Freddie Freeman has left a profound mark on the 2024 World Series, proving why he was named the 2024 Fall Classic MVP.
The Dodgers first baseman has been a true RBI and home run machine, setting records that place him alongside baseball legends. His batting prowess not only propelled the Dodgers to victory in this series but also allowed him to inscribe his name in MLB history.
Tying the record for RBIs and a lethal batting
In Game 5 of the World Series, Freeman hit a crucial single in the fifth inning off Gerrit Cole that drove in two more runs for the Dodgers. With those RBIs, Freeman reached 12 in this series, reaching the all-time record for the most RBIs in a single Fall Classic.
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He shares the record with Bobby Richardson, who accomplished the feat in 1960 with the Yankees. The American player has not only stood out for his RBIs, but Freeman has also demonstrated an unprecedented ability to hit home runs in this series.
Since Game 1, the first baseman has homered in every World Series game, including a game-winning grand slam in the series opener.
This record makes him the first player in history to hit home runs in six consecutive World Series games, an achievement that also includes his participation in the 2021 World Series with the Atlanta Braves.
Freddie Freeman made his mark from Game 1
Freeman made his mark in Game 1 with a walk-off grand slam at Dodger Stadium. From there, fate would allow Freeman to be the star of the Yankees’s offense.
In Game 2 and Game 3, his home run hits punctuated the Dodgers’s offense that silenced the Bronx Bombers.
Even in the Game 4 loss, Freeman let go a two-run homer. And in the fifth inning, he delivered a key hit that brought the Dodgers to a tie.
Freddie Freeman is now part of Dodgers history and gets his first ring with the franchise in his third season with the team.
In his career with the Dodgers, Freddie Freeman is batting .314 with 563 hits, 72 home runs, 291 RBIs, and 329 runs scored in 467 career games for the Dodgers.
A legacy that continues to grow
Since joining the Dodgers in 2022 on a six-year, $162 million contract, Freeman has left an indelible mark. Prior to coming to Los Angeles, Freeman had spent 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braves, earning an MVP, five All-Star nods, three Silver Slugger Awards, and a Gold Glove.
The World Series MVP trophy was similar to the Commissioner’s Trophy. However, in 2017, after being renamed the Willie Mays World Series MVP Award for the 2018 edition onward, the trophy is a wooden pedestal topped by a bronze sculpture of Willie Mays making the iconic catch in the 1954 World Series.
The recognition as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Major League Baseball does not come with a specific cash prize from MLB itself.
However, players often receive bonuses from their teams or sponsorships related to winning the prize. These bonuses can vary widely depending on the individual contracts and agreements of the winner, in this case, Freeman.
Freeman, who also has Canadian citizenship, competed in these playoffs with a sprained right ankle.
In his career, the batter also has a National League MVP award in 2020 and was selected for eight All-Star Games.