World Series: Did You Know?

The 1988 Fall Classic is the only time their has been not one, but two walkoff home runs. Both of them seemed rather unlikely. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics only got to see each other for five games, but hey, that means there were three games with no walkoff home runs. So it's not like there no expectations for some. But an injury and a bad slump? Hardly the spot for anyone to come through!

Oh, of course, the Kirk Gibson blast of Eckersley? Well Kirk was hurt. Having won the MVP of the regular season and added some clutch stuff in the NLCS vs. New York, he should have been in the lineup. But Gibby was hurt, and in no way shape or form ready to play.

But the Dodgers needed Gibson. It was 4-3 Oakland going into the bottom of the ninth inning of game one. Los Angeles didn't have their ace, Orel Hershiser in this one. He was all ready for game two. But they needed something else to get this one.

Dennis Eckersley came in to pitch the ninth for Oakland. And blink twice, and you missed two outs. Mike Davis was next, batting for Alfredo Griffin. He worked Eckersley to a 3-1 count, and then got on base. Eck must have been mad at himself for that. David had hit .196 in the regular season.

So that brought up another pinch hitter for Los Angeles. Oh, and it was Kirk Gibson. Spotlight time.

But Eckersley had no intention of givin' in here, you see. Blink twice and Gibson could only foul off both of his offerings. 0-2. Another foul ball kept Gibson alive. Here's were Eck made a mistake. He missed with a pitch, and Davis stole second. I guess Eckersley could afford to walk Gibson, but Steve Sax was on deck. You don't want him up.

Eck continued to miss, however. Ball two, ball three. It was full.

Eckersley then threw a backdoor slider. Gibson hit it out of here! Dodgers 5, A's 4. What a way to kick this thing off! Los Angeles, however had just gotten all they would get from Gibby. He would not step foot on the diamond again in 1988.



But the Dodger had the dramatic win, right? And when the followed that up with a 6-0 win in game two behind a three-hitter by Hershiser, things were looking almost too good as this thing was headin' north to Oakland.

Game three saw each team score a run. And Los Angeles was looking to go up 3-0. And they got a boost for this game. Obviously, it was not Kirk Gibson. Rather, it was Jay Howell, the former Oakland pitcher. Howell had been suspended for three days for having pine tar on his glove. Hmmmm, wonder what he and George Brett thought about pine.

In any event, it was Howell on the mound in the bottom of the ninth. Being in a tie is sometimes an awkward sport for a closer like Jay, who had 21 saves in the regular season. This was obviously not a save situation.

However, Jay made Jose Canseco the first out. It took him just one pitch. Jose still did not have a hit since his game one grand slam. But the other Bash Brother, Mark McGwire stepped into the dish to meet the challenge from Jay. Jay looked liked he had him.

Howell missed with the first pitch, but then McGwire did something that Gibson had done in game one. He fouled off two straight pitches to put himself in a dangerous position. He was one strike away from going down on a K. Howell missed and it was 2-2. Just like Eckersley had done with Gibson, as well.

Howell did not throw another ball. McGwire fouled off the next pitch to stay alive. Then, another foul. And still another. How long could this thing go? Well, as it turns out, just one more pitch. Jay got it up a little high, and Big Mac took him out of the park. 2-1, Oakland final. The Fall Classic of 1988 stood at Los Angeles two games, Oakland one game. The reverse of the final score of game three.



Howell seemed to have things well under control. And his pitching looked overwhelming. But like Eckersley before him, he got tagged with the loss.

In the long run however, it was Los Angeles that won the 1988 World Series, four games to one.

Often, game one is forgotten in the Fall Classic. So, too, is a team's lone win in a series that lasted just five games. Remember game two of '74 when Los Angeles won their only game. How about Philly's one in '83 (Game one, also)? San Diego's game two in '84? Hmmmm, we'd all be hard-pressed. But in 1988, game one, and Oakland's only win proved dramatic and unforgettable!


References


Brenner, Richard J. The World Series: The Great Contests. East End Publishing, 1989. Print.

Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Seaver, Tom, and Martin Appel. Great Moments in Baseball. New York, NY: Carol Pub. Group, 1992. Print.

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

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 05 Feb. 2015.

World Series: Did You Know?

Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and Kirk Gibson, too, all had one home run each in the 1988 Fall Classic. Only problem is, for each, their long ball represented their only hit. Well, some guys need four hits to get four bags in one game, while others need only one swing and whole lotta K's in between! I mentioned in an earlier post about Canseco and McGwire only having one hit. Funny, we talk about Gibson, and his home run is also his hit of the 1988 World Series, too! But each, has something magic about it.

The 1988 World Series between the favoured Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Dodgers got underway in game one, and Canseco had to try and get away from a Tim Belcher offering. This was not the way he wanted his fist Fall Classic plate appearance to go. He couldn't get out of the line of fire here in the top of the first and was on first the painful way. The A's had runners on first and second because of this. The hometown Dodgers were being beaten by the small ball early. Oakland actually loaded the bases when McGwire drew a walk, but did not get a man home.

The home team got two in on a Mickey Hatcher two-run blast in the bottom of the frame. But the A's loaded 'em again in the top of the second. This time, were they going to leave a man or three on? No way, Jose! Canseco crushed it to dead centre off the NBC centerfield camera and it was 4-2, Oakland. Who would have thought that this was to be his only hit of the 1988 Fall Classic.

But he and McGwire were shut down the rest of the way. However, it wasn't as if A's starter, Dave Stewart wasn't doing much the same on the Dodgers' hitters. They, too, got little after their home run. But Mike Scioscia did drive home a single tally in the bottom of the frame to make it a one run game, 4-3. Stewart left after eight with a fine six-hitter.

Dennis Eckersley came in to mop up. I mean, the guy had done that in all four games of the ALCS and earned a save each time. This guy, you just went up there with a little bat and a prayer. Dennis, you see, didn't give you much to hit and didn't walk too many batters. In 72 2/3 regular season innings, he permitted just 52 hits (5 home runs) and 11 walks. It just seemed so futile.

Scioscia popped out to short to stop the bottom of the ninth for the Dodgers. The Jeff Hamilton watched helplessly as Eckersley put strike three past him on the outer edge.

Los Angeles was down to their last out, and sent up Mike Davis as a pinch hitter. Actually, this looked like a bad move. Davis was left-handed, but had hit just .196 that season. He just wasn't the guy to help in this situation, But amazingly enough, after taking a strike, The Eck, misses the next four pitches and Davis was on. The Dodgers were still alive. The next batter was another pinch hitter.

And it was Kirk Gibson.

Injured and not exactly expected to play, he'd had this knack for coming through all season, Hey, if it's going to go down to the wire, why not?

He fouled off an Eckersley offering. Then another, and it was 0-2. He fouled off a third pitch to stay alive, but when Eckersley missed with his next pitch, Davis stole second without a throw. It was 1-2 on Gibson, but Dennis needed just one more pitch to put him away, Eckersley then missed with the next two pitches and the count was full.

At this point, Dennis must have decided that Kirk was not going down on a fastball. So he decided to go with a different pitch, a slider. The only problem is, the break was early. The ball caught too much of the plate, and Kirk was there to greet it with his big stick.

Launching the ball over the wall in right, the clutch Dodger had turned a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 Dodger win with one flick of the lumber! An iconic blast, with an equally amazing play-by-play call on television and radio. Around the bases, Kirk must have felt like someone who walked on to a stage all his. But it was a moment he'd share with his Dodger mates and fans forever.

The Los Angeles Dodgers needed no such miracles in game two, as their ace right-hander, Orel Hershiser went into his mode that had seen him throw 67 straight scoreless innings, counting game one of the NLCS. Shutting down the A's on just three hits (and even getting three hits himself!) Bulldog did the trick. Los Angeles won game two, 6-0 and moved to Oakland to get it done!

Game three went down to the wire like game one. This one was a pitching duel that saw both teams scratch out single tallies through eight and a half innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Oakland had Canseco and McGwire due up. Canseco hadn't had a hit since game one, of course, and Mark was stuck on zero hits so far.

The Dodgers sent up Jay Howell. Jay had just come back from a suspension and was taking the hill for the first time and facing a slugger who'd gone yard in his first at-bat of this Fall Classic. But Jay dug down deep and kept Jose off guard, getting him to pop out. But in to the box stepped, Mark McGwire.

Jay missed on his first pitch, but then McGwire could only foul off the next two pitches. Extra innings loomed. But, like with Gibson, McGwire's presence overwhelmed the pitcher. Jay threw ball two, and couldn't seem to put McGwire away as he fouled off the next three pitches. When Howell tried again to put Mark away with the eighth pitch of the at bat, the Big Guy took him out of the park to left. The A's had won, 2-1.

