World Series: Did You Know?

The Dodgers actually got a total of four home runs from unlikely sources in 1988. Well, maybe in a sense they were the type of player heroics would not have surprised you from if you look at from another angle.

Obviously, Kirk Gibson is the big one. Hobbled by bad knees, he reached down and pulled a rabbit out of a hat. Actually, he just hit a slider to deep right for a walk-off home run. But who would have thought, after all he'd gone through that season? And against Dennis Eckersley, Mr. Lights Out?

Gibson had to wait on the bench for game one until that awesome ninth inning. But in actuality, it's not as if the opening tilt to the '88 Fall Classic had lacked drama up to that point. Indeed, the game had enough exiciting moments prior to Gibby waving his magic wand, that Vince Scully, the great broadcaster, had declared game one, "...Not a bad opening act!" as the teams fought hard to draw first blood.

It had all started wat back in the bottom of the first. The Los Angeles Dodgers were up against the powerful Oakland Athletics. It seemed like the presence of sluggers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire would be tough enough. The A's also had a slugger in Dave Henderson (Not related to Ricky, who Oakland would acquire the next season). Dave didn't have that one amazing year where he hit 30, let alone 40, long balls in one season. However, Henderson had four seasons with at least 20. His career year, you guessed it, was in 1988. 24 HR, 94 RBI.

But Oakland had a strong pitching staff, too. Their best starter was Dave Stewart, who'd not only won twenty games that year, but added two more "W's" in the American League Championship Series vs. Boston. And, the Athletics had Dennis Eckersley, one of the all-time great closers.

The poor LA Dodgers would have to find a way to get to both Stew and Eck, in all likelihood, if they had any intention of winning this Fall Classic.

So Los Angeles, playing at home, would feel a possible test of what was to come in the top of the first. Tim Belcher, just a rookie, was looking at a night of having his hands full. It didn't help that, with Dave Henderson on first (Having singled), he hit Jose Canseco. There was one out. Dave Parker, who'd won a World Series with Pittsburgh in 1988, flied out to centre. But the next batter was Mark McGwire.

Belcher quickly got ahead 0-2, but perhaps pitched too carefully to McGwire the rest of the plate appearance. Mark walked to load the bases. Terry Steinbach hit one just to the left of centre, but it was caught by John Shelby. This escape with no damage proved to be crucial.

Dave Stewart retaliated in the bottom of the first for the hitting of Jose Canseco. Stew himself hit leadoff batter Steve Sax. Franklin Stubbs flied out. The next batter was Mickey Hatcher. The big question going into this Fall Classic was, "What would Oakland would see of Mickey?"

Hatcher had hit a solid .295 in the regular season, but just .238 in the National League Championship Series vs. the New York Mets. Mickey's career high in home runs was nine, which he'd hit in 1983 with Minnesota. Traded to Los Angeles for 1987, Hatcher hit seven more. But in 1988, he'd had but one.

Before Hatcher could do anything, Dave Stewart made a mistake. A balk would suddenly move Steve Sax into scoring position. Things were now a little easier for Mickey. However, Hatcher would surprise everyone by belting Stewart's 0-1 offering to deep left. Into the stands! Mickey was so excited he motored around the bases, which soon prompted Joe Garagiola to quip, "...He [Hatcher] hasn't hit that many [home runs], [so] he doesn't even know how to run out [a home run]. He ran in [Around the bases] like they [Los Angeles] thought they were going to take it off the scoreboard. He really circled those bases in a hurry."

Hatcher, looking back on his tone-setting home run in the World Series twenty-nine years later, explained what he'd said to the pitcher who surrendered the four-bagger. "Dave Stewart was an old teammate of mine [They both started out in the Dodgers' organization in the late 1970s] and I told him before the game (We were joking around), I was gonna hit a home run off him my first at bat. He said, " 'Not if I throw it at your head.' "

The problem is, the 2-0 Los Angeles lead was quickly turned into a 4-2 Oakland edge. I mentioned Jose Canseco earlier. The second time he came up, in the top of the second frame, Jose hit a grand slam. Tim Belcher stayed in the game, although it sudden seemed like the Athletics had all the offence they would need.

