David Freese declines induction into the St. Louis Cardinals’ Hall of Fame

ST. LOUIS — David Freese has determined to say no his induction into the St. Louis Cardinals’ Hall of Fame.

The former third baseman was a postseason hero for his hometown crew in serving to the Cardinals win the 2011 World Series. He was chosen for the Hall of Fame by followers, garnering essentially the most votes in on-line balloting for this 12 months’s class.

But in a press release Saturday, the Cardinals mentioned Freese just lately knowledgeable them he needed to withdraw his candidacy. That leaves José Oquendo and Max Lanier to be enshrined throughout ceremonies on Aug. 20.

“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,” Freese mentioned within the assertion.

One of baseball’s most storied and profitable franchises, the Cardinals depend the likes of Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Rogers Hornsby and Stan Musial amongst members of their strong Hall of Fame.

Freese was the MVP of the 2011 World Series and NL Championship Series. He batted .397 with 5 dwelling runs and 21 RBIs in 18 postseason video games that 12 months.

With the Cardinals all the way down to their closing out in Game 6 of the World Series towards Texas, he hit a two-run triple that tied the rating within the backside of the ninth inning. His leadoff homer within the eleventh gave them a 10-9 victory that pressured Game 7, which St. Louis received 6-2 with the assistance of Freese’s two-run double.

Freese spent his first 5 main league seasons with the Cardinals, hitting .286 with 44 homers, 237 RBIs and a .783 OPS. He was traded to the Los Angeles Angels, and later performed for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers.

“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,” Freese mentioned.

“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.”

The 40-year-old Freese attended St. Louis Community College and went to highschool within the metropolis’s suburbs. The Cardinals mentioned he “plans to remain an active member of the team’s alumni activities and fan-related events.”