ATLANTA Freddie Freeman These were taken into account.
He said “Fourteen Freeman 5 Jerseys”, then he covered his face with his towel once more, reddening his cheeks and wellinging up his eyes. Freeman saw them as he drove to Truist Park in Atlanta on Friday afternoon. Their sight was the second of many times that Freeman’s emotions would be overwhelmed.
The first came an hour earlier. Around noon, Charlie, Freeman’s 5-year-old son, took Freeman to Cupanion’s. Cupanion’s is the cafe he used to visit religiously for his pregame “Freddie Omelet”. He was delighted to discover that it was still open.
“There were nine people there and they all stood up and started clapping,” Freeman stated. Then he nearly lost it again and pressed the towel against his nose to stop another cry.
The remainder of the day was an emotional rollercoaster ride for the former Atlanta Braves Current and icon Los Angeles Dodgers First baseman. Freeman struggled to hold back his tears during a pregame media conference. Freeman left the room to get some rest and was unable to keep it together for Saturday’s honor ceremony. A three-minute tribute video was shown on the big screen at center field. It prompted a large ovation and culminated in Brian Snitker giving Freeman a warm hug. Snitker waited close to the pitcher with the World Series rings that Freeman had only received in Atlanta.
Snitker repeatedly patted Freeman the back and urged him to relax. This was impossible at that time.
“Snit being Snit,” Freeman said later. “It’s one man for which I am very grateful. Over the past few months, we’ve had many talks.
Snitker was sitting in his spring training condo in North Port, Florida, 102 days before news broke about the Braves buying a new first baseman. Matt Olson. Snitker was immediately drawn to Freeman by his desire to return to the same organization that drafted Snitker 15 years ago. He knew he would be crushed.
Snitker recalls, “I told my spouse, ‘I’m gonna wait, and call.'” “And then, it’s like, ‘Nah the heck with it, I’m going to call right now.’”
Freeman spent the past three months trying to get over the shock of what happened four months after winning a World Series with the same organization that he grew-up with. Although emotions were still raw at the Braves’ visit to L.A. in April, Freeman was already planning for this weekend. He wanted to know how the ring would look and how fans would react, as well as how he would process the whole thing.
But, he could not be prepared for anything.
Freeman’s eyes were sore and teary that he had to return, ring in hand to the third-base side, to address the packed crowd. His legs went numb when he returned to bat in the first inning. The Truist Park organist greeted him with “We Are The Champions,” which was a warm reception that brought cheers from the fans. Freeman stood outside the batter’s box holding his helmet and observing the world from a distance.
The ovation lasted longer than one minute.
“He deserved every moment of it,” the Braves starting pitcher. Ian Anderson, said.
Braves history dates back as far as the 1870s. However, only five players have ever accumulated more home runs than Freeman. His batting average of.294/.380/.505 was a whopping 147 in his first 10 seasons. This span included two contention windows, and a lengthy rebuild. However, his greatest successes came over the past two seasons. He won the MVP in the COVID-shortened 2020 season and led Braves to an unlikely late-season run at the championship in 2021. Freeman batting average was.332/.407/.520 in the second half of the regular season, and then.304/.420/.625 in the playoffs.
He joined Chipper Jones, Hank Aaron, and Johnny Evers as the only players to win both a MVP and a Championship in franchise history.
“He cemented his legacy here, man. It’s so rare that such a thing happens,” said Dansby SwansonFreeman’s friend and long-time teammate. “Sometimes you don’t appreciate players or what they’re capable of doing until they’re gone.”
Matt Klug in north Georgia keeps the most valuable possession in his basement: a black Marucci Bat that once belonged Freddie Freeman. Freeman delivered the bat to Klug personally four summers ago, with a message which, according to Klug, “changed everything in my life.”
Keep your eyes open for the good times and keep going.
Klug, 21 years old, said that it was something he will never let go of. “If it is the end of the universe, I’ll always have it with me.”
Klug lost his mother to lung cancer in November 2016. Klug lost his father to lung disease 12 months later in his senior year of highschool. Klug, a passionate Braves fan, found strength in the perseverance of his favorite player after losing his mother at the age 10 to melanoma. He used Freeman’s story as motivation to finish his last season of high school baseball. His story gained traction and was enough to be published by the Chicago White Sox As a gesture of goodwill, he was drafted in the 38th round. Krug’s story was discovered by the Braves, who organized a meet-and-greet on June 22 to help him find a new path.
Klug founded a charity called November Smiles later that fall to help children deal with the loss. He took them to Braves games, helped them go back to school shopping, and provided them with a listening ear. Klug believes that if it weren’t for his meeting with Freeman the organization would not exist. It has helped around 50 children.
Klug stated, “Regardless of where he plays,” “That’s my favorite player.”
It’s not so easy for many Braves fans.
