![]() Gibson's heroics in the series included an improbable catch on wet grass in Game 3 and decisive home runs in Games 4 and 5. The NLCS was a surprisingly close contest given the outcomes of the two teams' regular season meetings. Their opponent in the National League Championship Series was the New York Mets, who had compiled a more impressive 100–60 (.625) regular season record, and had won 10 of their 11 regular-season meetings with the Dodgers. They also had an outstanding bullpen that included Jay Howell, Jesse Orosco and Alejandro Peña. ![]() However, they were strengthened by an excellent starting rotation led by ace Orel Hershiser and backed up by Tim Belcher, John Tudor and Tim Leary. One reason why the Dodgers were considered underdogs throughout the postseason was that they did not finish the regular season ranked in the top five of any major offensive statistical category. The Dodgers, who had only finished 4th in the National League West in 1987 with a 73–89 (.451) record (17 games behind the division winning San Francisco Giants), led the NL West division standings from late May until the end of the season, easily winning the division title with a record of 94–67 (.584), seven games ahead of the second-place Cincinnati Reds. On the field, Gibson led the team with 25 home runs, a. Gibson, who played the previous nine seasons with the Detroit Tigers (winning a World Series title with them in 1984), quickly became the Dodgers' de facto leader both on the field and off. The Dodgers signed outfielder Kirk Gibson as a free agent during the 1987-88 offseason. ![]() Though not related to his World Series home run, Gibson would be named the 1988 NL Most Valuable Player.īackground Regular season Orel Hershiser (pictured in 1993) would be named the 1988 World Series MVP. Many of the images associated with the home run, particularly Gibson pumping his fist while circling the bases, are often shown in classic highlight reels, usually accompanied by play-by-play from broadcasters Vin Scully or Jack Buck. It was voted the "greatest moment in L.A. The play has since become legendary in the baseball world, and is regarded as one of the greatest home runs of all time. ![]() Gibson's home run-his only plate appearance of the series-helped the Dodgers defeat the Athletics, four games to one, securing their sixth World Series title. 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 in the bottom of the ninth inning and the tying run at first base. The home run won the game for the Dodgers by a score of 5–4.Īfter winning the National League (NL) West division, the Dodgers were considered the underdogs throughout the 1988 postseason, first to the New York Mets in the NL Championship Series, then to the Athletics in the World Series. Gibson was initially held out of the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup with injuries to both legs, but after being called upon to pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, he hit a two-run, walk-off home run against Oakland Athletics pitcher Dennis Eckersley. Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series home run was a baseball play that occurred in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, on October 15, 1988, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Kirk Gibson (at left, in 2011) and Dennis Eckersley (at right, in 2008), batter and pitcher of the walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
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