Family Triumph Amidst Challenges
Freddie Freeman embraced his youngest son, 3-year-old Maximus, lifting him high and showering him with kisses on the field at Dodger Stadium. His wife, Chelsea, gathered their other two sons for a family photo, marking a special moment after Freeman had just made baseball history. Just three months prior, the Freemans were at Max’s hospital bedside, anxiously watching him battle Guillain-Barré syndrome. Thankfully, Max pulled through and was able to witness his father’s incredible achievement in the World Series.
Determination and Resilience
Despite dealing with a sprained right ankle, Freeman showed no signs of slowing down as he hit a grand slam in the 10th inning, clinching a victory in Game 1 against the Yankees. After celebrating with his teammates, he joyfully ran to the screen behind home plate to share the moment with his father. Freddie Freeman described the moment as surreal, saying it felt like he was “just kind of floating.” He reflected on childhood memories, sharing, “Those are the scenarios you dream about as a kid, playing wiffle ball in the backyard with your two older brothers—two outs, bases loaded in a World Series game.” He expressed his excitement about actually hitting a home run to win the game and give his team a 1-0 lead, calling it an experience that couldn’t get any better.
Overcoming Adversity
After everything he has faced since the middle of summer, it’s evident that Freddie Freeman is determined to give his all to both his sport and his family this year. Dodgers postseason standout Kiké Hernández praised Freeman, stating, “He’s doing something heroic by pushing himself to play. Freddie is a true grinder; not many superstars work as hard as he does. He’s a Hall of Famer, and this is a significant moment in his career.” Freeman missed eight games in July and August while dealing with the aftermath of his son Max’s illness, which occurred during the All-Star Game festivities in Texas. When the family got home, Max was hospitalized and placed on a ventilator due to partial paralysis and difficulty breathing. He was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that impacts the immune system, nerves, and muscles.
Historic Achievements and Celebrations
As Max’s health gradually improved, Freeman made his return to the field on August 5. He was visibly emotional, shedding tears before and after receiving a standing ovation from Dodgers fans who understood what he had been through. However, less than two weeks later, Freeman suffered a broken right middle finger. Struggling to play through the pain, he eventually agreed to take a break from the game after manager Dave Roberts advised him to rest and reset his body during a series in late August. In September, Max Freeman returned to Chavez Ravine to cheer on the Dodgers as they headed into the final stretch of the season. Freeman shared that Max is expected to make a full recovery. Despite the challenges, Freeman had an impressive season, finishing with a .282 batting average, an .854 OPS, 22 home runs, 89 RBIs, and a 4.7 WAR. However, he suffered a serious ankle injury on September 26 during the Dodgers’ last regular-season game at home. The team noted that the severity of the sprain would typically sideline most players for weeks, but Freeman is determined to push through the pain because it’s October.
Freddie Freeman has missed three postseason games, including two of the last three against the Mets in the NLCS. Despite his absence, the Dodgers triumphed, advancing to the World Series for the first time since Freeman returned to Southern California. Max Muncy shared that there were times when the team had to approach Freeman and say, “Hey, you need to sit this one out. We’ve got you tonight.” Muncy acknowledged that it’s a tough conversation to have with someone like Freeman, but he understands what’s best for the team and is now feeling more like himself. After nearly a week of rest and treatment, Freeman reported that his ankle felt “actually pretty good” as he prepared for Game 1 against the Yankees. He proved it in the first inning by legging out a triple, his first since June 1. Freddie Freeman has joined an exclusive club as only the third player in baseball history to hit a grand slam and a triple in a postseason game. The only other player to achieve this since 1920 is Kaz Matsui, who did so for Colorado against Philadelphia in the 2007 NLDS.
In the sixth inning, Freeman stood with his arms crossed, marveling as Giancarlo Stanton launched a towering home run deep into the left-field stands for the Yankees. Three decades after another veteran Dodgers slugger hit a game-winning homer in World Series Game 1, Freeman mimicked that hobbled trot around the bases amid the loud celebrations of October. Kirk Gibson’s 1988 moment is one of the most memorable in Dodgers history, and Freeman’s home run was strikingly similar, even landing in a comparable spot in the Dodger Stadium bleachers, with brake lights of early-leaving fans visible in the parking lot beyond.
“Everything was the same except for the fist pumps,” manager Dave Roberts remarked. Max Muncy, who hit a game-ending homer in the 18th inning of the Dodgers’ 2018 victory over the Boston Red Sox, noted that it was the team’s only win in that series. “When I hit mine, it was like I blacked out in the moment,” Muncy recalled. “But with this one, I could actually see everyone’s reactions and feel the ground shaking. I was standing next to Dave, and as soon as Freeman hit it, I just launched my bat.” Freeman’s homer will be preserved in Cooperstown, as he has agreed to donate his cleats to the Baseball Hall of Fame—though he plans to wait until the World Series concludes.