Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman returns to Atlanta and emotions – and tears – flow
In Freeman’s first visit back to his former home, the first baseman found it difficult to hold back the tears while talking to the media or receiving his World Series ring
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman walks to the field for the presentation of his World Series championship ring, before the team’s game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first trip to Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for, and he was predictably emotional. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman receives his World Series championship ring from Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker before a game between the teams on Friday in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first trip to Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, formerly of the Atlanta Braves, becomes emotional during a pregame press conference before taking on his former team on Friday in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, formerly of the Atlanta Braves, becomes emotional during a pregame press conference before taking on his former team on Friday in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, formerly of the Atlanta Braves, takes a moment to compose himself after becoming emotional during a pregame press conference before taking on his former team on Friday in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, formerly of the Atlanta Braves, becomes emotional during a pregame press conference before taking on his former team on Friday in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, formerly of the Atlanta Braves, becomes emotional during a pregame press conference before taking on his former team on Friday in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, formerly of the Atlanta Braves, becomes emotional during a pregame press conference before taking on his former team on Friday in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman signs autographs for fans prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first game in Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman signs autographs for fans prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first game in Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman signs autographs for fans prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first game in Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman warms up prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first game in Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman signs autographs for fans prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first game in Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman warms up prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first game in Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman waits his turn during batting practice prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first game in Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman takes batting practice prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first game in Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman walks to the field for the presentation of his World Series championship ring, before the team’s game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first trip to Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for, and he was predictably emotional. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, right, presents Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman with his 2021 World Series championship ring and Freeman displays it to fans during his return to Atlanta on Friday night in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first game back to Atlanta since leaving his longtime team and signing with the Dodgers in the offseason. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman receives his World Series championship ring from his 2021 season with the Atlanta Braves prior to a game between the teams on Friday night in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first trip to Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman shows off his World Series championship ring from his 2021 season with the Atlanta Braves prior to a game between the teams on Friday night in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first trip to Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, right, presents Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman with his 2021 World Series championship ring and Freeman displays it to fans during his return to Atlanta on Friday night in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first game back in Atlanta since leaving his longtime team and signing with the Dodgers in the offseason. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman tips his helmet to fans as he comes to bat during the first inning, of their game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday night in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first game back in Atlanta since leaving his longtime team in the offseason. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
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Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman receives his World Series championship ring from Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker before a game between the teams on Friday in Atlanta. It was Freeman’s first trip to Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers and leaving the only organization he had ever played for. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
ATLANTA — There was crying in baseball on Friday night. A whole lot of it.
The tears started flowing when Freddie Freeman entered the interview room at Truist Park hours before game time. He stopped short of the stage, put his arms over his face, turned and left the room.
He returned after a brief attempt to compose himself, using a towel to cover his face and wipe away the tears that kept coming.
“I don’t know if I can get through this,” he said, reluctant to look up at the familiar faces from the Atlanta media because it would set him off again. “I was doing pretty good about an hour ago. Gosh.”
The emotions had actually been coming in waves all day, Freeman admitted – when he and his son, Charlie, went for breakfast at a favorite place (with an omelet named after the now-former Brave) and the other patrons stood up to clap and again when he drove in and “I saw 14 Freeman jerseys.”
“I’m hoping it’s Monday soon,” Freeman said, burying his face in that towel repeatedly. “Gosh, this is a lot harder than I thought.”
It was clearly difficult for Freeman because he never expected to – nor wanted to – leave Atlanta. A free agency complicated by the MLB lockout and miscommunication between Freeman and his representatives at Excel Sports Management left him with no choice but to sign with another team.
“I know a lot of people don’t know exactly what happened and I’m not going to be one to put it in quotes and the media. I’m just not here to do that PR stuff,” Freeman said, in a more talkative mood after the game. “I talked to the people I needed to talk to after everything went down. My wife and I are at peace. If you think about the past, it’s only going to affect your happiness in the present and the future. That’s where we have settled on. Can’t change anything that happened. All you can do is learn from your experiences. And I have definitely learned a lot.”
Before the game, though, Freeman made it clear he was “not looking for closure” during this return to Atlanta.
“There’s nothing to close for me here. Why would I close such a special time?” he said. “There’s nothing to close.”
Regrets, however – he clearly has a few.
“I think that the regret question is a whole different side of the story that I’m not, I’m not here to talk about because … that’s a different side of it,” he said, hinting at his feelings about the back-and-forth contract negotiations that took a three-hour face time call with Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos to untangle after Freeman had left for Los Angeles.
Freeman was crying again as a tribute video played on the scoreboard before the game, setting up a ceremony during which he received his 2021 World Series championship ring – and cried some more while the sellout crowd chanted his name.
The tears continued as he thanked Braves fans for “the support you showed my family and I for the last 12 years.”
“I know I’ve got a different uniform on but I still love each and every one of you guys,” he said during a brief on-field interview that followed the ring presentation.
“This is one of the hardest days of my life and probably one of the most amazing things in my life. Bear with me while I cry a lot tonight and every night this weekend.”
He did manage to keep the tears in check during a minute-long standing ovation that greeted his first trip to the plate as a visitor at Truist Park, stepping back and waving his helmet to the crowd before drawing a walk.
By his second plate appearance, the crowd had moved on – and cheered when he struck out.
“To have expectations to stay there, I think we’re all mindful it’s no indictment on our ball club. He’s just being honest,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Freeman’s emotional display. “And there’s nothing wrong with that. He’s clearly shown he’s done everything he can to help us win baseball games.”
Freeman did that, reaching base three times on a pair of walks and a single in the Dodgers’ 4-1 win.
“Yeah, I did alright tonight. I’ll take three times on base, two runs scored and a hit,” he said later. “I couldn’t feel my legs for a few innings, to be honest with you. The best thing that happened was walking in that first at-bat.
“I’m exhausted, emotionally exhausted. But what a wonderful, wonderful evening that was for my family and I.”