Hatcher drew a two-out walk in the third, but was unable to contribute more in this opening contest. The Dodgers scored a third run in the bottom of the sixth, but still trailed 4-3.

So Dennis Eckersley came on to pitch the last of the ninth, and wasted little time in getting Mike Scioscia and Jeff Hamilton out. Alfredo Griffin was due up, but Mike Davis came to bat. Mike was trying to atone for a poor regular season. He'd hit just .196 with two home runs and seventeen runs driven in. It was all up to Davis to keep Los Angeles alive.

Davis worked well. After taking a strike, Davis would look at four straight balls from his old Oakland teammate.

Enter Kirk Gibson.

Crippled by injuries to both his legs, it seemed like a desperation move by manager Tommy Lasorda. Eck's control was much better against Gibson than Mike Davis. At least at first. Quickly it was 0-2. But the two strikes were foul balls, so Kirk Gibson was catching up to Dennis Eckersley's offerings. Mike Davis was still at first.

And what was on his mind was no doubt to steal. At least give Gibby a look at a runner in scoring position. Eckersley was also aware of this. Oakland did try and get Davis at first. Gibson hit a foul down the first base line, barely getting anything good on the ball. Gibby was a fighter, and brought the count full, 3-2. On ball three, the ever daring Davis stole second! Things were suddenly just a bit easier for Kirk Gibson. But no one expected him to do what he did on the next (Eighth) pitch of the at-bat.

It was a slider. But Gibson hit it over Jose Canseco's head in right. And over the fence! An incredible 5-4 LA win.

There is much that can be said about the Gibson home run, however, one thing that is obvious is this was just the opening contest. Los Angeles needed three more wins to get the World Crown. However, that is not to say that Gibby's heroics didn't give the Dodgers a lift in the same way that Dusty Rhodes had with his walk-off back in 1954. Both were hit in the opening tilt. The Oakland Athletics were able to halt the Los Angeles' momentum come the third contest. Rhodes' New York Giants would go on to a sweep.

They had Orel Hershiser ready to pitch the second game. But for this contest, there would be no Kirk Gibson or Mike Davis, the two men who had helped so much.

Mickey Hatcher did play in this game, but sort of took a backseat to Hershiser. Orel, you see, went out and pitched a three-hit shutout. And then there was Hershiser's bat. He went 3-3 at the dish.

But it's not like Mickey Hatcher just stared at an ineffective bat all game long. Far from that. He singled in the first, but was stranded. Mickey would get another hit, that coming in the in the third. The Dodgers had broken the ice. Their 1-0 was widened to 2-0 courtesy of a Hatcher bouncer that scored Steve Sax and also moved Franklin Stubbs to third. Mickey would then take second as the throw from centre was an attempt to nail Stubbs. But LA now had two more runners on base. There was just one out. A three-run home run by Mike Marshall made it 5-0.

Hatcher had helped again, and now the Dodgers were up 2-0 as the World Series shifted to Oakland for the next three games.

LA's magic appeared to run out as Oakland won the third contest, 2-1. In the fifth, Mickey Hatcher had a chance to drive in the go-ahead run with the score knotted at one. But all he did was hit a liner back to the pitcher. 

But still, Mickey found ways to contribute. The game was a lost cause in more ways than one. First, starting pitcher John Tudor, who'd been a great veteran presence on the team (Not to mention his ten wins and 2.32 ERA), had to leave after just 1 1/3 innings. The game was shaping up to be a dominant one for John, as he retired all four batters that faced him. Poor Tudor would not appear again in the Fall Classic, ever. Tim Leary took over on the hill.

So LA was down a pitcher. Their left fielder, Mickey Hatcher was giving it his all out there. Soon, out there, would practically be the entire outfield.

First, there was his superb play on a carom. Glenn Hubbard lead off the bottom of the third for Oakland, and sent one past Hatcher in left. A sure double. At least it appeared to be two bases. That's when Mickey Hatcher played it perfectly off the wall and got off a good throw to Steve Sax, who was standing right on second base. Alas, Hubbard stole second, and made it to third on a throwing error. The Athletics would cash the man in.

