Freisleben was the quarterback of the Sam Rayburn High School football team as well as star pitcher of their baseball team. Straight out of high school, Freisleben was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the fifth round of the 1971 Major League Baseball draft. With the Alexandria Aces in 1972, he went 17-9 with a 2.32 earned run average & 163 strikeouts to earn Texas League "Pitcher of the Year" honors. He quickly rose through the Padres\' farm system, going 42-21 with a 2.69 ERA & 494 strikeouts.\n', '

He was called up to San Diego early in the 1974 season to join Bill Greif, Randy Jones & Dan Spillner in one of the best young starting rotations in the National League. He won his major league debut over Steve Carlton & the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-2.\n', '

He had two shutouts & six complete games on his way to nine victories his rookie season, but his most impressive performance came in a no decision against the Cincinnati Reds. Freisleben held Cincinnati\'s "Big Red Machine" scoreless through nine, however, the Padres were also blanked by Reds starter Clay Kirby. Whereas Kirby was lifted after nine, Freisleben remained in the game for thirteen innings without allowing a run. Rusty Gerhardt replaced Freisleben in the fourteenth inning, and the Padres finally broke through against Pedro Borbon in the bottom of the inning for the 1-0 victory.\n', '

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