That is how close the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals were from leaving Busch Stadium losers after game six of the World Series.
Instead, an unsung hero arose from the Cardinal’s dugout wearing number 23 with an improbable destiny awaiting him. Twice, David Freese should have been the last batter the Texas Rangers faced last season, however, fate had something else planned.
Entering the playoffs, Freese, the third-year Cardinal’s third baseman was the most unlikely candidate on the team’s roster to earn both the NLCS and World Series MVP. However, Freese became the sixth player in MLB history to earn both awards in the same postseason.
Freese has never played in more then 97 games in a full season, has never hit more then 10 home runs and has never driven in more than 55 RBIs, but he found a way in the most important moment in his life to keep the St. Louis dream alive.
In the bottom of the ninth inning with two strikes and two outs, Freese forced extra innings by belting a triple off the right field wall and sliding into third base headfirst, erupting the Cardinal faithful into disarray.
Then in arguably the greatest World Series game six played, Freese, in the bottom of the 11th inning hit a walk-off home run over the center-field fence, sending the series into a highly anticipated game seven. St. Louis won game seven the next day 6-2 achieving the franchise’s 11th championship.
Born in Texas but raised near St. Louis, Missouri, Freese grew up a Cardinals fan. Drafted in 2006 in the ninth round, 273 overall by San Diego, he spent two and half seasons in the minor leagues.
He almost converted to catcher in order to make the Major Leagues before the Cardinals traded for him from the Padres in 2008. He was not on the Cardinal’s radar until 2009 when the team’s star third baseman Troy Glaus suffered a career ending back injury, forcing St. Louis to make a drastic decision and call up the future MVP from the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.
His first couple seasons he bounced in and out of the starting line up until the end of this season, when manager Tony La Russa finally made him a full-time starter at third base. A decision the Cardinal organization must cherish.
Freese’s tale symbolizes the reason why athletes from all sports decide to play and pursue the game they love. He proved resilience and hard work over time can accomplish goals. Throughout college and the minor leagues Freese was not expected to be a full time starter at the professional level, but against all odds he earned the most prestigious award in baseball, World Series MVP.