A monumental matchup in the 2024 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees was kicked off with a historic moment in Game 1.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman stepped up with bases loaded in extra innings against Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes. Hobbled by an ankle injury since the end of he regular season, Freeman was a long shot to be a main contributor, but he proved that wrong en route to a World Series MVP award.
On the first pitch from Cortes, Freeman launched a walk-off grand slam, winning the Dodgers Game 1. Joe Davis, who was tasked with being the television voice of the Fall Classic, was on the call for the moment.
As the ball from Freeman’s bat went soaring into the right-field pavilion, Davis recalled a moment he shared with legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, who gave him advice for possible moments of this magnitude, per Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
“You have to think of it like your house is burning down,” Scully told Davis, “and you’ve got to get everybody out safely. If you’re freaking out, you’re probably not going to get the kids and the dog out safely. If you’re calm and cool, you’re probably going to escape that fire just fine.
“I had a chuckle when he said it then, but I’ve thought about it many times since.”
Freeman’s home run drew immediate comparison’s to Kirk Gibson’s legendary homer, which also happened in Game 1 of the World Series in 1988. Scully was on the call of that moment, a key piece of not only Dodgers history, but one of the biggest moments in the game’s history.
As Freeman’s ball left the yard, Davis exclaimed, “Freeman hits a ball, right field, she is gone! Gibby meet Freddie! Game 1 of the World Series!”
Davis has received well-deserved praise for his choice of words of Freeman’s home run, paying homage to all aspects of the moment.
Dodgers won 2024 World Series
Just like in 1988, the Dodgers also went on to win the 2024 World Series. They took a 3-0 series lead on the Yankees before dropping the fourth game.
The Dodgers closed it out in Game 5 after a historic comeback where they overcame a five-run deficit.
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