World Series MVP Freddie Freeman shares why he plays for Team Canada over USA — it will bring you to tears

Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman was named World Series MVP after Los Angeles came from behind to topple the New York Yankees in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

Freeman, who holds dual Canadian-American citizenship, was a beast all postseason long but especially in the Fall Classic. With his two-run bomb in Game 4, the 35-year-old became the first MLB player ever to blast home runs in each of the first four games of a single World Series.

His epic hot streak actually goes back a few years, as Freeman went deep in Games 5 and 6 of the 2021 World Series when his Atlanta Braves knocked off the Houston Astros to win the title. No other player in MLB history has gone yard in six consecutive World Series games.

Freeman is also the first Canadian (yes, we’re claiming him) to win World Series MVP. Though he was born and raised in California, his dad, Fredrick, was born in Windsor, Ont., and his mom, Rosemary, was born in Toronto and grew up in Peterborough, Ont.

Thanks to this, the MLB star gets to represent Canada in international baseball competitions, including the sport’s flagpole international event, the World Baseball Classic, multiple times. However, there’s more as to why he chooses to wear the red and white than simply his heritage.

Freeman, who lost his mother to Melanoma when he was just ten years old, detailed why he chooses to play for Canada over the United States in those international events: to honour his mom. The video from 2023 recently went viral once again with Freeman in the spotlight.

You may need to break out the tissues for this one.

“I played for Team Canada for a very heartfelt reason for me and my family,” an emotional Freeman said. “Most people don’t know that, but my mom passed away when I was 10 years old of Melanoma skin cancer, and that’s why I play for Team Canada.

“I don’t know if this is what she would want me to do, but in my heart, it’s what I feel I should do. That’s the reason I play — it’s to honour my mom,” he added.

Freeman went on to explain that he wears sleeves during every game because she passed away from skin cancer. He also wears a cross around his neck that unscrews and has her hair inside of it.

“Everything I do is for my mom and this is what feels right, ” said Freeman.

“I think even if I hit zero every single season, I think she’d still be proud of me. It’s hard to even still think about. That’s going to get me emotional. I just hope she’s proud of me; 23 years, it never goes away. That’s all I want. I hope she’s smiling down.”

During the Stand Up to Cancer moment of silence during Game 4 of the World Series — after setting the aforementioned record with his fourth home run in four games — Freeman honoured his late mother once more.

Freeman is also extremely close with his Canadian-born father and showed the world how tight they are multiple times throughout the Dodgers’ World Series triumph.

After his historic walk-off grand slam in Game 1, Freeman escaped the grasp of his celebrating teammates and sprinted toward his father before the pair embraced through the backstop netting in one of the best moments of the baseball season, maybe ever.

“He has been there since I was a little boy, throwing batting practice to me every day. This isn’t my moment, it’s my dad’s moment,” Freeman told reporters after the game.

Following the Dodgers’ championship triumph and him being named World Series MVP, Freeman gave all the credit to his father, calling the celebration “his moment.”

Freeman is one of the most loved and respected players in all of baseball and across pro sports, and it’s easy to see why.

Just look at how thrilled Freeman’s teammates were for him as he accepted his MVP trophy on Wednesday. They would absolutely run through a wall for this guy.

His teammates weren’t the only ones singing Freeman’s praises, either. Following Wednesday’s title-clinching victory, fans in and around Dodgers Stadium were chanting Freeman’s name, while others took to social media to congratulate the 2024 World Series MVP.

Freeman, who is most certainly Hall-of-Fame bound when his illustrious career comes to a close, adds this World Series title and MVP to the 2021 championship he won with the Atlanta Braves. His unit of a career resume also includes eight All-Star Games, two All-MLB First Team selections and three Silver Slugger Awards.

Must be the Canadian blood.