World Series, as Freeman electrified fans and the dugout with his home runs night after night, there was one person for whom it had special meaning.

After the Game 1 grand slam, Freeman rounded the bases and then ran to the stands to greet his father, who was sitting near home plate.

“For as long as I can remember, he’s given me batting practice. My swing is thanks to him. My approach is thanks to him. I am who I am because of him,” Freeman said.

“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 this is Fred Freeman’s moment.”

Freddie Freeman celebrates with his teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the tenth inning against the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.

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For the rest of the Dodgers, their teammate's journey was another source of motivation.

“When you see what Freddie has been through with his ankle injury, how early he gets there and how much time he has taken away from his family, especially given what has happened this year, it makes everyone want to get involved.” said pitcher Jack Flaherty after Game 3.

“If you do things right, play the right way, you’re a good teammate. I think the game honors you. And tonight, Freddie was honored,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Game 1. “It's been a tough year for him, but to his credit, he's found a way to keep moving forward for his teammates. So I couldn't be happier.