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The Dodgers' Freddie Freeman channels Kirk Gibson with a walk-off grand slam

Posted on by Vanessa
The Dodgers' Freddie Freeman channels Kirk Gibson with a walk-off grand slam

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LOS ANGELES – It was Kirk Gibson again.

It was Roy Hobbs in The Natural.

It was classic Hollywood.

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

Freddie Freeman, who a week ago could barely walk because of his badly sprained ankle, left the team this summer and didn't know whether he would return with his 3-year-old son fighting for his life, took the stage Friday evening before a cheering crowd of 52,394 spectators and created one of the most dramatic events in World Series history.

With one swing of the bat, Freeman created a memory that will likely never be forgotten in Dodgers history: a two-out walk-off grand slam in the 10thTh inning led the Dodgers to a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series.

Freeman, who struck out Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes on the first pitch, hit a 92 mph fastball that flew high into the right field pavilion, almost exactly to the spot Gibson was aiming for in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

It was the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history and the first World Series walk-off home run on a first pitch since Mickey Mantle for the Yankees in Game 3 of the 1964 World Series.

Freeman stood at home plate, raised his bat in the air, tossed it to the side and slowly ran around the bases as Dodger Stadium literally shook.

“It felt like you were just floating,” Freeman said. “This is what happens when you're five years old and playing Wiffleball in the backyard with your two older brothers. These are the scenarios you dream about.” About two outs, bases loaded in a World Series game…

“You dream of these moments, even if you're 35 and have been playing in the league for 15 years. You want to be a part of it.

“For it to actually happen, for you to hit a home run and come away with the win, that’s the best thing there is.”

Only three Dodgers players — relievers Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson and Ryan Brasier — were even alive during Gibson's dramatic home run, but oh, they've seen the highlights over and over again.

“Kirk doesn’t have a shadow or anything, but I don’t know him,” Dodgers All-Star right fielder Mookie Betts said. “That was before my time.” I look at the story of Freddie Freeman.

The 2024 Dodgers are actually writing their own history and will be able to tell their children and grandchildren about this evening.

Dodgers infielder Max Muncy – who has met Gibson a few times – still had trouble finding the right words to describe his feelings, even though he experienced it in person.

“I was actually standing on the top step holding my bat,” Muncy said. “I don’t know why I held him, there was no way he could get up in that inning. Then he hit him,” and as soon as he hit him, I just launched my bat.

“At that moment the batsman will usually tell you whether he did well or not. But with Freddie that doesn't usually happen because Freddie always just puts the bat down and runs.

“But when you look at home plate and he's just holding the bat in the air, standing in the penalty box and hasn't even taken a step, you say, 'Oh my God!'”

As Freeman strolled through the bases, submitting to a gauntlet of Dodgers waiting for him at home plate. He stomped on it and kept running until he reached the backstop, where his father was sitting in the front row.

“It was kind of spontaneous,” Freeman said. “I saw him hugging a lot of people back there. … I think he was so nervous going into it. I just wanted to share this with him because he's been there.” He's been through a lot in his life too, and just to experience a moment like that, I wanted to be a part of it in that moment…

“More than anything, this is his moment because if he didn't give me batting practice, if he didn't love the game of baseball, I wouldn't be here playing this game. So this is Fred Freeman’s moment.”

Freddie Freeman was the one who was sidelined from the team for nearly two weeks this summer as his son Max was placed on a ventilator battling Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.

“I didn’t know what was going to happen, but it was so scary,” Freeman told USA TODAY Sports. “I cannot emphasize enough how great this organization has been. They have all reported. It's almost as if they knew exactly.” And there was never too much space at the right time. That's what makes this organization so special.

That trust also allowed the Dodgers and Freeman to develop a plan that would allow him to play with his sprained ankle, which isn't expected to fully heal for four to six weeks. He missed two games in the National League Championship Series, including the decisive win over the New York Mets.

But winning the NLCS in six games gave Freeman another five days of rest. He came to Dodger Stadium every day, received treatment for five hours a day and swore he would be ready for the World Series.

In the first inning he hit a ball into the left field corner, it squirted past left fielder Alex Verdugo and before anyone knew it, he ran to third base for a triple.

Roberts' thoughts?

“Stop!” said Roberts. “He was already in position to score. … I was glad he came out of it standing tall.”

Muncy said: “Freddie said before the game that he was going to get the first stolen base and the Taco Bell thing. And we all told him, if you steal a base, we'll go on the field and “we'll take you off the field ourselves.”

But this is Freeman. When he's on the field, he plays the game hard and right, no matter how much his ankle hurts.

“He’s a warrior, he’s a fighter,” Betts said. “A win is a win but when you know what Freddie has been through it is very special. I’m glad he was the one who had that moment.”

It was Betts who set it up by being intentionally walked around. The Dodgers are down 3-2 in the 10th roundThhad runners on second and third with two outs and left-hander Nestor Cortes on the mound. Yankees manager Aaron Boone, not wanting to take any chances with Betts, told Cortes to intentionally move him to Freeman.

“It's about picking your poison, so to speak,” Freeman said, “that's the good thing about our lineup. It's an uphill battle no matter where you are. When I saw Aaron give the four (signal), I just started going through my plan and my process of what I wanted to look for and where I wanted to look for it.

He assumed Cortes would throw him a first-pitch fastball and wouldn't dare fall behind in the count with the bases loaded. Cortes threw it. Freeman pounced.

“So I just wanted to stay on top of things and be on time,” Freeman said, “and I was.”

Betts turned around, watched it fly into the stands, jumped into the air and screamed.

“I wanted to stop and wait for him,” Betts said, “but I couldn’t. So I just kept running and screaming.”

And the same went for the 50,000 fans who stayed until the end, learning their lesson from 1988 and not wanting to miss history.

Now with three wins left, this team will also forever be cherished for winning its first full season World Series title since 1988.

This team will always be remembered for the Gibson home run, the swing that changed the series, and Gibson's only plate appearance of the entire series.

Freeman's home run could have the same emotional impact, but the difference is that Freeman will continue to play and now won't miss a game.

“He gave us everything,” Muncy said, “he literally gave us his body.”

Just like Gibson, right?

“I don’t know, Freddie was moving pretty good, he had a triple tonight,” Muncy said with a laugh. “Well, I don’t know if you can compare it. From what I heard, Gibson basically had half a leg…

“But what Freddie has done is amazing. We had to go to Freddie several times and say, “Hey, you've got to sit this one out.” Hey, we've got you tonight. Be ready for the next game.' But if you know Freddie, it's not an easy conversation.

From the way he looked on Friday, the Dodgers believe Freeman will be fine for the rest of the series. He started moving much better two days ago, his teammates said.

“I'm pretty sure he's still in a lot of pain,” Dodgers outfielder Enrique Hernandez said, “but not so much that he couldn't even swing the bat in a game in New York. That’s why these are gone.” days were huge.

“Now he’s doing something that’s essentially heroic. Freddie's Freddie, man. Freddie is a grinder. There aren't many superstars who grind like Freddie.

“He is a Hall of Famer and this was a special moment in his career. This is a good sign for him for the future.”

Freeman, who arrived for treatment 6½ hours before game time, plans to do the same thing again Saturday for Game 2. He doesn't know how he'll feel when he wakes up. He doesn't know if he will be in pain. Regardless, he'll be in the lineup.

“Winning a World Series is everything,” Freeman said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to be out there.”

No one who knows Freeman would expect anything less.

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