“Why’d he decline it though” – MLB Twitter in shock as former Cardinals player David Freese DECLINES induction into franchise’ Hall of Fame

The St. Louis Cardinals are having one of their worst seasons in recent history. The second-most successful franchise in MLB history is currently on the verge of early elimination. The Cardinals lost some of their heavyweight players in the form of Albert Pujols, Yander Molina, and Adam Wainwright. Things got ugly for them on Saturday when former player David Freese declined induction into the club’s Hall of Fame.

Being named to the Hall of Fame suggests that a person has achieved something spectacular throughout his career. David Freese has already made a name for himself in the hearts of Cardinals fans. The club fans are so fond of him that they voted him in by themselves. The Cardinals later made a statement regarding this development.

Despite being overjoyed by the love of the fans, Freese declined this initiative. He was supposed to receive this honor along with longtime Cards pitcher Max Lanier and coach Jose Oquendo. In a statement, he mentioned that his tenure with the team “weighs heavily on me.” Team owner Bill DeWitt Jr. replied to this by saying that, though they are disappointed, they respect his decision.

He became a legendary figure in Cardinals history for his heroic performances in the 2011 postseason. His heroics in Game 6 against the Texas Rangers have come down as one of the greatest stories in baseball. With the Cardinals leading 3-2 in the series, Freese came up to bat in the ninth inning, one strike away from defeat. What followed was something the fans will never forget.

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Twitter is in meltdown as David Freese snubs Cardinals Hall of Fame induction

During his five-year tenure with the Cardinals, Freese batted an average of.286 with 44 home runs. His most memorable outing came in Game 6 of the 2011 Fall Classic. He tied the game with a two-run triple in the bottom of the ninth to keep his side alive. In his next at-bat, he walked it off with a home run, a moment well associated with Joe Buck’s call of “We will see you tomorrow night.” The team then won the next game to clinch their 13th championship.

The reason Freese does not want to be inducted could be different from the one he provided. Perhaps he does not want to be remembered for just that moment, or he thinks that the others deserve it more than him. Sharing a wide spectrum of reactions online, here are some reactions from Twitter to this groundbreaking development by Freese.

After leaving the Cardinals, Freese had brief stints at both Los Angeles teams In Angles and Dodgers. In between, he also represented the Pittsburgh Pirates. He would call it quits in 2019 at the age of 36. A few years ago, he did mention the anxiety and depression he faced during his Cardinals days. Whatever his reason is, one must respect his decision.

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