Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam ball from Game 1 of the World Series is set to hit the auction block, capturing the attention of baseball fans and collectors alike.
The first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers stepped up to the plate with a sprained right ankle, facing a critical moment with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning against the New York Yankees. Freeman launched the first pitch from Nestor Cortes an impressive 413 feet, marking a historic moment as the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.
“That’s as good as it gets right there,” Freeman remarked, a fitting statement for someone who was also awarded World Series MVP.
With the Dodgers securing a 6-3 victory, they celebrated their eighth World Series championship after winning the series in five games.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his awe, stating, “It might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones.”
The historic ball found its way to 10-year-old Zachary Ruderman, who was in the right-field pavilion. The ball rolled from a nearby seat to his feet, and in a moment of excitement, he batted it to his father, Nico, who eagerly secured it.
Zachary had anticipated an early leave from school to get his braces removed, but instead, his parents surprised him with a trip to Dodger Stadium.
In a statement, the Ruderman family expressed their hope that the ball will be displayed at Dodger Stadium, allowing fans to appreciate this significant piece of Los Angeles baseball history.
This auction marks the second time this season that a ball connected to the Dodgers has been put up for sale. Earlier, a ball hit by Freeman’s teammate, Shohei Ohtani, which made him the first player in major league history to achieve at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, sold for nearly $4.4 million to a Taiwanese investment firm, setting a record for the sale of any sports ball.
SCP Auctions will manage the sale of Freeman’s ball from December 4 to December 14.
According to company president David Kohler, the ball is “easily worth seven figures,” highlighting its potential significance in the sports memorabilia market.