More bad news would come to Los Angeles an inning later. 

First, they failed to score in the top of the fourth.

Mike Marshall was having back issues, so Tommy Lasorda sent up Danny Heep to hit for him. Heep was retired. John Shelby walked and stole second. Mike Davis came up. He sent one to the gap in left. But it was playable. The long out advanced Shelby to third. The next batter, Mike Scioscia, took strike three to end the threat.

Heep would take up position in left in the bottom of the frame, meaning Mickey Hatcher replaced Marshall in right.

Jose Canseco would test this  (forced) move by Lasorda. He only got a piece of an inside offering, but sent a sinking shot to right. It appeared to be a hit. But there was Mickey Hatcher, making a fine diving catch.

The Dodgers had a golden opportunity to break the game wide open in the top of the sixth. Mike Davis came up with two men on. He walked. Bases loaded. No one out. However, Mike Scioscia went down by sending a popup into foul territory. Then Jeff Hamilton forced Danny Heep at home on a force. When Alfredo Griffin grounded out to first, a potential huge inning for the Dodgers had ended. With no runs scored.

Though the Dodgers lost the game, Mickey Hatcher had done his best. He would start game four back in left, but this meant Mike Davis, who'd been only the designated hitter in the third contest, would be playing right field in the fourth game.

Neither Hatcher nor Davis were able to contribute what they might have liked to in probably the biggest game of the 1988 World Series. A win in game four by Oakland and the Series was tied 2-2. But an LA win, and the Dodgers would be up 3-1. Even if  Los Angeles lost the subsequent fifth contest, they'd play the sixth (And possibly seventh) game at home.

So, LA wasted little time in getting ahead of Oakland. Steve Sax faced off against Dave Stewart in the top of the first and walked. Getting the leadoff man on payed dividends for the Dodgers. With one out, and with Sax on the run, Mickey Hatcher singled through the hole created between first and second. The hit obviously did not produce an RBI, but Steve Sax being on third ended up being huge. It gave Mike Davis a chance to drive him home.

A passed ball by Terry Steinbach scored Sax, but advanced Mickey Hatcher into scoring position. Mike Davis send a grounder towards second that Glen Hubbard couldn't come up with. Runners on the corners. Mike Davis hadn't actually done much, however, he was about to do something crucial on the bases, just like in the opening tilt.

Davis stole second on the third pitch to John Shelby, and now the visiting team, ahead 1-0, had two more runners in scoring position. And little chance for a double play. Shelby hit a 1-2 pitch that Dave Stewart got a piece of. The ball still went to Glenn Hubbard at second, who made no mistake and got John Shelby by an eyelash at first. It seemed like more bad luck for Los Angeles, however, as Shelby pulled up lame. Shelby would stay in the game.

The first inning two-run rally put Oakland in a bad spot. They got one run back in the first, but Los Angeles went back on the attack two innings later. Franklin Stubbs doubled with one away. Mickey Hatcher was staring at a runner in scoring position. All he could do was send one to short left on the first pitch from Dave Stewart. Mike Davis also had an RBI chance. But all he could do was send one in the air to short. The ball ticked off Walt Weiss' glove and continued on into left field. Stubbs took off from second on contact, and continued on around third, crossing the plate. A crucial run.

Oakland got the run back again, but it merely narrowed the margin to 3-2 for the visitors in the bottom of the sixth. Tracy Woodson would quickly restore the two-run lead in the seventh for Los Angeles. The Dodgers looked for more as Steve Sax was on second. With two out, it was Mickey Hatcher back at the plate, with a chance to put to rest any doubt of the game's outcome.

Hatcher gave it a ride to the gap in left, but Dave Henderson was there. The Athletics, to their credit, clawed back with a run to make it a one-run game in the bottom of the seventh. But it was the visiting Dodgers grabbing a 3-1 lead in this Fall Classic.

Orel Hershiser looked like his game two self in the fifth contest for the first two innings. Los Angeles wanted it right here, right now. Mickey Hatcher helped Hershiser by hitting a two-run home run in the top of the first. Mike Davis walked in the top of the second, but was stranded.

