By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer
Freddie Freeman is returning to his family roots when the Dodgers open defense of their World Series championship against the Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday night.
The All-Star first baseman’s parents are from the province of Ontario; father Fred is from Windsor, just across the river from Detroit. Late mother Rosemary was from Peterborough, about 85 miles northeast of Toronto.
“Every time I go back there,” Freeman said, “I feel a little bit closer to my mom.”
Freeman was born in Fountain Valley after his family relocated to Southern California because of his father’s work.
He was 10 when his 47-year-old mother died of melanoma – a dangerous type of skin cancer because of its ability to spread to organs – in 2000. Freeman wears long sleeves under his jersey during games as a silent tribute to her as well as to protect himself from the cancer that runs in the family.
“I’d rather be hot for a few hours than go through chemotherapy,” he told ESPN in 2023.
Freeman holds dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship, and he chose to play for his mother’s home country in the World Baseball Classic in 2023 and 2017.
“I was 8 years old and we were at an Angels game,” Freeman told ESPN. “I was eating popcorn and the Canadian national anthem is playing and I’m sitting. (Then) it felt like someone just ripped me up. It felt like I was just hanging and it was my mom (who pulled me out of my seat). It’s those little things that I remember.”
There’s usually an envelope waiting in Freeman’s locker in Toronto, too.
“It’s always like a third cousin has found photos in their garage and they bring them to me,” he said.
Freeman’s father will be on hand at Rogers Centre for Game 1, just as he was last year at Dodger Stadium. That’s when the younger Freeman gave his dad and Dodger fans a lifelong memory, belting a walk-off grand slam in the Series opener.
A jubilant Freeman ran over to find his dad in the front row and they touched through the protective netting. He was named World Series MVP after the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees for their eighth world title.
Freeman carried the Dodgers last fall, especially against the Yankees. His struggles in these playoffs have been offset by outstanding starting pitching. He is batting .231 with one home run and five RBIs in nine postseason games. His 11 strikeouts in 39 at-bats are higher than his playoff career average.
“He’s certainly seeing some really good pitching,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s certainly not pleased with performance up to this point, but every time he gets in the box, I feel good. I expect him to really have a nice Series.”
The Dodgers are back in the World Series for the fifth time in nine years. The Blue Jays are appearing for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 1992 and ’93.
“When you have a whole country that’s behind one team, that’s pretty amazing,” Freeman said. “To just see the city come together and get to experience so much jubilation, it’s an exciting time.”
Freeman was a favorite among Canadian fans during his WBC appearances.
“I’m not so sure the Blue Jays fans will be cheering for me this time around,” he said.