Former Major League Baseball star David Freese has declined a place in the St. Louis Cardinals ' Hall of Fame - as self-reflection on his time at the franchise "weighs heavily" on him.
Freese was set to be included in the Cardinals’ 2023 class set to be inducted in August alongside former pitcher Max Lanier and player-turned-coach Jose Oquendo. But the 40-year-old turned down the honour and has now released a statement explaining his decision.
Freese has openly discussed his struggles with depression and anxiety during his tenure with the Cardinals. He was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in 2013 after five years in St. Louis before playing for both the Pittsburgh Pirates and LA Dodgers before retiring in 2019.
Despite fans harbouring happy memories from his time with the Cardinals, Freese does not reflect on the stint positively and it clearly played a part in his decision to decline the Hall of Fame induction. In a statement, the former third baseman said: “This is something that I have given an extreme amount of thought to, humbly, even before the voting process began. 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.
“I look at who I was during my tenure, and that weighs heavily on me. The Cardinals and the entire city have always had my back in every way. I'm forever grateful to be part of such an amazing organization and fan base then, now and in the future. I'm especially sorry to the fans that took the time to cast their votes. 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 is best remembered in St. Louis for his iconic performance in the 2011 World Series triumph. In the ninth innings of Game 6, the Cardinals were down 3-2 in the series while down to their final strike when he hit a two-run triple to tie the game.
In the 11th inning, Freese won the game on a walk-off home run. The Cardinals used the momentum to claim Game 7 and clinch the World Series for the 11th time in franchise history.
His World Series performance ensured he cemented place as one of the most popular Cardinals players in recent memory, which is why he was elected overwhelmingly in the fan vote. His decision means there will be no fan-vote member in the 2023 Hall of Fame class and Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt Jr. insisted he understands and respects Freese’s choice given the circumstances.
“Although we are disappointed that David has declined to be inducted into our Hall of Fame, we respect his decision and look forward to celebrating his great Cardinals career in other ways going forward,” DeWitt Jr. said in a statement. “He is always welcome at Busch Stadium.”
The statement notes that Freese - who grew up in the St. Louis area - ‘plans to remain an active member of the team's alumni activities and fan-related events’. He spent the first five seasons of his MLB career with the Cardinals, batting .286/.356/.427 with 44 home runs and 81 doubles in 466 games as a primary third baseman.
