Freddie Freeman
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young holds the Heisman Trophy at an award ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in New York. (Todd Van Emst/Heisman Trust via AP, Pool)
Ode to Sports: A year when games and fans came off the bench

By Fred Lief Dec. 23, 2021 12:24 PM EST

Atlanta Braves' Dansby Swanson rounds third base after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Newman, Frazier push Pirates past Braves 6-4 in 10 innings

By George Henry May. 20, 2021 11:35 PM EDT

New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton, right, celebrates with third base coach Phil Nevin as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Tuesday, May 4, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
LEADING OFF: Padres depleted by virus, Harvey vs Mets

By The Associated Press May. 12, 2021 04:08 AM EDT

New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton, right, celebrates with third base coach Phil Nevin as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Tuesday, May 4, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
LEADING OFF: Tatis tests positive for virus, Harvey vs Mets

By The Associated Press May. 11, 2021 10:11 PM EDT

Washington Nationals pitcher Kyle Finnegan throws during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Ozuna hits grand slam, Braves beat Nats in Fried's return

By Ben Nuckols May. 05, 2021 10:04 PM EDT

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner, center right, is congratulated after pitching a seven-inning no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves at the end of the second baseball game of a doubleheader Sunday, April 25, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Bumgarner pitches 7-inning no-hitter, Arizona sweeps Braves

By George Henry Apr. 25, 2021 07:10 PM EDT

Atlanta Braves' Pablo Sandoval watches his two-run home run during the seventh inning of the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Wednesday, April 7, 2021, in Washington. The Braves won 2-0. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Panda! Sandoval helps Braves sweep doubleheader against Nats

By Howard Fendrich Apr. 07, 2021 03:05 PM EDT

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. hits a fielder's choice ground ball in the seventh inning of an opening day baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Washington. Austin Riley scored on the play. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Nats finally play, beat Braves 6-5 on Soto's walk-off in 9th

By Howard Fendrich Apr. 06, 2021 07:35 PM EDT

Chicago White Sox manager Tony LaRussa (22) removes starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) from the baseball game as catcher Yasmani Grandal, left, and first baseman Jose Abreu (79) wait on the mound during the fifth inning of a spring training matchup against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, March 22, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
LEADING OFF: Crowds back on opening day, Cole starts season

By The Associated Press Apr. 01, 2021 01:11 AM EDT

Washington Nationals' Juan Soto flies out to center field during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, March 21, 2021, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
LEADING OFF: Crowds back on opening day, Cole starts season

By The Associated Press Mar. 31, 2021 11:46 AM EDT

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman takes during live batting practice before playing the Baltimore Orioles in a spring baseball game at CoolToday Park in North Port, Fla., Wednesday, March 3, 2021. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
National League East Preview Capsules

By The Associated Press Mar. 18, 2021 08:32 PM EDT

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) throws against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a spring training baseball game, Friday, March 5, 2021, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Ohtani fans 5 in return to mound; Harper HR on 1st swing

By The Associated Press Mar. 05, 2021 07:40 PM EST

FILE - Atlanta Braves' Freddie Freeman smiles after scoring on a hit by Marcell Ozuna against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in Game 4 of a baseball National League Championship Series in Arlington, Texas, in this Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, file photo. Freeman won't report with the Atlanta Braves position players on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, following the births of his twin boys. Manager Brian Snitker said Monday he supports Freeman arriving later in the week.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
NL MVP Freeman delayed to Braves camp by birth of twin boys

By Charles Odum Feb. 22, 2021 02:46 PM EST

Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna walks to the dugout after striking out during the sixth inning in Game 7 of a baseball National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Ozuna's return ensures Braves remain serious title contender

By Paul Newberry Feb. 06, 2021 05:29 PM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2020, file photo, Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna watches his single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins in Miami. The Braves are bringing back Ozuna, signing the slugger to a $65 million, four-year contract. The Braves announced the deal for the 2020 NL home run and RBI leader Friday night, Feb. 5, less than two weeks before pitchers and catchers are set to report for spring training. The deal includes a fifth-year club option for $16 million with a $1 million buyout. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Braves bring back Ozuna on $65 million, 4-year deal

By Charles Odum Feb. 05, 2021 08:55 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 4, 2020, file photo, Atlanta Braves' Freddie Freeman celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a grand slam to center field during the fourth inning of the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the Washington Nationals in Atlanta. Freeman easily won the NL MVP award Thursday, Nov. 12, topping off a trying year that saw him become so ill with COVID-19 he prayed “please don’t take me.” (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
Freeman among trio of Braves on All-MLB first team

By Mike Fitzpatrick Dec. 10, 2020 12:30 AM EST

Freeman, Abreu win Hank Aaron Awards for offense

Dec. 08, 2020 03:42 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — First basemen Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves and José Abreu of the Chicago White Sox have won Hank Aaron Awards as the outstanding...

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2020, file photo, Atlanta Braves' Freddie Freeman watches his two-run home run during the fourth inning in Game 2 of the baseball team's NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Arlington, Texas. Freeman easily won the NL MVP award Thursday, Nov. 12, topping off a trying year that saw him become so ill with COVID-19 he prayed “please don’t take me.” (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Braves' Freeman wins NL MVP, White Sox slugger Abreu gets AL

By Ben Walker Nov. 12, 2020 06:56 PM EST

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts hits a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning in Game 1 of the baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Total package: Betts paying off big for Dodgers in every way

By Stephen Hawkins Oct. 21, 2020 12:09 AM EDT

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) leaves the game against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 4 of a baseball National League Championship Series Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Kershaw falters again in playoffs, pushing Dodgers to brink

By Schuyler Dixon Oct. 15, 2020 11:57 PM EDT