Los Angeles Dodger‘s first baseman Freddie Freeman walked into Toronto’s SickKids hospital this week and was immediately met with playful boos, pointed jabs, and a chorus of taunts from young Blue Jays fans.
The occasion was a holiday fundraising video organized by Ryan Reynolds, blending laughs, baseball rivalry, and charitable giving for the SickKids Foundation.
Freeman, the first baseman for Los Angeles Dodgers, walks in as the “guest of honor,” introduced by Reynolds as “the pride of Ontario and Los Angeles.”
Instead of applause, he gets mock boos. One youngster calls out “Go back to your sunshine and traffic, you hoser!” before the children break into a boisterous “Let’s go Blue Jays!” chant.
Freeman, the first baseman for Los Angeles Dodgers, walks in as the “guest of honor,” introduced by Reynolds as “the pride of Ontario and Los Angeles.” Instead of applause, he gets mock boos.
One youngster calls out “Go back to your sunshine and traffic, you hoser!” before the children break into a boisterous “Let’s go Blue Jays!” chant.
Bullied by children
In the spot, one child delivers a blunt “You ruined everything!” while another sneers, “What a loser.”
A third adds “Trust me man, we know who you are,” mocking Freeman‘s status as the Dodgers slugger who helped end the Blue Jays‘ World Series hopes.
Despite the digs, the vibe remains good-natured; the video strikes a tone somewhere between rivalry and comedy.
Reynolds‘ production company, working with hospital staff and SickKids patient ambassadors, filmed the spot with evident care for the kids’ welfare and comfort.
Freeman plays along. After taking in the chorus of jeers and chants, he turns to the camera and says: “By the way, I love what you guys are doing here.”
The clip ends with a nudge to the public: donate to SickKids before December 24 and every donation will be matched up to $1,000,000.
A holiday roast for a cause
This isn’t Freeman‘s first brush with Canadian fandom. Though born in Southern California, he holds dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship. His mother hails from Peterborough, Ontario, his father from Windsor, and he’s represented Team Canada in past editions of the World Baseball Classic.
That dual identity may help explain why he agreed to participate in Reynolds‘ fundraiser despite being fresh off a World Series win over the Blue Jays. He’s no stranger to charitable work.
In 2024, he revealed his son Maximus was diagnosed with a rare neurological illness, and pledged $1 million to help children’s hospitals in gratitude for compassionate care.
The SickKids holiday video treads the fine line between fandom rivalry and goodwill, seamlessly blending slapstick with sincerity.
It also leans on the playful animosity between Dodgers and Blue Jays fans, and leaning into that bitterness somehow helps raise money for kids in need.
