Social media is going crazy over Freddie Freeman's once-in-a-lifetime grand slam

I'll be the first to admit that social media users can be very critical and occasionally act like trolls, but this news is stirring up our feeds like nothing else.

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman just hit a massive grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead.

The reason it's so significant is because so few players have hit such a huge game-ending home run at such a crucial time – on the first pitch when the bases were loaded to close the game in grand style finish.

Social media users have Really noticed.

“One of my favorite contributions on the base so we don't have to worry about him” (which then allowed Freeman to make his big hit). Another post showed a split screen of Kirk Gibson's massive walk-off home run in 1985 that also ended that game.

Then there's a social media post about what Freeman did after his walk-off grand slam. He enthusiastically ran around the bases, briefly stomped home plate and fired up his teammates, but then ran over to give his father a big hug in the stands.

This is where social media really shines the brightest.

On the one hand, a quick scan of my feed shows me the most beautiful moments. I could look at Gibson's 1985 home run, look at some statistics about who has ever hit grand slams in a World Series (e.g. not many), and catch up on a few other details that I need would normally have to wade through a lot of news stories. One could even argue that baseball in particular is a good fit for social media because you can see quick stats and clips there.

It's also a great way to learn about the backstory. I watched a video in which Freeman explained that the Grand Slam was a huge milestone for him and his family, especially his father. “It was kind of spontaneous,” Freeman said. “I saw him hugging a lot of people back there. I think he was so nervous going into it. I just wanted to share this with him because he's been there. It's him.” He's also been through a lot in his life, and to experience a moment like that, I wanted to be a part of it with him in that moment.”

I also enjoyed watching the crowd's reaction, it was like witnessing a thunderstorm of whoops and cheers, people jumping all over the place and pure joy and excitement at the win. That's why we watch sporting events, right?

To be honest, I watched the Grand Slam about 20 times, mostly because I wanted to hear the crowd and the pure ecstasy of winning a big game with one stroke. I'll certainly watch many other news reports and search YouTube for more highlights, but social media was the quickest and most accessible way for me to experience the big moment.