The two World Series Game 1 heroes met on the field for an iconic moment ahead of the first Dodgers home game of 2025<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Dodgers\u2019 pregame ceremony before the home opener lasted about 40 minutes, included the raising of the championship flag and the unveiling of a championship plaque at Dodger Stadium, and even saw Ice Cube drive the\u00a0World Series\u00a0trophy onto the field in his blue convertible.<\/p>\n
But it was all capped off by Kirk Gibson throwing the ceremonial first pitch to Freddie Freeman, honoring the two players who each provided improbable walk-off home runs while injured to win Game 1 of the World Series.<\/p>\n
Both Game 1-winning home runs came with two outs with the Dodgers down a run. Gibson\u2019s home run was\u00a0a two-run shot off Dennis Eckersley to stun the A\u2019s 5-4 in 1988. Freeman authored the first game-winning grand slam in World Series history,\u00a0a blast off Nestor Cortes to beat the Yankees 6-3.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Freeman\u2019s wife Chelsea and their three kids were all on the field before the game, as were Freeman\u2019s dad Fred and stepmom.<\/p>\n
Dodgers announcer Joe Davis emceed this part of the pregame ceremony, and even interviewed Freeman\u2019s dad. Then, echoing his call on Fox from Game 1 of the World Series, Davis called Gibson onto the field with, \u201cGibby, meet Freddie!\u201d<\/p>\n