He may not be with the Braves anymore, but it is hard not to continue loving a guy who did so much for Atlanta. Freddie Freeman’s debut in the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers became one of the most thrilling opening games ever. He launched a stunning grand slam walk-off home run that fans will not forget anytime soon.
At the start of the postseason, it was anyone’s guess how much of an impact Freeman, recovering from a significant ankle injury, would have in the playoffs. After all, a right ankle sprain had limited him at the end of the regular season, and he re-aggravated it during the NLDS. Yet here he was, delivering what might be one of the most unforgettable hits in recent World Series history.
The stakes couldn’t have been higher. In Game 1 against the New York Yankees, with the Dodgers down a run in the 10th inning, Freeman found himself up to bat with the bases loaded and two outs. A single hit would have kept L.A. alive; a home run would’ve been a dream.
But Freeman delivered something even better—a grand slam, crushing the first pitch right over the right-field fence and sealing a 6-3 victory. According to FOX Sports, this grand slam was a first in the 121-year history of the World Series—no one had ever done it before in the final inning of a World Series game.
The Yankees-Dodgers matchup was already a must-watch showdown. This was the first time in 43 years that these legendary teams faced off in the Fall Classic, and fans had been hyping it up for days. But no one could have predicted an ending like this one to kick things off. For baseball lovers, and even those who usually catch just a game or two in October, it was a storybook moment.
It was made even more surreal by Freeman’s underdog status. He’s still considered one of the league’s premier hitters, but at 35 and battling a nagging injury, Freeman had struggled to find his stride in the postseason. He was hitting just .219 with no extra-base hits. But under the bright lights of Game 1, he went 2-for-5, added a triple, and capped it off with the game’s winning shot.
For Atlanta fans, this World Series brings mixed emotions. Braves Country has its fair share of playoff heartbreaks, especially at the hands of the Yankees and Dodgers. Watching one of their long-time heroes in Dodger Blue can be bittersweet, especially after he was the face of the Braves for over a decade.
Freeman played a pivotal role in bringing Atlanta its first title since 1995, clinched the MVP in 2020, and became a fixture in Atlanta’s sports legacy. His departure from the Braves may have been a little bumpy, but there’s no doubt he left his mark.
Now, Freeman has etched his name into baseball lore once again. It is a game that Dodgers fans and baseball fans everywhere will remember, proving that even against the odds, sometimes the best stories are written in the final at-bat.
