David Freese
The hero of St. Louis who never wore Dodger blue.
David Freese is a former Major League Baseball third baseman best known for his historic performance in the 2011 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he was named MVP after hitting two walk-off home runs. While celebrated as a legend of St. Louis baseball history, it is crucial to note that David Freese never played for the Los Angeles Dodgers during his Major League career.
- Primary Team
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Position
- Third Base
- World Series MVP
- 2011
- All-Star Selections
- 2011, 2012
Lore & Background
While Freese's name is etched into the very bricks of Busch Stadium, his path never crossed Dodger soil in a uniform sense. From his breakout in 2009 through his departure after 2013, he remained a Cardinal heartthrob before drifting to Pittsburgh, Anaheim, and Colorado. For the Dodgers faithful, Freese exists not as a former teammate or a traded asset, but as a spectral rival—a figure of 'what if' who defined the Redbirds during the very years Los Angeles sought its own glory.
In Their Own Story
The floodlights at Busch Stadium seemed to hum with electricity that night. The roar from the stands wasn't just noise; it was a physical force, shaking the dugout steps and rattling Freese's cleats. As he stepped into the batter's box, the weight of an entire season—and perhaps a franchise's destiny—settled onto his shoulders. In that split second, the jersey number didn't matter: he wasn't a Dodger or an Angel. He was the pulse of St. Louis, swinging at history itself, creating a moment so electric it would be replayed in barrooms and living rooms for generations.
Reader's Guide
To search for David Freese's tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers is to find an empty page; he never suited up for the franchise. His professional narrative is defined almost entirely by his clutch mastery during his St. Louis heyday (2009–2013). Known for a steely calm in high-leverage chaos and an uncanny ability to deliver when the stakes were highest, Freese carved out a unique niche as one of baseball's most reliable late-inning hitters.
His career crowning achievement remains the 2011 World Series, where he etched his name into the record books as only the third player ever to hit two walk-off home runs in a single postseason. That Game 6 walk-off single, followed by the series-clinching blast, cemented him as the man who delivered a championship when it mattered most.
For Dodgers fans, Freese stands as a testament to the rich tapestry of opponents the team has faced—players who became legends elsewhere but never donned Dodger blue. He is a reminder that while he never wore the uniform, his impact on the game was undeniable.
Did You Know?
- David Freese is one of only three players in MLB history to hit two walk-off home runs in the same postseason (2011).
- He was named the 2011 World Series MVP after slashing .408/.538/1.137 for a monstrous 1.675 OPS.
- Freese played for four teams during his MLB career (Cardinals, Pirates, Angels, Rockies), yet never appeared in a game for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- His Game 6 walk-off single against the Texas Rangers is widely considered one of the most dramatic moments in Cardinals franchise history.