David Freese's name is inextricably linked with the 2011 World Series, particularly for his heroic performance in Game 6. His journey to becoming a World Series MVP was marked by injuries and a steady
rise through the Cardinals' system. Acquired by the Cardinals before the 2008 season, Freese made his Major League Baseball debut on Opening Day 2009. Despite suffering his own injuries in the minor leagues and in his initial MLB seasons, he showed promise, culminating in a standout 2011 season where he batted .297 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs.
Freese was projected to be the starting third baseman for the 2011 season and was indeed named the starter on Opening Day, even after minor ailments during spring training. He started the year strong, batting over .320, but his season was interrupted when he missed 51 games due to a fractured left hand after being hit by a pitch. Upon his return, he finished the regular season with a strong performance, recording hits in eight of the final nine games. He credited hitting coach Mark McGwire with helping him refine his stroke and improve his power hitting, a development that would prove crucial in the postseason.
Game 6: A Defining Moment
Game 6 of the 2011 World Series was where David Freese truly etched his name into baseball history. With the Texas Rangers leading the game 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning and holding a 3-2 series lead, the Cardinals were on the brink of elimination. With two outs and two men on base, Freese stepped to the plate. Facing a one-ball, two-strike count, he hit a dramatic two-run triple off Neftalí Feliz, just out of the reach of Nelson Cruz. This clutch hit tied the game and forced extra innings, keeping the Cardinals' World Series hopes alive.
The drama continued into the eleventh inning. After the Rangers had again taken a two-run lead and the Cardinals had once more tied it, Freese came to bat. With two strikes, he delivered a game-winning, walk-off solo home run to deep center field, a blast estimated at 420 feet. This monumental home run secured a 10-9 victory for the Cardinals and sent the World Series to a Game 7, the first since 2002. Freese joined an elite group of players, including Jim Edmonds, Aaron Boone, David Ortiz, Carlton Fisk, and Kirby Puckett, as one of the few to hit an extra-inning walk-off home run while their team faced postseason elimination.
World Series MVP and Postseason Records
Freese's heroics were not limited to Game 6. In Game 7, he continued his stellar performance, hitting a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning. This hit brought his 2011 postseason RBI total to 21, setting a new Major League Baseball record that would stand for twelve years. The Cardinals went on to win Game 7 and the series, making Freese a World Series champion for the first time. For his outstanding efforts throughout the series, David Freese was deservedly named the World Series MVP. He also achieved the rare distinction of becoming the sixth player to win both the League Championship Series (LCS) and World Series MVP awards in the same year, and was honored with the Babe Ruth Award as the postseason MVP. His remarkable postseason, particularly his unforgettable Game 6, solidified his legacy as a clutch performer and a key figure in the Cardinals' eleventh World Series championship.
