In the storied chronicles of Fall Classic lore, no slugger has ever accomplished what Freddie Freeman is doing right now. The Dodgers first baseman launched a titanic blast in the first inning of Game 4, marking an astounding sixth consecutive World Series game with a home run. It’s a stretch of power hitting brilliance that is unrivaled in the 119-year history of the championship series.
Freeman’s latest laser shot came off a misplaced slider from Yankees hurler Luis Gil, the ball rocketing off his bat at 110 mph and soaring 415 feet into the frenzied Dodger Stadium crowd. The two-run bomb staked LA to an early lead as they aimed to put the finishing touches on a championship sweep.
A Postseason Resurgence
The 35-year-old Freeman endured a trying postseason leading up to the World Series. Nagging injuries sapped his prodigious power, limiting him to measly singles as the Dodgers battled through the NLDS and NLCS. But on the grandest stage, with the lights shining brightest, something clicked. Freeman rediscovered his home run stroke at the perfect time.
Making the Record Books
According to baseball historians, Freeman now stands alone in the World Series record books:
- First player to homer in each of the first four games of a World Series
- Second player to homer in four straight World Series games (George Springer, 2017)
- Six total World Series home runs, trailing only legends like Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, and Reggie Jackson
Freeman’s majestic moonshots have been of the utmost importance to the Dodgers in building their commanding 3-0 series lead. His first inning homers in Games 3 and 4 immediately put the Yankees in an early hole. And who could forget his earth-shattering walk-off grand slam to win an epic Game 1?
Chasing a Title and MVP
With the Dodgers sitting on the cusp of their first World Series title since 2020, and their eighth championship overall, Freeman is the runaway favorite to take home MVP honors. Through 4 games, the sweet-swinging lefty is hitting an otherworldly .438 with 6 homers and 14 RBIs.
“He’s the hottest hitter on the planet right now," gushed Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "Freddie is carrying us, putting the team on his back. It’s a joy to watch him perform at this level when it matters most. He’s a special player.”
For Freeman, it’s a chance to further cement his legacy as an all-time great. He won a title and World Series MVP with the Braves in 2021 before signing with his hometown Dodgers. Replicating those feats in LA would elevate him to rarified air, especially given his age.
The Yankees, meanwhile, find themselves in an unenviable position – down 3-0 in the series and tasked with trying to cool off the hottest bat in baseball. No team has ever come back from such a deficit in the World Series. If New York has any hope of staging an epic comeback, priority number one is finding a way to prevent Freddie Freeman from driving balls over the fence. So far, that’s proven to be an impossible assignment.