Canseco and McGwire did not get another hit in the 1988 Fall Classic. Gibson did not get another plate appearance. But the three, with their only hits of the Series, provided some memories to make the 1988 Fall Classic, though short, one for the ages!


References


Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.

Brenner, Richard J. The World Series: The Great Contests. East End Publishing, 1989. Print.

Coyle, Harry, director. 1988 World Series. Major League Baseball Productions, 1988. DVD.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.

World Series: Did You Know?

Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire of the Oakland A's had only one hit each in the 1988 Fall Classic. But was each hit ever huge. The type you'd expect from the Bash Brothers. But baseball can be an interesting game, especially around October!

To get things going in game one in LA, the Athletics put some fear into the Dodgers in the top of the first. Following a single by Dave Henderson, Canseco was hit by a pitch. McGwire walked with two away and the bases were loaded. But Los Angeles starter Tim Belcher got out of that jam.

When Mickey Hatcher of the Dodgers stroked a surprising two-run dinger of Dave Stewart in the bottom of the frame, it looked like Los Angeles wouldn't have to worry about the Bash Brothers after all. 2-0 for LA!

But in the very next inning, Oakland got a leadoff single by Glen Hubbard. Walt Weiss fanned, but Dave Stewart (at the plate for the first time in a long time) walked. Carney Lansford also looked at ball four. With two down and bases loaded, Jose was the man of the hour.

Crushing a grand slam to deep center (that actually hit the top of the NBC camera) it was suddenly the A's with a two-run lead. Canseco was off to a great start!

Better still, Stewart settled down. Canseco hit into a fielder's choice in his next at-bat in the top of the fourth, but then stole second. He had done a lot of home runs and stolen bases in 1988. Forty-plus of each. McGwire walked again. But Tim Leary, in for Belcher, got Terry Steinbach swinging to end that. But Canseco and McGwire were looking real dangerous!

The Dodgers, meanwhile, finally got another run off Stewart in the bottom of the sixth, but it would prove to be the last run they got of the man with the menacing stare.

In their last at-bats of the game, Canseco fanned and McGwire foulded out in the top of the ninth. But Oakland was still leading, 4-3. And when Dennis Eckersley easily retired the first two men to start the bottom of the frame, it was really over!

But a walk to Mike Davis and a dramatic two-run home run by Kirk Gibson saved the Dodgers! Gibby came off the bench to pinch hit and delivered on a 3-2 pitch off The Eck.



The 5-4 win in the opening game was a tough one for Los Angeles to win, but how about having Orel Hershiser on the hill in game two? Things would be much easier!

Indeed! Bulldog went out and shut down the vaulted A's offence on a fine three-hitter. And Orel stroked three hits himself. He singled and scored the only run he would need in the bottom of the third. The Dodgers scored four more times for good measure.

Hershiser would expand on the heroics with a double and another run scored in the bottom of the fourth. How did he handle the Bash Brothers?

Pretty well. They managed not a hit. In fact, only Dave Henderson got any for Oakland. He did have a bit of a scare in the top of the 7th. There was a runner on first on an error. Canseco would prove to be the second out as Orel seemed safe. But a single by Parker brought McGwire to the plate. On a 1-0 pitch, McGwire gave it a bit of a ride But fortunately for the Dodgers, he got under it and was out on a fly to right. Los Angeles won it, 6-0.

In game three at home, Canseco and McGwire were having all kinds of problems with the Dodgers pitching. So were the rest of Oakland. Each team scored a run, and this one headed towards the last of the ninth inning.

Jose led off against Dodger reliever Jay Howell. First pitch swinging, it was no way Jose. Canseco was out on a popup to second. But McGwire equaled Gibson in the walk-off heroics when he stroked a dramatic home run to left. The long ball came on the eighth pitch of the at-bat. The A's not only won 2-1, but the Dodgers now only led the 1988 Fall Classic two games to one. Game five, in Oakland would be necessary, after all!

The Dodgers needed to put the A's on the brink in a crucial game four. With two runs in the top of the first, it was a good sign. But Oakland got one back in the bottom of the frame. Luis Polonia started it all off with a single. A passed ball to Dave Henderson got him to second. Henderson grounded out, but now Polonia was at third with only one out. You had to pitch to Canseco with the red-hot Parker on deck. Canseco grounded out, but Polonia scored and it was 2-1, Los Angeles after one.

