Amazing facts from a classic Game 1 of the World Series

LOS ANGELES — Game 1 of the 2024 World Series delivered in a big way, giving us an instant classic.

This was the third straight year that Game 1 of the World Series went to extras. Before last year, it had never even happened in back-to-back World Series Game 1s.

Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam sent the Dodgers home happy with a win reminiscent of 1988 in more ways than one. The game began at 5:11 p.m. PT and was 3 hours and 27 minutes — over at 8:38. 1988 Game 1 had a 5:35 p.m. start and 3:04 time of game — over at 8:39.

Here’s a look at 10 stats and facts from an epic Game 1.

• Freeman’s grand slam was the third walk-off home run while trailing in World Series history. The other two are homers that fans would recognize by name alone: Joe Carter’s, in 1993 Game 6 for the Blue Jays against the Phillies, and Kirk Gibson’s, in 1988 Game 1 for the Dodgers against the A’s.

• The similarities with Gibson’s are remarkable — a hobbled superstar in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium. In fact, his and Freeman’s are the only walk-off homers in World Series history where the team was down to its final out. The only other such homer in any postseason round was by Houston’s Yordan Alvarez in the 2022 American League Division Series Game 1.

• It was the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history and the second in the postseason, joining the Rangers’ Nelson Cruz in the 2011 AL Championship Series Game 2. The slam was the fifth of the postseason overall, tying ‘21 and 1998 for the most in a single postseason. The Dodgers are the 14th team with multiple grand slams in a single postseason, and they are one shy of tying the 2021 Red Sox and 1998 Braves at three for the most.

• The Dodgers became the 10th team to win a World Series Game 1 in walk-off fashion. They joined the 2023 Rangers, ‘15 Royals, ‘00 Yankees, 1988 Dodgers, 1977 Yankees, 1958 Braves, 1954 Giants, 1949 Yankees and 1939 Yankees. Eight of the nine previous teams went on to win the series, with the Braves being the only loss.

• Not to be lost among the walk-off heroics, Freeman also had a first-inning triple, becoming the first player with a stolen base and a triple in a single postseason at age 35 or older since Mark Ellis in 2013, also for the Dodgers. Freeman is the third with a grand slam and a triple in a postseason game, joining the Rockies’ Kaz Matsui in the ‘07 National League Division Series Game 2 and Cleveland’s Elmer Smith in the 1920 World Series Game 5.

• Kiké Hernández added a triple, too, making the Dodgers the first team with two triples in a Fall Classic game since the Yankees in 2000 Game 4. They weren’t just any two triples — they were the first two hits of the series for the Dodgers. Los Angeles is the second team to triple for its first two hits of a World Series, joining the 1953 Yankees, from Hank Bauer and Billy Martin, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

• Giancarlo Stanton made his mark earlier in the game with a two-run homer, his fourth straight game going yard. He’s the first player in postseason history with multiple streaks of homering in at least four straight games. Stanton is the third to hit at least six home runs in multiple postseasons, joining Corey Seager and Cruz.

• When we say “made his mark,” we really mean it. The 116.6 mph exit velocity on Stanton’s homer made it the hardest-hit batted ball in the World Series under Statcast (2015). And each of his last five hits have been home runs, tied with himself in ‘20 and the Pirates’ Bob Robertson in 1971 for the longest such streak in a single postseason, per Elias.

• Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s three stolen bases tied the World Series record, with 2016 Game 5 Rajai Davis (Cleveland), 2008 Game 3 B.J. Upton (Rays), 1968 Game 3 Lou Brock (Cardinals), 1967 Game 7 Brock, 1965 Game 5 Willie Davis (Dodgers) and 1909 Game 3 Honus Wagner (Pirates). Two of Chisholm’s steals came in the 10th inning, making him the second player with multiple stolen bases in a World Series extra inning, along with the Cubs’ Jimmy Slagle in 1907 Game 1.

• Birthdays are important. Juan Soto became the first player with a birthday hit in the World Series since the Royals’ Eric Hosmer in 2014 Game 3. He’s the second with a hit and walk in a World Series birthday game, joining the Cardinals’ Keith Hernandez in 1982 Game 7.