30 Years Ago – Game 1, Kirk Gibson

Kathryn,

Today is the first game of the 2018 World Series – the Dodgers vs. the Red Sox.  30 years ago, in 1988 the first game of the World Series was played between the Dodger vs. the Athletics at Dodger Stadium.

Here’s the Wikipedia summary…

Kirk Gibson‘s 1988 World Series home run occurred in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, on October 15, 1988, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Gibson, pinch hitting for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth inning, with injuries to both legs, hit a two-run walk-off home run off the Oakland Athletics‘ Dennis Eckersley that won Game 1 for the Dodgers by a score of 5–4.

After winning the National League West division, the Dodgers were considered the underdogs throughout the 1988 postseason, first to the New York Mets in the NLCS, then to the A’s in the World Series. Gibson, who was not expected to play due to injuries in both legs sustained during the NLCS, was surprisingly inserted as a pinch hitter with the Dodgers trailing 4–3 with two outs and the tying run at first base in the bottom of the ninth inning. Gibson’s home run—his only plate appearance of the series—helped the Dodgers defeat the A’s, 4 games to 1, securing their sixth World Series title.

And the YouTube replay with Vin Scully’s call

I remember the end of the game so very well.  Down by one with two outs, the walk gives the Dodgers the tying run on first.  Dramatically, Kirk Gibson comes out from behind the dugout and limps up to the plate.  He goes down 0 and 2 and then fouls off pitches, gets some balls and hits the wonderful, spine tingling walk off home run.  The Dodgers win the first game in dramatic fashion and go on to win the series.

As Gibson’s home run is soaring out of the park, I stand up and start screaming with joy.  The replay stills gives me tingles all over my body.  I scream so loud that I wake you up.  You’re four (Jeanne will be born in February) and in bed.  You come to the top of the stairs and ask in your sweet four year old voice – “Did the Dodgers win?”

I said yes and tell you to come down and watch.  You sat on my lap and we celebrated the wonderful victory.

You were always a Dodger fan.

I love you and remember your sweet voice, like it was yesterday.