David Freese declines induction into Cardinals Hall of Fame

David Freese declines induction into Cardinals Hall of Fame

Former World Series hero David Freese announced he was going to decline to be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame on Saturday.

“This is something that I have given an extreme amount of thought to, humbly, even before the voting process began,” he said. “I am aware of the impact I had helping the team bring great memories to the city I grew up in, including the 11th championship, but this honor means more to me.”

David Freese showed a lot of humility in making this decision. pic.twitter.com/ufKpCNWx6j

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 17, 2023

Freese showed a lot of humility in making this decision, and shows how much he respects the city of St. Louis and the great Cardinals players that came before him. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Freese told the Cardinals he appreciated the support of fans but said he did not feel “deserving” of the honor.

David Freese only played five years with the Cardinals, but slashed a very solid .286/.356/.427 (.783 OPS). He was a one-time All-Star and had an incredible run in the 2011 postseason. Freese was World Series MVP and NLCS MVP, driving in 21 runs and setting an MLB record. In the World Series, he hit .348 with seven RBIs, three doubles and an unforgettable Game 6 home run that kept the Cardinals alive in the series against the Texas Rangers. 

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“I’m especially sorry to the fans that took the time to cast their votes,” he said. “Cardinal Nation is basically the reason why I’ve unfortunately waited so long for this decision and made it more of a headache for so many people. I feel strongly about my decision and understand how people might feel about this. I get it. I’ll wear it. Thank you for always being there for me, and I am excited to be around the Cardinals as we move forward.”

Freese ended his respectable 10-year career with 1,041 hits, 113 HRs, and 535 RBIs with short stints with the Pirates, Dodgers and Angels.

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