David Freese, the former third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, who played a pivotal role in the team’s 2011 World Series title, announced on Saturday that he has decided to decline an invitation to join the team’s Hall of Fame. Freese’s heroics in the 2011 postseason, where he was named the World Series MVP and National League Championship Series MVP, led the Cardinals to their 11th championship, and his contributions will never be forgotten.
Freese’s Decision
After taking “an extreme amount of thought,” Freese made the difficult decision to decline the invitation to the Cardinals Hall of Fame, even before the voting process began. While he’s fully aware of the impact he had on the team and the memories he brought to the city he grew up in, he feels strongly about his decision and understands how people might feel about it. He acknowledged that he would wear it and thanked everyone for always being there for him.
Freese’s Career
Freese spent five of his 11 MLB seasons in St. Louis after entering the majors in 2009. He was an All-Star selection in 2012. Including stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, and Pittsburgh Pirates, Freese was a career .277 hitter when he retired after the 2019 season. He was even better in the postseason, with a .299 average.
Freese’s Heroics
Freese’s heroics in the 2011 postseason will forever be remembered by Cardinals fans. In Game 6 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers, with the Cardinals down to their last out and facing a 7-5 deficit, Freese hit a two-out, two-run triple to right field to send the game into extra innings. On his next at-bat, in the 11th inning, Freese cemented his hero status with a leadoff home run off Mark Lowe to force a decisive Game 7, which St. Louis won 6-2 aided by a score-tying two-run double by Freese.
Freese’s decision to decline the invitation to join the Cardinals Hall of Fame was a difficult one, but he made it with a heavy heart. While he’s disappointed that he won’t be inducted, he will continue to remain around the Cardinals’ organization, participating in alumni activities and fan-related events. Although the Cardinals are disappointed by Freese’s decision, they respect it and look forward to celebrating his great career in other ways going forward.
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