Freddie Freeman delivered a historic moment Friday night, hitting the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-3 win over the New York Yankees in Game 1.
While Freeman’s talent on the field is well-known, few may realize his deep connection to Peterborough. His grandparents, Bud and Irene McDonald, were from Peterborough, and his mother, Rosemary Freeman (née McDonald), spent the early part of her childhood in the city.
Her family later moved to Windsor, where she met Frederick Freeman. The couple married in Oshawa years later and then moved to Southern California for Frederick’s work, where they had three sons, with Freddie being the youngest. Since his parents were both born in Canada, Freeman has both American and Canadian citizenship and represented Canada at the World Baseball Classic in 2017.
Rosemary passed away from melanoma in 2000, when Freeman was just 10 years old. In honour of her memory, he wears a cross around his neck with a lock of her hair inside, and long sleeves to cover his skin, which he has said in numerous interviews makes him think of her when he puts on his uniform.
Freeman’s grand slam, a feat never before accomplished in a World Series, capped off a dramatic victory for the Dodgers, who are aiming for their first title since 2020. His incredible performance not only made World Series history but also brought attention to his Canadian roots—one that Peterborough residents can now claim a special connection to.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
