{"id":119917,"date":"2024-10-30T03:56:44","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T20:56:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=119917"},"modified":"2024-10-30T03:56:44","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T20:56:44","slug":"fifth-grade-dodgers-fan-caught-freddie-freemans-walk-off-grand-slam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=119917","title":{"rendered":"Fifth-grade Dodgers fan caught Freddie Freeman&#8217;s walk-off grand slam"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-element=\"story-body\" data-subscriber-content=\"\">\n<p>Long encumbered by a mouthful of metal, Zachary Ruderman was told by his parents Friday that he could leave his fifth-grade class early because he had an orthodontist appointment to get his braces removed. The shaggy-haired 10-year-old figured he\u2019d be out of the chair in time to watch Game 1 of the World Series on TV.<\/p>\n<p>After all, Zachary had worn Dodgers gear to school, drawing from a wardrobe that includes several shirts bearing the name of his favorite player, <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/dodgers\/story\/2024-10-25\/freddie-freeman-dodgers-yankees-world-series-kirk-gibson\">Freddie Freeman<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So when his father picked him up and \u2014 surprise! \u2014 showed him tickets in the right-field pavilion and headed directly for Chavez Ravine, Zachary was beyond thrilled. They met his mom in Echo Park for pregame tacos at <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/food\/la-fo-find-20110210-story.html\">Guisados<\/a> and soon were in their seats. <\/p>\n<p>But Zachary\u2019s elation was nothing compared to what he felt in the bottom of the 10th inning when <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/dodgers\/story\/2024-10-25\/freddie-freeman-dodgers-yankees-world-series-game-1\">Freeman\u2019s game-winning grand slam<\/a> headed right at him. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverybody was on their feet, nobody was even sitting,\u201d Zachary said. \u201cI was standing on the bleacher seat so I could see. A second or two after the crack of the bat, I realized it was coming directly toward us. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was honestly a reaction, an instinct.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>It also was a team effort. When the ball rolled from the seat in front of Zachary to the ground at his feet, he batted it to his dad, Nico, who jumped on it ahead of several other fans scrambling after it. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs soon as everyone knew I had the ball, I stood up and handed it to [Zachary],\u201d said Nico, whose family lives in Venice. \u201cI picked him up and tears were streaming down his face.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"enhancement\" data-click=\"enhancement\" data-align-right=\"\">\n<figure class=\"figure\"> <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/44adbcd\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/320x427!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/f0055f5\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/568x757!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ab590c9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/768x1024!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/4a00e2b\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/1080x1440!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 1080w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/183d9c9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/1240x1654!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 1240w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/35823e1\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/1440x1920!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 1440w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/6c08508\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/2160x2880!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"100vw\"\/><img class=\"image\" alt=\"Zachary Ruderman holds Freddie Freeman's grand slam ball with his parents, Nico and Anne, at his side.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/049750d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/320x427!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/dc5a639\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/568x757!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/f3e7e39\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/768x1024!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/72b72fa\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/1080x1440!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 1080w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/9a91031\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/1240x1654!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 1240w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/7f7b16e\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/1440x1920!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 1440w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/a1efbe9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/2160x2880!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/6f65ab9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1536x2048+0+0\/resize\/2000x2667!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2Fb8%2Fc554344248b8a877c6bc120b0823%2Ffreeman-ball-01.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>   <\/picture>\n<div class=\"figure-content\">\n<p>Zachary Ruderman holds up Freddie Freeman\u2019s grand slam ball with his parents, Nico and Anne, at his side.<\/p>\n<p>(Courtesy of Nico Ruderman)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p>Fans in surrounding seats were happy for Zachary, a die-hard fan who keeps a scorebook at games. And what games: He was in attendance when <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/dodgers\/story\/2023-08-10\/fernando-valenzuela-number-retirement-baseball-hall-of-fame\">Fernando Valenzuela\u2019s No. 34 was retired<\/a> in 2023, and this year he was there on <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/dodgers\/story\/2024-03-28\/dodgers-cardinals-home-opener-shohei-ohtani\">opening day<\/a>, on <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/dodgers\/story\/2024-10-14\/dodgers-clayton-kershaw-dave-roberts-postseason-managing\">Clayton Kershaw<\/a> bobblehead night, and the Game 1s of the National League division and championship series. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHundreds of people were mobbing me,\u201d Zachary said. \u201cSo many people wanted to take a photo with me and the ball. It was overwhelming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kudos to the Dodgers faithful that no one tried to snatch the ball out of his hands. Everyone was focused on the victory, remaining in the stadium while the team celebrated on the field.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2024-10-24\/couples-rooting-for-opposite-sides-in-the-world-series\">Yankees fans<\/a> high-fived him,\u201d Nico said. \u201cIt was surreal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Early the next morning, Zachary accompanied his mom, Anne, on a business trip. He wore a Dodgers cap and T-shirt and a flight attendant asked him if he\u2019d watched the walk-off home run. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah,\u201d Zachary replied, \u201cI caught it.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The flight attendant jumped on the plane\u2019s public address system and announced Zachary\u2019s great fortune to the other passengers. He stood from his seat to applause.<\/p>\n<p>Needless to say, the entire episode feels like a dream, but Zachary has one last wish: He\u2019d like to get the ball signed by Freeman. <\/p>\n<p>And, eventually, no one could fault him for at least considering selling it. The ball Freeman\u2019s teammate, <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/dodgers\/story\/2024-10-28\/shohei-ohtani-dodgers-starting-lineup-game-3-world-series\">Shohei Ohtani<\/a>, hit into the seats to make him the <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/dodgers\/story\/2024-09-19\/shohei-ohtani-dodgers-50-50-milestone-home-runs-marlins\">first player in history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases<\/a> in one season <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/story\/2024-10-23\/shohei-ohtani-50th-home-run-ball-sells-auction-dodgers\">sold at auction for $4.4 million<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>That would more than cover the orthodontics bill. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/story\/2024-10-28\/freddie-freeman-grand-slam-ball-dodgers-fan-zachary-world-series\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Long encumbered by a mouthful of metal, Zachary Ruderman was told by his parents Friday that he could leave his fifth-grade class early because he had an orthodontist appointment to &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=119917\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-119917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119917","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=119917"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119917\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=119917"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=119917"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=119917"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}