Freddie Freeman's Night for the Ages: Was it Truly Baseball's 'Greatest Game Ever'?

You know, every now and then, a baseball game comes along that just… stops you. It makes you lean forward, jaw slightly ajar, wondering if what you’re seeing is even real. For Freddie Freeman, that night arrived on July 24, 2023, against the Toronto Blue Jays. And, well, some folks — quite a few, actually — were ready to declare it the single greatest game in baseball history. A bold claim, to be sure, but honestly, you could almost understand why.

Because what Freeman did that evening? It was just phenomenal. He went 4-for-5, absolutely punishing the ball. We’re talking a home run, a double, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Think about that for a second. It wasn't just good; it was a masterclass. He was hitting rockets, finding gaps, and just generally making the Blue Jays pitching staff look like they were throwing beach balls.

But the real sizzle, the kind of stuff that gets historians whispering, was what those numbers represented. This wasn’t just a great night in a vacuum. Nope. That particular outburst pushed him past an MLB record for extra-base hits in July. Yes, a record. And if that wasn’t enough, it tied him with the legendary Paul Waner for the most multi-hit games in his first 130 team games as a Dodger. Think about the company he’s keeping there. Pretty elite, wouldn’t you say?

Of course, a big performance never happens in a vacuum, does it? Freeman was certainly not alone in lighting up the stat sheet. Mookie Betts, for one, was also having a July that screamed 'MVP contender,' and frankly, the Dodgers as a whole were just on fire. They’d been absolutely scorching since the All-Star break, putting together a ridiculous 16-3 record. That kind of team momentum, that collective belief, it certainly sets the stage for individual brilliance to shine even brighter.

So, was it, then, the greatest game in history? The actual tweet that sparked this conversation was, let’s be honest, hyperbolic. It’s hard to objectively crown any single game as the greatest, especially when you consider the sheer tapestry of baseball’s past. Think of Ted Williams hitting two home runs and a double in a 1957 game, playing through a lung infection. Or Rogers Hornsby's unbelievable 6-for-6 day in 1923, featuring two home runs and a triple. Those are legendary, indelible moments.

But here’s the thing: while Freeman’s July 24th wasn’t necessarily the greatest game ever, it was unequivocally a career-defining performance. It was a testament to his sheer talent, his consistency, and his ability to elevate his game when it truly matters. It was the kind of night that cements a player’s legacy, the kind fans will talk about for years. And, for the Dodgers, it was another potent reminder that with players like Freddie Freeman leading the charge, their season was quickly becoming something truly special, perhaps even historic in its own right.