A Token of Appreciation: David Freese

Back in 2025, I wrote a story on Vocal about an event that I've avoided discussing for well over a decade. A moment that broke my heart and never got over. That event was Game 6 of the 2011 World Series between the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals. The evening of October 27 of that year had me on my feet and the Rangers were one out away from clinching their first World Series title in franchise history. Unfortunately, they blew an opportunity to clinch a championship in the bottom of the ninth and again in the bottom of the 11th inning. The player behind the walk-off home run that helped the Cardinals force a Game 7 was David Freese. The final score was 10-9, and they would end up winning the final game of the Fall Classic, securing their second World Series title in six years. Freese was named World Series MVP, and I've talked about him briefly in my previous story about this topic, which you can read down below. We're going to learn more about David Freese's life, career, and what he's up to now as of 2026.

Who Is David Freese?

David Richard Freese was born on April 28, 1983, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He played for 11 seasons with four different teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates and of course, St. Louis Cardinals. His accolades include becoming an All-Star in 2012 and the aforementioned World Series MVP. Freese was selected in the ninth round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres. Three years later, he made his MLB debut with the Cardinals. In Game 6 of the 2011 NLCS, the Cardinals won against the Milwaukee Brewers by a score of 11-3. Freese was named NLCS MVP. He spent a total of five seasons with the team before moving on to play for the Pirates and finally closing out his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In October 2019, Freese announced his retirement from baseball at the age of 36. He has two sons and resides in Austin, Texas. Freese declined to be inducted in the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame, stating that he wasn't deserving of the honor. As of October 2026, he's living a private life with his wife, Mairin and their two children at the age of 43.

What Led Me to Forgive David Freese?

I had a huge hatred of him in the years following the 2011 World Series. However, several months after my beloved Texas Rangers won their first World Series title back in 2023, I took the grown-up route and finally forgave him. In that game on that October night in 2011, David Freese made a statement and many of my fellow Rangers fans might find this take upsetting, but it's the truth. He and the Cardinals took advantage of the Rangers failures to clinch a championship. They were just the better team. Rangers fans might be upset with me for the following opinion, but he deserves to be praised and acknowledged. Whether you want to hear it or not, he rightfully earned that World Series MVP award and championship. I can dislike a player for years but have the heart and maturity to forgive them later on. Forgiveness of certain MLB players is reserved for a select few. Not many fans are willing to offer this kind of grace towards certain MLB players, but I chose forgiveness over resentment. On the night the Rangers won the World Series, I also forgave Nelson Cruz, because he had been punished enough. Freese winning a World Series title alongside huge names such as Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, and Adam Wainwright make me respect him a hundred times more. The Cardinals have a wonderful fanbase, and they deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged. The reasons I've shared in this story are what led me to give a Token of Appreciation towards him. Let's tip our baseball hats to David Freese and his outstanding career.

My Thoughts About the Texas Rangers' Loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2011 World Series | Unbalanced