In L.a. And In Cooperstown, Freddie Freeman Will Forever Be A Dodger, Not A Brave

PHOENIX — The Dodgers person played mostly awesome shot successful Los Angeles for 68 years. How galore position players deterioration nan iconic L.A. headdress connected a Hall of Fame plaque?

Go on, return a guess.

Freddie Freeman, nan Dodgers’ prima first baseman: “Three?”

Andrew Friedman, nan Dodgers’ president of shot operations: “Two?”

The correct reply is zero.

The players that deterioration nan L.A. logo successful Cooperstown: Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Don Sutton. The Fox ownership deprived america of Mike Piazza, and nan voters deprived america of Maury Wills, but nan reply remains zero.

“That is fascinating,” Freeman said. “That is amazing.”

That intends nan first position subordinate to deterioration an L.A. headdress successful nan Hall of Fame mightiness good beryllium nan 1 that shed tears complete leaving nan Atlanta Braves. Freeman preferred to stay, but nan Dodgers offered him a six-year contract and nan Braves did not.

“Going into that offseason, it was difficult to ideate him successful a different uniform,” Friedman said. “And now it’s really difficult to spot him successful a different azygous than ours.”

Yet nan emotion matter betwixt Freeman and Braves fans was truthful evident successful his 2022 return to Atlanta that, successful nan moment, Clayton Kershaw said, “I dream we’re not 2nd fiddle.”

Said Freeman: “I don’t awkward away. I had 12 awesome years successful Atlanta, but I’m having a blast here. It’s been 4 awesome years, a mates of World Series titles. I’m here. I emotion each infinitesimal of this.”

We retrieve champion what we retrieve last. Freeman is good alert of his legacy.

“Walk-off expansive slam,” he said.

Freddie Freeman tosses his bat aft hitting a walk-off expansive slam successful Game 1 of nan 2024 World Series against nan New York Yankees astatine Dodger Stadium.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

No 1 other successful awesome convention history has deed 1 successful nan World Series. That was nan “Gibby, meet Freddie!” moment.

What is Kirk Gibson remembered for? Do we person to ask?

Gibson played 12 years successful Detroit and won a World Series. He played 3 years successful Los Angeles, won a World Series, and one of nan top moments successful shot history was immortalized by one of nan top calls successful shot history: “In a twelvemonth that has been truthful improbable, nan intolerable has happened!”

Gibson is simply a Dodger.

Freeman played 12 years successful Atlanta and won a World Series. He has played 4 years successful Los Angeles and won two, pinch nan walk-off expansive slam to extremity 1 World Series crippled and a walk-off location tally to end an 18-inning World Series game.

Freeman is simply a Dodger.

If you could travel him astir town, you would see.

“I haven’t been capable to time off my location erstwhile successful nan past fewer years without personification coming up to me,” he said. “Sometimes you conscionable want to incognito and get to somewhere, but you can’t. It’s OK. That conscionable intends we’re doing thing typical here.

“Even successful Orange County, it’s benignant of taken over. There’s a batch much L.A. hats stepping astir than Angel hats successful Orange County.

“It’s conscionable nosy to beryllium a Dodger correct now. It’s difficult not to watch america wherever we go, and that’s special. It’s a awesome spot to play. People want to travel present and play. The fans evidently emotion us, and we admit each of it.”

Freddie Freeman waves to fans during Dodgerfest astatine Dodger Stadium connected Jan. 31.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

Even nan traffic. Freeman grew up successful Orange County, truthful he takes nan L.A. postulation successful stride.

“The 55 isn’t that bully either,” he said pinch a grin. “Or nan 91.”

It sounds crazy to opportunity that Freeman could play 2 aliases 3 times arsenic agelong pinch nan Braves and participate nan Hall of Fame arsenic a Dodger.

The totals done 12 years successful Atlanta: 1 championship, 5 All-Star appearances, 1 astir valuable subordinate award, 3 top-5 MVP finishes, .295 batting average, .893 OPS.

The totals done 4 years successful Los Angeles: 2 championships, 4 All-Star appearances, 2 top-5 MVP finishes, 2 legendary moments, .310 batting average, .907 OPS.

Freeman is 36. His statement covers 2 much seasons, though he said he would for illustration to play 4 more pinch nan Dodgers and past telephone it a career. That would make 12 years pinch nan Braves, 8 pinch nan Dodgers.

Then, assuming his profession does not autumn disconnected a cliff: Cooperstown.

“I’ve only been present for 4 years, and you’re already talking astir this?” Freeman said. “That makes maine happy because that intends I’ve done my occupation well.”

Reggie Jackson played 10 years pinch nan Oakland Athletics, 5 pinch nan New York Yankees. His Hall of Fame headdress features nan Yankees.

Nolan Ryan played 9 years pinch nan Houston Astros and 8 pinch nan Angels. His Hall of Fame headdress features nan Texas Rangers, his squad for 5 years.

If Freeman is elected, he and nan Hall will confer astir which squad should beryllium represented connected his cap. That speech mightiness beryllium a decade away, but I’ll opportunity it now: In L.A. and successful Cooperstown, Freeman is simply a Dodger.