The historic walk-off grand slam ball hit by Freddie Freeman during Game 1 of the World Series has been sold for an impressive $1.56 million at SCP Auctions. The bidding process extended into the late hours of Saturday night, as confirmed by a statement from the auction house on Sunday. The identity of the buyer remains undisclosed.
Freeman, the first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, achieved this remarkable feat while battling a sprained right ankle. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning against the New York Yankees, Freeman smashed the first pitch from Nestor Cortes 413 feet, marking the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.
This pivotal moment led the Dodgers to a 6-3 victory in the game and ultimately secured the franchise's eighth World Series championship in just five games. Freeman's outstanding performance earned him the prestigious title of World Series MVP.
The ball landed in the right-field pavilion, where it was retrieved by 10-year-old Zachary Ruderman, a local resident of Los Angeles. Zachary, who was surprised with a trip to Dodger Stadium under the guise of a dental appointment, managed to secure the ball after it rolled to his feet and was handed to his father, Nico, who made the final catch.
This recent auction marks the second high-profile baseball item associated with the Dodgers to be sold this season. Previously, the ball hit by Shohei Ohtani, which solidified his record as the first player in MLB history to achieve at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, fetched an impressive sum of nearly $4.4 million, setting a new record for the sale of sports memorabilia.
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