10-Year-Old Dodgers Fan’s Surprise Trip to World Series Game 1 Turns Into Historic Moment
It was a day that began like any other for 10-year-old Dodgers fan Zac. He woke up anxiously awaiting his long-time scheduled orthodontist appointment to get his braces off.
But his dad had different plans.
Nico Ruderman of Venice surprised his son with tickets to Game 1 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees — and his son found himself in the middle of baseball history.
In a memorable moment at Dodger Stadium, Zac walked away with a piece of history in his hands — a game-winning ball from Freddie Freeman’s thrilling walk-off grand slam.
For Zac, Freeman’s home run represented more than just an exciting moment; it was the pinnacle of a season spent supporting his favorite player. A devoted fan, Zac proudly wears several shirts featuring Freeman’s name and number and has closely tracked his journey throughout the year.
“He was already a huge Freeman fan, but after last night, it’s on another level,” Nico shared with the Westside Current.
As Freeman sent the ball soaring into the night with two outs, Nico recorded the moment on his phone. In an incredible twist, the ball bounced in Zac’s direction. Overcome with emotion, the young fan held it tightly to his chest, tears of joy streaming down his face.
“A walk-off usually means everyone walks off,” Nico noted, “but no one did. The team stayed on the field, and the fans didn’t leave for ages. It was fantastic. And when you went out to the parking lot, everyone was yelling, ‘Go Dodgers!’ It was just wild.”
The atmosphere was charged as the Dodgers faced off against the Yankees, and Nico, who transitioned from being a Mets fan to embracing the Dodgers after moving west, was just as swept up in the excitement as Zac.
“I’m in shock,” he shared. “We went to game one of every round this year — the Padres, the Mets — but nothing compares to this.”
For Nico and Zac, Oct. 25 will forever be a day that celebrates their family tradition of Dodgers baseball, marked by an extraordinary catch that brought a piece of history back home.
“I surprised him with tickets,” Nico said. “There was no better way to celebrate.”
Photo Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
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