World Series 2011: David Freese and the 7 Most Unlikely Stars

David Freese made walk-off winners out of the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night in Game 6 of the World Series, and he has been but one of the many surprise contributors in this year's Fall Classic.

With studs like Chris Carpenter, Matt Holliday, Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson on these rosters, this matchup has no shortage of star power.

However, there are others who deserve recognition. 

Marc Rzepczynski (RP): St. Louis Cardinals

People will finally know Marc Rzepczynski's name! Maybe not how to spell or pronounce it but fans will respect Rzepczynski for his dominance against a potent Rangers offense.

He has been perfect in three of his four appearances, the exception being Game 5. Rzepczynski entered a tie game in the eighth inning with two runners on base. Facing David Murphy, he induced a grounder up the middle that would have initiated an inning-ending double play on most nights.

Unluckily, the ball caromed off his glove for an infield hit. Texas would take the lead immediately after. 

Rzepczynski retired every batter he faced in Game 1, Game 2 and Game 6. Josh Hamilton is 0-for-2 with a strikeout against him in this series.

Mike Napoli (C): Texas Rangers

Napoli has been red-hot for months, but nobody was paying him much attention this spring.

Prior to joining the Rangers in 2011, he had a reputation for being an all-or-nothing hitter, someone with great home run ability who susceptible to striking out. Through June, he had done nothing to affect that perception.

Now, he's arguably the best catcher in baseball.

Napoli was the one who ultimately spoiled Rzepczynski's outing in Game 5 with a two-run double.

He enters the winner-take-all Game 7 with 10 RBI in this series.

Lance Berkman (OF): St. Louis Cardinals

Lance Berkman "Fat Elvis" signed a one-year, $8 million deal with St. Louis over the winter after enduring the roughest season of his 12-year career. By the All-Star break, Berkman had earned every penny.

He was a big presence in the middle of the batting order during the regular season, providing protection for Albert Pujols.

In the first two rounds of the 2011 playoffs, though, Berkman's play was very pedestrian. He was only 9-for-38 (.238) in the Cardinals' first 11 October games and totaled just two extra-base hits. He was a liability in the field, too.

The old Lance Berkman—salt-and-pepper beard and all—reemerged with a productive effort in Game 1. He has recorded hits in five of six games in this series.

Berkman was especially effective with his team facing elimination on Thursday. He smashed his first career World Series home run in the first inning.

Colby Lewis (SP): Texas Rangers

Lewis often gets overlooked because of his underwhelming velocity (average fastball: 89.0 mph). That's the only reason he can be considered an "unlikely" star in this series.

His stats this season are terribly misleading from making half his starts in Texas. The warm air helps balls fly and the 22 home runs Lewis allowed in his home games spiked his earned run average.

In reality, he is a legitimate pitcher. He demonstrated that throughout last year's playoffs and continues to in the 2011 World Series.

Lewis has a 1.00 WHIP in two starts against the Cardinals. He leads the Rangers' staff with 12.0 IP. Lewis made both his starts in St. Louis.

Yadier Molina (C): St. Louis Cardinals

Molina has always been a defensive guru behind the plate. His offense approached that level in 2011 as he finished the regular season with a career-best .814 OPS.

In this Fall Classic, Molina has knocked in seven runs. He has only scored once because of struggles from the Cardinals' hitters at the top and bottom of the order.

He came up with runners on base in the fourth and sixth innings of Game 6 and picked up an RBI both times.

Obviously, Molina has conceded nothing in the field. Well, he allowed one stolen base to Ian Kinsler, but he made up for it by gunning him down on two other occasions.

Molina has committed zero errors and given up no passed balls while catching every inning in this series.

Adrian Beltre (3B): Texas Rangers

In the midst of a sensational month of July, Beltre was sidelined with a strained hamstring. He would ultimately lose more than five weeks of his season to the injury.

But upon returning, Beltre was more than a sensation: He was the best third baseman in the majors.

He has a .333 batting average through six games, including two doubles and a couple home runs.

It's been a sloppy series on both sides, as 11 players have combined to make 13 defensive errors. However, Beltre has been flawless despite playing every inning at the hot corner.

David Freese (3B): St. Louis Cardinals

Nobody on either club has gained more from this series or these playoffs than David Freese.

The third-year third baseman came through in the clutch two times in two at-bats with his Cardinals trailing in Game 6.

In the bottom of the ninth, Freese was down to his last strike against fire-baller Neftali Feliz with the tying runs on base. He served a 98 mile-per-hour heater to right field just beyond the outstretched glove of Nelson Cruz to keep the series alive.

It was a two-run triple for a player who had only two career triples in 200 previous regular season and postseason games!

Freese then delivered the knockout punch in the 11th with a solo home run to center field. He finished the game 3-for-5 with three RBI.

Prior to Friday's Game 7, Freese has driven in 19 runs in the 2011 playoffs. That is tied with David Ortiz (2004) and Scott Spiezio (2002) for the highest total for any player in any postseason in the 21st century.

Considering this guy broke his hand after being hit by a pitch in May, I'd say his heroics have been unlikely, indeed.