I’m a lifelong Dodger fan—before and after their move to Los Angeles. People like me cringe when they have to watch (yet again) a replay of Bobby Thompson’s homerun in the 1951 pennant game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants. We also experienced ennui when Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s homerun record some days ago.
What we never mind watching, however, is Kirk Gibson’s homer that ended the first game of the 1988 World Series between the L.A. Dodgers and the favored Oakland Athletics. As the fabled story goes, the Dodgers were behind 4 to 3 when they came to bat in the ninth inning. With one runner on base, Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda sent in Kirk Gibson as a pinch hitter. Gibson had been sitting out the game because of a knee injury. It was said that if Gibson had not hit a homerun, he would likely have been thrown out at first because he could hardly run. After taking two pitches, the slugger stepped out of the batter’s box briefly and then hit the next pitch into the right field stands to win the game. He did not the play again the rest of the series, but the Dodgers had momentum and beat the Athletics four games to one. Gibson went on to win the National League Most Valuable Player award for 1988.
What we never mind watching, however, is Kirk Gibson’s homer that ended the first game of the 1988 World Series between the L.A. Dodgers and the favored Oakland Athletics. As the fabled story goes, the Dodgers were behind 4 to 3 when they came to bat in the ninth inning. With one runner on base, Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda sent in Kirk Gibson as a pinch hitter. Gibson had been sitting out the game because of a knee injury. It was said that if Gibson had not hit a homerun, he would likely have been thrown out at first because he could hardly run. After taking two pitches, the slugger stepped out of the batter’s box briefly and then hit the next pitch into the right field stands to win the game. He did not the play again the rest of the series, but the Dodgers had momentum and beat the Athletics four games to one. Gibson went on to win the National League Most Valuable Player award for 1988.
If you missed the homerun, here it is again.
