“F”ew Had W.S. Like “Fury” And “F”reddie

Last alliteration is add Freeman to Freddie as Freddie Freeman, a la Fury Gene Tenace, had one of the greatest World Series ever, each contributing mightily in almost every game, including in at least 3 victories of the 4 needed, as Tenace’s 1972 Oakland A’s won the franchise’s first crown in 41 years, while Freeman’s Dodgers won that team’s first full season such in 36 and just its second in 59 years.

Refresher on Tenace, who played on 4 title teams in his career (’72-’74 with the A’s and in ’82–he had a key walk in #7 of that year’s W.S. for his Cardinals vs the Brewers).

Gene HR’d in his first two World Series at bats in game 1, a day a superb high school running back named Junior Thompson was awesome leading White Plains over my high school (never at the right lunch table, Ike, Neil and I, in attendance and missing Fury’s 2 blasts, rooted, relatively quietly, for White Plains) Roosevelt/Yonkers. (For the record, later that year Neil and I rooted for the Roosevelt basketball team vs White Plains in a hard fought victory).

He had a big hit to start the famed “3 M” A’s 2 run B9, lifting them to a (3-2) win and (3-1) series lead vs a not quite there Cincy Reds’ team. (They became truly great when team player Pete Rose, moved to third base getting slugger George Foster into the lineup in ’75).

In game 7 he and “Captain” Sal Bando had back to back doubles in a 2 run Oakland 6th that put them up (3-1), in an eventual (3-2) title clinching win.

Freeman, on his second title team (he was a major contributor as the Atlanta Braves took the 2021 title) had THE hit, a game ending “slam” lifting “Brooklyn,” I mean L.A. (6-3) in the opener, a homer to make it (4-1) in a (4-2) next night game 2 win and a “set the tone” 2RHR in #3 at Yankee Stadium.

These were two incredible W.S. performances 52 years apart.

Click below to view and hear (the great Curt Gowdy) “call” Tenace’s go ahead to stay RBI double in #7/’72 W.S.