Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman’s World Series Grand Slams Ball Sells for Over $1 Million at Auction
Freddie Freeman cemented his legacy in Los Angeles Dodgers history when he launched a walk-off grand slam into the right field pavilion, securing a Game 1 World Series victory over the New York Yankees.
The ball, which landed in the hands of 10-year-old Zachary Ruderman, also made history selling for $1.56 million – including buyer’s premium – at SCP Auctions late Saturday night.
More news: 10-Year-Old Dodgers Fan’s Surprise Trip to World Series Game 1 Turns Into Historic Moment
Freeman’s home run ball now ranks as the third-most expensive baseball ever sold, trailing behind Shohei Ohtani’s $4.392 million 50/50 home run ball and Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball, which fetched around $3 million in 1999.
Freeman’s ball surpassed Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run ball, which went for $1.5 million in 2022.
“We are so honored to have handled one of the most important artifacts in World Series history, dating back to 1903,” SCP Auctions president David Kohler said in a statement.
The Ruderman family said in a statement via SCP Auctions they hoped the baseball would one day be displayed in Dodger Stadium.
Ruderman was surprised with tickets to the game on Oct. 25. When he woke up that morning, he thought he was going to the orthodontist to get his braces off. Instead, his dad surprised him and they ventured to Chavez Ravine.
The entire moment was caught on camera and a little boy who was already a huge Freeman fan walked away clutching a ball that was worth more than $1 million.
Los Angeles went on to win the World Series in five games. Freeman was named the Most Valuable Player despite battling a plethora of injuries that would have kept others on the bench.
While the Ruderman family remembers the moment clearly, Freeman admitted to blacking out rounding the bases.
“I don’t really remember it, I kinda blacked out,” Freeman said. “You’re trying to remember the feeling and I can’t. I usually look away to just drive the ball to left center. And I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to switch to this up and I’m going to look closer to me.’ So I was looking heater in, to like up and in, and I guessed right. He threw it right in the spot I was looking. I knew it was gone right when I hit it. And I don’t know why I went Statue of Liberty (pose) or anything like that. I don’t pimp home runs. I don’t do that. I usually just hit ’em and run around the bases. But I mean, walk-off grand slam in the World Series, right?”
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This is the second World Series baseball that was auctioned in the last week. Aaron Judge’s dropped fly ball in World Series Game 5 was auctioned for charity, which led to a New York radio host calling the Dodgers “classless pigs.”
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