Baseball pro Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers achieved something that no one has achieved in 121 years – a “walk-off grand slam“.
The entire Dodger Stadium screamed in delight and threw their hands in the air. Some baseball fans also fell into each other’s arms and couldn’t believe it. Why? In a thrilling opening game of the World Series, Major League Baseball (MLB) Finals, Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers created a historic moment.
In the dramatic 6-3 win against the New York Yankees, the 35-year-old hit the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history, i.e. in 119 years. The World Series has been held annually since 1905. This means that when Freeman hit his home run in the last inning, all the bases were occupied by teammates, which scored four points – the game was over.
Freeman said afterwards: “That’s pretty cool. To be told you’re doing something like that in a sport that’s been around for a long time – I love the history of the game. To be a part of it is special.”
For Freeman, it was the next emotional turn in a year of injuries marred by a serious illness for his three-year-old son, Max. In July, his son suddenly could no longer walk and was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome – a rare autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own nerves. Max later recovered after immunotherapy and was discharged from the hospital in August.
Freeman was correspondingly relaxed after the win: “I’ve been playing this game for a long time, and being involved in these moments is something you dream about, even if you’re 35 and have been playing in the league for 15 years. The last few months have been hard, but at home “It went so well – Max is doing great.”
After celebrating his walk-off with his teammates, Freeman sprinted to the seats behind home plate to share the moment with his father. “He’s been helping me with batting practice for as long as I can remember,” Freeman said. “My swing is thanks to him. I am who I am because of him.” The second game is also scheduled for Saturday in Los Angeles. Four wins are needed to win the title.