Hatcher then came up in the top of the third. The scored was 2-0 for the visitors, and Steve Sax was at first. Poor Hatcher was unable to finish his plate appearance as Sax was a dead duck at second on an attempted steal.

Oakland scored a run, plus got runners to second and third in the bottom of the third. It appeared as though Hershiser wasn't the same as he'd been in game two. More offence would be needed.

Mickey Hatcher hadn't quite been able to put the game away himself the previous contest, yet came up in the top of the fourth, trying to restore the two-run lead. Mike Davis and him would do better than that.

Hatcher got it all going with a single. Although Storm Davis fanned the next two batters, there was still Mike Davis to deal with. It appeared as though Mike was going to draw a walk off Storm (No relation). Yet behind in the count 3-0, Storm threw a bad pitch, a fastball not where he wanted it. Mike Davis rocked a home run to right. The two-run shot put the visiting Dodgers up, 4-1.

And the fifth inning appeared to be another multi-run frame for the Dodgers. Would Hershiser ever have runs to work with! Jeff Hamilton led off, and hit a tough grounder to third. Alas, Carney Lansford made an excellent diving stop, and nailed Hamilton at first. Alfredo Griffin fanned against Storm Davis, who Tony La Russa was sticking with. By retiring the first two batters, Storm Davis may have kept the game reasonable at 4-1, Los Angeles. However, when Steve Sax singled to keep the inning alive, Storm would go where there was water raining down, but no thunder: The showers!

New pitcher Greg Cadaret was greeted with a single by Franklin Stubbs. Two on, two out. The batter was one of our boys, Mickey Hatcher. The Athletics brought in Gene Nelson to face Hatcher. Mickey was up to seven hits at this point. But he'd stay there as Nelson got him to ground out.

With a 4-1, and Orel Hershiser cruising along, there was little more run support needed. Orel breezed through the fifth, sixth and seventh, retiring all nine men to face him. As for the Dodgers, they had another run up their sleeves.

Gene Nelson retired the first two men to face him the top of the sixth. But Los Angeles still had Mike Davis. With the count 2-1, Mike popped it up to the seats in left behind third, near the bullpen. And near where commissioner Peter Ueberroth was sitting. Carney Lansford could not catch it. With the count 2-2, Davis gave it a thought at swinging at a low offering, but held the bat back. 3-2. Davis' patience paid off again. The count was full, and Davis looked at ball four. It was Mike's Series-leading fourth bases on balls.

Rick Dempsey had played in the 1979 and 1983 World Series with Baltimore. Here, as a Los Angeles Dodger, the catcher stroked a 1-2 pitch to right for two bases. Mike Davis had taken off on the pitch, and would cross home. The run proved crucial. There was no more magic from Mickey Hatcher and Mike Davis on this night. Davis grounded out in the top of the eighth to strand John Shelby.

Orel Hershiser did have some trouble in the bottom of the frame. Not only did Oakland score a run, but they got runners to second and third. The big inning didn't materialize, as Dave Parker went down on strikes. It wasn't quite the last moment of tension for Los Angeles, at Carney Lansford singled with two away in the last of the ninth. He took second and third on defensive indifference. Orel Hershiser made sure Lansford did not score. When he fanned Tony Phillips, the 1988 World Series belonged to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

References

Bodziner, Robert, and Roy Epstein. 1988 World Series Film. Major League Baseball Productions, 2006. 


Brenner, Richard J. “A Team of Destiny.” The World Series: The Great Contests, East End Pub., Syosset, NY, 1989, pp. 110–120. 


Coyle, Harry, director. 1988 World Series, Season 42, NBC, 1988. (Viewed on Youtube)


Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. 


KCAL News, "Former Dodger Mickey Hatcher On World Series Then And Now". Youtube, KCAL News, 22 Oct. 2017, https://youtu.be/qQPO61RT0MI?t=35  Accessed 12 Feb. 2023. (Quote appears at 0:35-0:56)

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball 1992. St. Martin's Press, 1992. 

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Snyder, John S. World Series!: Great Moments and Dubious Achievements. San Francisco: Chronicle, 1995. 

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