Freddie Freeman, the Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman, made history during the World Series, racking up 12 RBIs and hitting home runs in the first four games—including a thrilling grand slam in the 10th inning of Game 1. This remarkable feat is unprecedented in the World Series history, which dates back to 1903.
Freeman’s stellar performance earned him the World Series Most Valuable Player title after leading the Dodgers to a nail-biting 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees, securing the team’s eighth championship.
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In the five-game series, Freeman batted .300, going 6 for 20 with four home runs and his 12 RBIs. While the Yankees managed to keep him quiet in Game 5, he still walked away with his first World Series MVP award.
This accomplishment marks Freeman, 35, as the first Dodgers player to win the World Series MVP since Corey Seager in 2020.
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The road to the MVP honor wasn’t straightforward for Freeman. He sprained his ankle in late September during a matchup against the San Diego Padres, with doctors predicting a 4- to 6-week recovery. Undeterred, he aimed to return just 10 days later for the National League Division Series.
Though he played sporadically in the early postseason rounds—a five-game series win over the Padres and six-game victory over the New York Mets—Freeman’s bat seemed off until the World Series began.
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His earlier playoff performances included going 4 for 14 with no extra-base hits against the Padres and 3 for 18 against the Mets. However, a four-day break allowed him to regain his power, and he shined in Game 1 with a record-setting grand slam, leading the Dodgers to a 7-3 victory.
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“It’s arguably one of the greatest baseball moments I’ve ever witnessed,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reflected. “Once they decided to walk Mookie, I felt confident with Freddie at the plate. You knew it was gone.”
Freeman continued his momentum, hitting home runs in Games 2, 3, and 4, marking a record six consecutive World Series games with a homer.
This MVP award capped a challenging season for Freeman. He faced personal trials when his 3-year-old son was hospitalized with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, leading him to miss eight games while on the family emergency list.
Leaving the regular season, Freeman finished with a .282 batting average, 22 home runs, and 89 RBIs, boasting a .378 on-base percentage, ranking second on the team after Shohei Ohtani and fourth in the National League.