Freddie Freeman is no stranger to being a World Series champion and everything that it entails. He earned the second World Series title of his career in 2024, but it was the first since becoming a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Freeman had an excellent performance during the 2021 World Series, which contributed greatly to the Atlanta Braves’ victory over the Houston Astros. But more so in 2024, Freeman’s presence was felt in all five games and there is no telling how the series could have went without his contributions.
The personal satisfaction that this achievement gave to Freeman is obvious, but the joy it gave to the Dodgers’ community is not lost on him and is equally as meaningful in his eyes. The fanbase’s gratitude is something he was able to experience firsthand this offseason.
“It’s been crazy,” Freeman said. “We did a lot of celebrating when we got home after winning. It was fun. Sports are incredible. As I’m out and doing my stuff in the community, I don’t think I’ve made it through one outing without someone coming up.
“That’s what’s so cool about this. When people are telling me what it meant to them winning the World Series and that home run, it’s special. Obviously, a lot went into last year for me.”
Privately, it was an especially meaningful way to end a strenuous season as his son Maximus battled a serious illness that required Freeman to temporarily step away from the team during the regular season.
“Max is doing good, so 2024 ended well,” Freeman said.
For an athlete that likes to keep a low-key profile in public, the media whirlwind that comes with winning the World Series can be a challenge. But it also provided Freeman with the opportunity for some new experiences that he enjoyed, including the chance to see how some fans immortalized their memories of the 2024 World Series on their bodies.
“I ran into someone in Orange County that had a fresh tattoo of me holding up my bat. I just signed a guy’s leg that had a tattoo of me. I think that’s kind of cool it means so much to those people to go out and put that memory on them forever,”
“I did Jimmy Kimmel, and anybody knows me knows that takes a lot for me to do stuff like that. I try to stay out of the limelight. Did the CMAs, presented there. Just some cool things that were able to happen that I don’t think I would’ve ever experienced without being a World Series champion.
“The tattoos, I think, are the ones that kind of catch me off guard. But it’s pretty cool. The one I just signed was pretty cool.”
Most importantly, Freeman was able to witness the power that baseball holds and its ability to help change people’s lives for the better.
“You can change peoples’ lives and create memories,” Freeman said. “A guy was just telling me that he gave up drinking that night because he wanted to be with his kids, present. They were in the right field stands and he didn’t drink that whole game, and he hasn’t drank since because of how present he was with his kids. They went to the field the next day and he just wanted to play baseball with his kids.
“Those are the stories that give me chills when I hear it and when talking about it now. Those are the kind of things that sports can do. To be able to give someone that, that’s what this is all about.
“I’m 35 now and I’ve played this game a long time. To be able to create memories as I’m getting toward the backend of my career, those are things I’ll always remember. Obviously, the rings and championships are what we go for, but to be able to impact lives like we were able to do in 2024, this is why you play sports. To be able to give someone that was special.”
Freddie Freeman’s timeline to begin 2025 after offseason ankle surgery
Freeman is about eight weeks removed from right ankle surgery he underwent in the offseason. Fortunately the procedure was not as extensive as it could have been, and he is currently on track to be able to play in Tokyo.
However, Freeman will likely be limited at the start of Dodgers Spring Training.
