The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series in walk-off fashion off thanks to Freddie Freeman providing heroics in the 10th inning.
Freeman’s swing was reminiscent of Kirk Gibson hitting a walk-off home run 36 years ago in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. While Gibson and Freeman are now connected in Dodgers postseason lore, the latter achieved an MLB first.
Freeman’s walk-off grand slam represented the first in World Series history.
“Oh, really? That’s pretty cool,” Freeman said when informed of being in a category of his own. “Obviously it’s kind of amazing.
“It’s been a lot these last few months, been a grind, but things have been going so well at home. Max is doing great. Obviously the ankle is the ankle. It’s a sprained ankle. It’s as good as it’s going to get. But when you get told you do something like that in this game that’s been around a very long time — I love the history of this game — to be a part of it, it’s special.
“I’ve been playing this game a long time, and to come up in those moments, you dream about those moments even when you’re 35 and been in the league for 15 years, you want to be a part of those. It’s the kind of energy the crowd brought tonight. Game 1 of the World Series. Everyone’s been talking about this all week. For us to get that first win, especially like that, that’s pretty good, but we’ve got three more to go.”
In front of a sold-out crowd at Dodger Stadium, Freeman jogged his way around the bases, completing the final leg of a storybook type of moment.
“It felt like nothing, just kind of floating,” Freeman said. “Those are the kind of things, when you’re 5 years old with your two older brothers and you’re playing wiffle ball in the backyard, those are the scenarios you dream about. Two outs, bases loaded in a World Series game.
“For it to actually happen and get a home run and walk it off to give us a 1-0 lead, that’s as good as it gets right there.”
Freeman’s blast was just the third walk-off home run in postseason history from a team that was trailing in the game, joining Gibson in 1988 and Joe Carter of the Blue Jays in 1993.
A 92.5 mph fastball from Yankees’ Nestor Cortes etched Freeman’s name into Dodgers history, and in the record books of Major League Baseball.
Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam lifts Dodgers
In terms of postseason moments, Freeman’s swing is this generation’s version of Gibson’s blast in 1988. For many who have been around the game, it is up there with all-time hits.
“It arguably might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“As the inning started, you’re just trying to think about getting Shohei to the plate. Once they decided to walk Mookie, I just felt good with Freddie at the plate. And just that swing, you knew it was gone. Just pure elation.
“You don’t see teams celebrate after a game, a walk-off like that, but I just think it was certainly warranted. Man, it was a great game before that, but the way it finished, I just couldn’t be more excited for our guys.”
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