McGwire fanned in the bottom of the second as Tim Belcher, back for another go-around, was pitching well. Los Angeles got the two-run lead back in the top of the third. Could the Bash Brothers get it back?

In the bottom of the fourth, it was Henderson with a single to lead if off. Canseco walked. But Belcher got Dave Parker to fan. Mark McGwire could only pop out. Carney Lansford grounded out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the sixth, it was Henderson with another leadoff single. Canseco and Parker were retired. But McGwire walked and Lansford singled to score Henderson and get the tying run into scoring position. Lansford ended the drama by grounding out. But it was a one-run lead again and Canseco and McGwire were gonna get at least one more crack here!

Dave Stewart, back again, got one out to start the seventh inning, but them another future Blue Jay, Alfredo Griffin walked. When Steve Sax singled to center, Stew was gone. There were runners on the corners with one out. Greg Cadaret, still another future Toronto Blue Jay came in. Tracy Woodson pinch hit and grounded out. But it scored an all-important insurance run for Los Angeles, who now led, 4-2.

But once again, back came Oakland. And it would not be a long time to wait.

With one out, Walt Weiss singled. Polonia grounded out, but Weiss made it to second. There were now two outs and Belcher seemed safe. That is, until Henderson came up with another hit. This time, it was a double that scored Weiss. 4-3. Guess who's next for the poised Athletics?

Canseco would not face Belcher. His night was over. The Los Angeles Dodger's troubles were not. Jay Howell was back. Jose Canseco walked for the second time in the game. Dave Parker sent a liner that Alfredo Griffin muffed at short. Bases loaded! Howell would now have to face McGwire. Another bad pitch to him, and it's 7-4, Oakland!

But Howell threw Mark an inside fastball, and McGwire popped it up. Howell and the Dodgers had dodged a bullet. However, there was still plenty of time left in this game. As in, two innings. This uprising meant Canseco and McGwire could bat again before the night was over!

Howell gave up a two-out single to catcher Ron Hassey in the bottom of the eighth, but got Walt Weiss out to end that. Cadaret and Dennis Eckersley stopped Los Angeles cold in the top of the eighth and ninth. Howell had to face the truth, again!

He started out on the right track by getting the dangerous Polonia out on a fly to left. But Henderson got his fourth hit of the game next. That brought Jose Canseco to the dish.

Howell got ahead in the count 0-1, and then threw Jose a bad pitch. It was a curveball that was too high. These were pitches that Canseco took you downtown on. But Canseco only got a piece of it for a foul ball. Howell was shaken and missed with the next three pitches! Full count. Slider for strike three!

But there was still Dave Parker Wouldn't it be something if Cobra (as he was called) went downtown for a World Series with three walk-offs in four games?

But it was not to be as Parker popped out to third. Los Angeles not only won the game 4-3, but they now had a 3-1 stranglehold on the 1988 World Series. And Orel Hershiser was all ready to go in game five!

Los Angeles got two in the top of the first. Canseco fanned for the third (straight) out in the bottom of the frame. Now that's a start, eh?

Hershiser then got all three batters again in the bottom of the second, including Mark McGwire. But in the next inning with runners on second and third and only one out, Stan Javier got Oakland's first run with a sac fly. Henderson's walk brought Jose back to the dish. Heshiser got him to hit into a force.

And when the Los Angeles Dodgers got two more runs in the top of the fourth (via Mike Davis' two-run home run on a 3-1 pitch), it was 4-1 for LA. Could Oakland do anything more?

It was Los Angeles doing more with another run in the top of the sixth to make it 5-1. Meanwhile, Hershiser did not permit a hit in the fourth, five, sixth and seventh inning. But Oakland made a push for more in the bottom of the eighth.

Tony Phillips walked, but Hershiser got Weiss out on a grounder. Phillips was on second, but he represented a meaningless run. Stan Javier, at the plate, was a little more important. But Hershiser did not get Stan out. Javier hit a single to score Phillips. 5-2, Los Angeles. When Dave Henderson walked on four pitches (Orel's fourth walk of the night), the tying run was at the plate. And it was Jose Canseco!