Grant McAuley has been covering the Braves for over a decade. He currently works at 92.9 The Game, a local sports-talk radio station. Over the past few months, he has seen a wide range of fan reactions. Some people can’t believe Freeman joined their most hated rival, while others are happy that he will now be able to play his home games closer than where he grew. The front office is to blame for not offering enough. Instead, blame the player for being greedy and the agent who mishandled it all. People who believe Matt Olson will make the Braves better, and those who fear that they won’t be the same again.
However, tension was evidently cooling by the time the Dodgers made their way to town. The Braves’ 14-game winning streak has vaulted them back to a position in the division race with the Dodgers. New York Mets, helped. Time was also a factor.
Chris Dimino (radio host on 680 The Fan), who has been in the Atlanta market nearly 30 years, said that “I just think there is a raw nerve which is deadened.” It was exposed for some time, and it was hot, flashed subject in this town, where people were angry. It was on both sides. People were upset. That’s why I believe that people are now calmer.”
Freeman was seen standing in foul territory on the first base side for ten minutes just before Friday’s game. He signed for young fans who were lining up along the foul territory. He then ran to the other side and did so for those on his third-base side. He stated, “I’m trying as hard as I can to do as many as they did for me.”
Klug arrived just at the right time. Klug found his spot in Section 426 behind home plate on the stadium’s upper-level and was thrilled to see so many Freeman jerseys around him. Klug worried that boos and boos would invade Freeman’s reception over the past weeks, but his section, along with most of the 42,105 crowd, began to chant “Free-ddie!” Freeman walked out of the dugout Friday afternoon, prompting a chant.
They recalled how he became a rising star and a sweet-swinging kid to become a shining star. Jason HeywardThe organization’s brightest prospects. His remarkable success in the 2014 season was a testament to his leadership abilities. His example set the stage for four consecutive division championships. He hit the ball exactly where it was supposed to be pitched, ran out every ground ball, and took hardly any time off. How he hugged, how he smiled, how he cried.
“I believe No. Klug stated, “I think No. 5 should be hanging up Atlanta forever regardless of how his Braves runs ended.” “I believe that what he did here is more important than his leaving.”
Jeff Francoeur spent the Braves half of his 12-year major League career. Francoeur and Freeman formed a close friendship in 2016 when he played with them. Francoeur was on his TBS broadcasting duties and made sure to stop by Freeman’s house when he visited L.A. in April. Francoeur saw a man still reeling from the shock of being elsewhere and still trying to find a way forward.
Francoeur claimed that Freeman left the Braves due to a “perfect thunderstorm” of events. Francoeur believes that Freeman would have been a Brave today if the Braves’ COVID-stricken season of 2020 had not led to Braves ownership reducing spending or a 99-day lockout allowing players and teams to communicate. He believed it was fate that Freeman saw Dodger Blue for the first time.
Francoeur recalled that Francoeur had told him “There’s an explanation you’re there, man.”
Freeman is still very upset about the negotiation process, although he has chosen not to disclose details. Casey Close, Freeman’s agent presented Alex Anthopoulos (Braves general manager) two aggressive offers. He gave him an hour for his response, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney. Anthopoulos understood it as a “take-it or leave-it” situation. Two days later the Braves sent a package containing prospects to the Oakland Athletics In exchange for Matt Olson. Freeman signed the Dodgers a six-year, $126million contract three days later.
Freeman’s close friends have wondered since why he wasn’t more involved in the negotiations. He was not willing to leave and his demands were similar to the Braves’ top offer. Olney reported that Anthopoulos offered $140m over five years. Why didn’t he just phone Anthopoulos and work it all out. Anthopoulos should have cut out the middleman to reach out directly.
Freeman recognizes that everyone is to blame but he is working hard to change the situation.
Freeman declared after Friday’s match that “if you think about your past, it’s only gonna affect your happiness in today and tomorrow.” “That’s what we have settled for. It’s impossible to change what happened. Only you can learn from your past experiences. I have certainly learned a lot. You know what I mean, and I believe some of you do too. I’m not going to quote anyone right now. I’m trying to get on with my day.
Over the past three months, it has been clear that Freeman is deeply concerned about Atlanta’s legacy and is very sensitive to what baseball fans think of him. Many of his closest friends hoped Friday’s reception would turn out to be warm.
A long-time Braves coach stated earlier this week that if he is booed, it’s going to hurt him.” “That’s going to really hurt.”
It often felt like Braves fans were coping with this more easily than Freeman as the weekend progressed. Freeman received apathy in every plate appearance on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with the exception of Saturday’s seventh inning when the bases were loaded with two runs and the Dodgers trailed 1-0. Another sold out crowd began to boo. When Freeman was able to strike out, the crowd cheered and treated him as if he were any other opponent player.
Many Braves fan seem to have moved on, maybe content with a first baseman four years younger who is equally talented. Some believe that Freeman still struggles with the whole thing.
He might just need to get rid of this series.
Maybe a little bit of him is still there. Franceour added, “When all is quiet, I still believe in my heart that Freddie’s last year here will be a success.” “I do.”