Man, I gotta tell you about this whole David Freese thing with the Cardinals. It’s been a wild ride, and I’ve been following it closely because, well, baseball’s my jam. I can still remember the day I heard he was even considering the Cardinals Hall of Fame. It felt like it was yesterday.
So, first off, I started digging into who this guy really is. I already knew some things about David Freese. Turns out, David Freese, born in ’83, spent a good chunk of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, starting in 2009. I found this old article that talked about his career. I remember watching those games back then, but I never really paid much attention to the stats. It mentioned how he was some kind of postseason hero in 2011. I mean, the dude hit .545 in the NLCS – that’s insane! I had to look up what NLCS even meant. Apparently, it’s the National League Championship Series, and those numbers are crazy good. It seems like he was a big deal during their important games. I started to watch some old games after reading that, just to see what all the fuss was about.
Then, I stumbled upon this other piece about his life after baseball. I did not know this, but he’s living in Austin, Texas, and get this, he’s learning to play the guitar! I guess even baseball legends need a hobby after they retire. It’s kind of cool to think about these guys doing normal stuff after being in the spotlight for so long. I always thought that after they retired, they just did nothing, but I guess not.
But here’s where it gets interesting. I read in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch – that’s a newspaper, by the way – that Freese was all humble about this Hall of Fame thing. He actually said he didn’t feel “deserving” of it. Can you believe that? The guy was a major player in some of the Cardinals’ biggest moments, and he’s saying he doesn’t deserve the honor. That’s pretty wild. It really got me thinking about what makes someone worthy of being in a Hall of Fame. Is it just about the numbers, or is there more to it?
- Reflecting on a Specific Game
I remember this one game, clear as day. It was against the Rangers, and Freese was down to his last strike. I thought it was over, honestly. But then, bam! He hits the ball to right field. I was on the edge of my seat, sure they’d catch it. But somehow – and I still don’t know how – it went over Cruz’s head. Two runs scored, and we were all just stunned. I was yelling at the TV like a madman, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! It was one of those moments that just sticks with you, you know?
- Comparing Freese to Other Legends
Then I started comparing him to other Cardinals legends. I mean, you can’t talk about the Cardinals without mentioning Stan Musial. The guy’s got a WAR of 128.6. I had to look up what WAR even meant – it’s Wins Above Replacement, some stat that shows a player’s value. Freese’s numbers aren’t quite up there, but it’s not just about the stats, right? It’s about those clutch moments, those times when they come through for the team when it matters most.
- Freese’s Retirement and Legacy
Freese retired back in, I think it was 2019, after 11 years in the majors. He made a huge impact, especially in the postseason. There was this statement from the Cardinals about his decision, and it was all positive. They made it clear there was no bad blood or anything. It was a nice, respectful send-off for a player who gave them so much. I had seen some negative things about athletes leaving their team, so it was nice to see that Freese had a good relationship with the Cardinals.
Wrapping It Up
So, yeah, that’s my take on the whole David Freese saga. From a regular fan’s perspective, it’s been a fascinating story to follow. He’s not just a guy who played baseball; he’s a part of the Cardinals’ history, a legend in his own right. And the fact that he’s so down-to-earth about it all? That just makes the story even better.
