Freddie Freeman is living proof that one man really can have it all. He’s a back-to-back World Series champ with three rings to his name. He’s a former Fall Classic and regular-season MVP. He has hit two of the most iconic postseason walk-off home runs in Dodger history, if not baseball history. He has a loving family that is with him every step of the way. He has a smile that should be plastered on toothpaste ads. And if all of that were not enough, you can now add breakdancing aficionado to the list.
The World Series afterparty was predictably a scene, with the Dodgers players and staff celebrating alongside their families after securing the franchise’s ninth championship and third in the past six seasons with an exhilarating Game 7 on Saturday night. But a highlight from the party, captured by star shortstop Mookie Betts, was Freeman pulling off a perfect worm to the elation of his teammates.
With (who else?) Kiké Hernández egging him on, Freeman struts to the center of the dance floor with a couple of suave steps, then in one exaggerated motion throws his hands back in the air and drops to the floor, springing himself up and down like a slinky on the run. He finished it off in a half-split, backside in the air, and got a friendly pat from Kiké in congratulations for becoming the life of the party.
Kids — actually, we mean anyone Freeman’s age (36) and above — definitely do not try this one at home.
It’s been a week of revelry for the Dodgers, from the after-party to the parade to an appearance by some of the players and manager Dave Roberts on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Tuesday night. Kiké was asked about the game-saving play in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 — not one he actually made, necessarily, but one he was a big part of — when Andy Pages reached above his head to catch Ernie Clement’s potential winning hit. He said he got a bad jump off the bat, taking a half step in, and then realized he had to turn around and sprint.
“I’m thinking about my entire life as I’m following this ball. And I felt like I’ve run a 400-meter dash,” he said. “I get to the ball, and if you look at the video I’m slowing down because I’ve got it. And out of nowhere I feel like an NBA player, because my teammate posterized me.”
Kiké said the reason he stayed on the ground for a few moments after the play was not because he was hurt, but because he thought his team had just lost the World Series. He had no idea his teammate had caught the ball until Pages tapped him on the back.
“He’s like, ‘Are you OK?’ I’m like … ‘Did you catch it?’ He goes, ‘Yeah, I caught it.'”
The rest was history, and it led to another title for the Dodgers, and all the celebrations that came after. Along with their spot on Kimmel, Roberts, Tyler Glasnow, Will Smith and Blake Snell were also in the audience for Tuesday night’s episode of “Dancing With the Stars.”
Maybe next time they are there, it’ll be to watch Freeman perform.
