LOS ANGELES — It was reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s unforgettable moment.

It echoed Roy Hobbs in “The Natural.”

This was classic Hollywood in the making.

“It might be,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated, “the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever experienced.”

Freddie Freeman, who just a week earlier struggled to walk due to a severe ankle sprain and had left the team this summer while his 3-year-old son fought for his life, stepped up to the plate on Friday night before a roaring crowd of 52,394. He delivered one of the most thrilling moments in World Series history.

With a dramatic two-out, walk-off grand slam in the 10^th inning, Freeman secured a 6-3 win for the Dodgers against the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series.

Freeman swung at the first pitch from Yankees lefty Nestor Cortes, connecting with a 92-mph fastball that sailed into the right field pavilion, almost exactly where Gibson had hit his homer in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

This marked the first-ever walk-off grand slam in World Series history, and the first walk-off homer on the first pitch since Mickey Mantle hit one for the Yankees in Game 3 of the 1964 World Series.

Freeman held his bat high above his head as he stood at home plate, tossed it aside, and savored the moment while gliding around the bases as Dodger Stadium vibrated with excitement.

“I felt like I was floating,” Freeman reflected. “These moments are the ones you dream about since you’re a kid, playing wiffle ball in the backyard with your brothers—two outs, bases loaded in a World Series game.”

“You dream about these situations even at 35 after being in the league for 15 years. Being part of such moments is what you hope for.”

“To actually achieve it, hit a home run, and walk it off—there’s nothing better than that.”

Only three Dodgers players – relievers Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson, and Ryan Brasier – were alive when Gibson hit his iconic homer, but they have certainly seen the highlights countless times.

“No offense to Kirk, but I don’t know him,” said Dodgers All-Star right fielder Mookie Betts. “That was way before my time. I’m focused on Freddie Freeman’s achievements.”

The 2024 Dodgers are indeed carving out their own legacy and will have stories to share with their future generations.

Dodgers infielder Max Muncy, who has met Gibson a few times, struggled to find the right words to express his feelings despite witnessing this incredible moment firsthand.

“I was actually standing on the top step, holding my bat,” Muncy shared. “I don’t know why, since there was no chance I was going to be up that inning. But when he hit it, I just launched my bat.”

“Usually, you can tell how well a player hit the ball, but with Freddie, he tends to just drop the bat and run. When I saw him holding the bat in the air and standing in the box not moving, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh!'”

As Freeman completed his lap around the bases, he celebrated with a crowd of Dodgers waiting for him at home plate. He made sure to stomp on it before running to the backstop, where his father sat in the front row.

“It was spontaneous,” Freeman explained. “I saw him with a lot of people, hugging them. I think he was feeling nervous. I wanted to share that moment with him because he has faced a lot in his life, too. Having a moment like that, I wanted him to be a part of it.”

“This moment is really for him; if he hadn’t supported me in my baseball journey, I wouldn’t be here.”

This summer, Freddie Freeman stepped away from the team for nearly two weeks while his son, Max, was put on a ventilator battling Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological condition.

“I was terrified and uncertain of the outcome,” Freeman recounted to YSL News Sports. “I can’t express how incredible this organization has been. They consistently reached out at the right times, giving space but also support when needed. That’s what makes this organization extraordinary.”

That trust allowed the Dodgers and Freeman to create a strategy for him to compete with the sprained ankle, which is expected to take another four to six weeks to heal. He missed two games in the National League Championship Series, including the decisive victory over the New York Mets.

Fortunately, winning the NLCS in six games granted Freeman an extra five days to recover. He visited Dodger Stadium daily, receiving extensive treatment and committed to being ready for the World Series.

In the first inning, he hit a ball towards the left-field corner; it slipped past left fielder Alex Verdugo, and before anyone noticed, Freeman was sliding into third base for a triple.

What are Roberts’ views?

“Stop!” Roberts exclaimed. “He was already set up to score. … I was just glad he came out of it on his feet.”

Muncy added: “Before the game, Freddie was joking that he was going to steal the first base and get that Taco Bell thing. We all told him that if he steals a base, we’re going to come onto the field and drag him off ourselves.”

That’s just who Freeman is. When he’s on the field, he gives it his all, playing the game the right way, regardless of any pain in his ankle.

“He’s a warrior, he’s a fighter,” Betts commented. “A win is a win, but given what Freddie has gone through, it makes it incredibly special. I’m thrilled it was him who got that moment.”

Betts created a key opportunity simply by being intentionally walked. The Dodgers, down 3-2 in the 10^th inning, had runners on second and third with two outs while facing left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes. Yankees manager Aaron Boone, unwilling to risk pitching to Betts, opted to intentionally walk him, setting the stage for Freeman.

“It’s a classic case of pick your poison,” Freeman remarked, “that highlights how strong our lineup is. No matter where you hit, it’s a tough matchup. Once I saw Aaron give the four [sign], I started to prepare myself for what to expect and where to focus.”

He anticipated Cortes would throw a fastball as the opening pitch, knowing he wouldn’t want to fall behind with the bases loaded. Cortes delivered, and Freeman seized the opportunity.

“I simply aimed to be on top of it, to be ready for it,” Freeman explained, “and I did.”

Betts turned, watched the ball soar into the stands, jumped in excitement and yelled.

“I wanted to wait for him,” Betts admitted, “but I couldn’t. So I just kept running and shouting.”

And so did the 50,000 fans in attendance, who remained until the final moments, having learned the hard way in 1988 not to miss a historic event.

If the team wins three more games, they will be forever celebrated, achieving their first World Series victory in a full season since 1988.

The team from 1988 will be remembered for Gibson’s incredible home run, a defining swing in the series, and the only at-bat Gibson had in that series.

Freeman’s home run could evoke a similar emotional response, but unlike Gibson, Freeman will keep playing and is determined not to miss a game.

“He’s dedicated everything to this team,” Muncy remarked, “he’s literally given his all.”

Isn’t that similar to Gibson’s experience?

“I don’t know, Freddie was moving just fine; he even hit a triple tonight,” Muncy said with a laugh. “So, I’m not sure it’s a fair comparison. From what I heard, Gibson was barely able to walk…

“What Freddie has done is remarkable. There have been many instances we’ve had to tell Freddie, ‘Hey, you need to take this one off. We’ve got you tonight. Just be prepared for the next game.’ But if you know Freddie, that’s not an easy conversation.”

Given how he performed on Friday, the Dodgers feel confident about Freeman’s prospects for the rest of the series. His teammates noticed he started moving much better just two days prior.

“I’m confident he’s still in quite a bit of pain,” Dodgers outfielder Enrique Hernandez shared, “but it’s not like that one game in New York where he couldn’t even swing the bat. That’s why those rest days were crucial.

“Now, he’s doing something that feels heroic. Freddie just is who he is. He’s a real fighter. There aren’t many superstars that put in the effort like Freddie does.

“He’s Hall of Fame material, and this was a meaningful moment in his journey. This bodes well for what’s ahead for him.”

Freeman, who arrived 6 ½ hours before the game for treatment, plans to do the same for Game 2 on Saturday. He is uncertain about how he will feel in the morning or if he will be in pain. Regardless, he will be ready to play.

“Winning a World Series is everything,” Freeman stated. “I will do whatever it takes to be out there.”

Anyone who knows Freeman wouldn’t expect anything less.