Freddie Freeman’s unforgettable walk-off grand slam in extra innings on Friday night kicked off a highly anticipated World Series that is already brimming with excitement. As the nation grapples with electoral chaos, potential civil unrest, and nuclear threats, the rekindling of America’s most storied baseball rivalry offers a much-needed diversion.
The Dodgers and Yankees, hailing from the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles, have spent over eight decades crafting an anthology of iconic moments in their World Series face-offs. The latest chapter began at Dodger Stadium on Friday, making history with Freeman’s slam that secured a 6-3 victory, marking the first time a player has ever won a World Series game with a walk-off grand slam.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his awe: “It might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones.”
In terms of star power, this series is exceptional. With six former MVPs combined across the rosters, including Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers and Aaron Judge of the Yankees—both of whom have previously clinched AL MVP awards—the talent pool is impressive. Other baseball luminaries like Juan Soto, Mookie Betts, and Gerrit Cole add to the star-studded lineup.
However, prior to the first pitch of Game 1, the sellout crowd of 52,394 shifted its focus to a somber note. Dodger fans mourned the passing of beloved former pitcher and broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela, who succumbed to cancer at 63. Flags in the stadium flew at half-mast, and a makeshift memorial adorned with flowers and candles was created at the entrance.
A tribute video accompanied by live Mariachi music celebrated Valenzuela’s legacy, showcasing him pitching, signing autographs, and engaging with fans. Players wore black patches featuring his name and number on their uniforms, while former teammates Steve Yeager and Orel Hershiser honored him by placing a ball at the “34” on the mound before a moment of silence, which was met with fans chanting his nickname, “Toro, toro!”
True to Los Angeles form, the crowd was filled with celebrities, including Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Lawrence, John Legend, Billie Eilish, and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Game 1 showcased the expected drama of a classic World Series, featuring tense pitching duels between the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole and the Dodgers’ Jack Flaherty. Amidst this, Judge—who dominated the league in various statistical categories—struggled at the plate, striking out three times. Momentum swung back and forth throughout the game.
In a typical LA twist, the crowd exhibited its laid-back vibe when fans near the left-field foul pole tossed a beach ball around during the sixth inning after the Yankees took a 2-1 lead with Giancarlo Stanton’s two-run homer. The home team’s video hosts even urged fans to rise to the occasion, reminding them they were at the World Series.
The crowd finally ignited in the bottom of the eighth when Ohtani doubled off the right-field wall, advancing to third after a mishap by second baseman Gleyber Torres. Betts then tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
The Yankees regained the lead in the top of the 10th, but the night belonged to Freeman. With the bases loaded and two outs, he faced Nestor Cortes’s first pitch—a 92 mph fastball—and launched it into the right-field bleachers, delivering a dramatic walk-off grand slam.
As the stadium erupted, Freeman held his bat high and leisurely made his way to first base. Once the ball sailed out, he broke into a trot, sharing a moment of celebration with first-base coach Clayton McCullough and his teammates.
Freeman expressed the dreamlike nature of the moment, reflecting on how he had envisioned these scenarios since childhood. He credited his father, who has been his lifelong batting practice partner, with shaping his love for the game. “If he didn’t throw me batting practice—if he didn’t love the game of baseball—I wouldn’t be here playing this game,” Freeman stated.
Three days before his moment in the spotlight, Flaherty reminded everyone that one home run is just one piece of the puzzle in a World Series: “It’s going to be a grind. It’s going to be hard-fought, and we’re going to give everything we’ve got.”
As fans celebrated along the left-field concourse, high-fiving strangers and chanting, “Fred-dee, Fred-dee, Fred-dee!” it was clear that the collaboration of history, emotion, and thrilling competition was only just beginning in this iconic series.
