Freddie Freeman hit a historic walk-off grand slam in the extra innings of the first game of the 2024 World Series, propelling the Los Angeles Dodgers to a victory over the New York Yankees with a 6-3 final score. It was the first time in 693 World Series games that an extra-inning lead-flipping home run had been hit, putting Freeman in a league of his own. He also became the first player to hit a home run tying a World Series game in extra innings.
Freeman’s feat was relished by fans and teammates alike, causing a seismic celebration in Southern California. Dodgers’ reliever Michael Kopech described the event as a “special moment”, and first baseman Max Muncy also offered Freeman praise, reminiscing about his own 18th-inning walk-off home run from 2018 against the Red Sox.
Freeman’s game-changing hit added a win probability of 73.3%, being hailed as one of the most pivotal swings in World Series history. This match, however, was additionally remarkable as the Yankees had intentionally walked Mookie Betts to pitch to Freeman, setting up the extraordinary circumstances of this grand slam.
Hitting a walk-off grand slam following an intentional walk is rare, and again, this was the first occurrence in extra-inning during World Series history. According to STATS Perform, only four such instances exist in World Series history.
As the Dodgers prepared for the second game, the excitement of the historic victory lingered on. The team was expected to keep the momentum going in the remaining games, and if they ended up winning the World Series, this walk-off grand slam would maintain a prominent place in their memories.
Finally, adding to Freeman’s record-breaking game, he also became one of the few players to hit a triple and an extra-inning walk-off in the same World Series game, joining the likes of David Freese, Derek Jeter, and Kirby Puckett. This landmark event will inevitably be recalled as “The Freddie Freeman Game”, embedding itself in the annals of historic World Series moments.