Orel pitched very carefully to Jose. The count went to 1-2 and Canseco fouled one off. But when Hershiser threw him an inside fastball, Jose popped it up to fiirst. There were two outs. But Bulldog's first pitch to Dave Parker was wild, and both runners advanced. Orel then got Dave on a 1-2 pitch! Three more outs and Los Angeles would have and improbable World Series win over Oakland.

The Dodgers went down in order in the top of the ninth, so Orel didn't have to wait long to go back out to finish the job. He started out in fine form by getting Mark McGwire to fly out. Ron Hassey then became Hershiser's eighth strikeout of the game. One more out to go! Carney Lansford singled to keep Oakland alive. But it would prove to be the last hit off Orel. On the second pitch to Tony Phillips, Lansford went to second when nobody covered the bag. On the very next pitch, Lansford went to third when nobody covered the bag. Orel had also fallen behind in the count, 3-0. But Orel was a battler, and got two called strikes. Then, with the full count, he fanned Phillips. Los Angeles won the game 5-2 and the 1988 Fall Classic, 4-1.

The A's two biggest hitters had left the yard only twice combined. Canseco hit .171 and McGwire .188. The Bash Brothers had been reduced to the Bruised Ego Brothers. If nothing else, the 1988 World Series proved good pitching overcomes good hitting. Even when you face a team with two of the most feared sluggers. You got pitching, right? Takes care of the job sometimes!

References

Brenner, Richard J. The World Series: The Great Contests. East End Publishing, 1989. Print.

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

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 17 Jun. 2014.

World Series: Did You Know?

Bob Welch pitched in the Fall Classic in three different decades. You are in some pretty good company when you do that. Babe Ruth, Yogi Berra and Willie Mays come to my mind when I think of that. Despite that, Welch failed to win a World Series game.

As a rookie in 1978 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Welch got into game two of that year's World Series against the New York Yankees. And it finished with a legendary pitcher-batter confrontation with Mr. October himself!

Welch came in trying to close out a 4-3 lead for the Dodgers but with only one out and runners on first and second. Thumond Munson was retired on a flyball to right. Neither runner advanced. But up came Reggie Jackson, who had a knack for getting things done in the clutch. This was quite an at-bat.


The win gave Los Angeles a two games to zero lead in the 1978 Fall Classic. But New York won game three at home. So the fourth act would be very important.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, with the score tied 3-3, the Yankees against had runners on second and third. Again, there was just one out. Welch got Lou Pinella and Greg Nettles out to end that.

In the bottom of the 9th, with the score still tied at three, Welch got Chris Chambliss on strikes. Pinch hitter Jim Spencer also went down via the strikeout. Bucky Dent, whose dramatic three-run home run against the Red Sox helped the Yankees get here, was the third out.

With one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Roy White drew a walk of Bob. When Munson was retired, things looked okay. But Reggie Jackson got his revenge with a single that sent White to second. Then Lou Pinella was the hero as stroked a single to centre to win the game for the Bronx Bombers.

New York took game five 12-2 and took the series lead as well. Welch would pitch game six.

In the top of the sixth inning, with the Yankees up 4-2 and a runner on second, Bob Welch came in in. There were two outs, but it was time for Bucky Dent to get some revenge of his own. His single to left scored a fifth New York run and the Yankees were starting to pull away. The next inning was Welch's last.

Roy White started things out with a walk. Munson fanned, but Jackson delivered again. Only this time, he really delivered. Launching a two-run home run, he effectively put this one out of reach. Welch got the next two batters out, but the game was now hopelessly lost by the Dodgers, 7-2. That would also be the final score as the Yankees won the 1978 World Series, 4 games to 2.

The same two teams would meet in the 1981 World Series. This time, it was the Yankees that won the first two games at home. In game three, Welch's Dodgers squeaked by, 5-4. Game four was again important.

And Welch was on the hill for it.

Bob started the game but got a warm greeting from the Yankees. Willie Randolph opened with a triple. Larry Milbourne's double scored him. Dave Winfield walked. Reggie Jackson singled to load 'em up. 16 pitches. Three hits. One walk. No one out.

Except Bob. His night was over. But Los Angeles came back to win the game 8-7. The 1981 World Series was tied. But with wins in games five and six, the Dodgers and Welch were winners! Interesting way to earn your first right, eh?

Seven years later, Welch was an Oakland Athletic. And the A's were around in October, against Welch's old team, Los Angeles. But going into game three of the 1988 World Series, the Athletics would need an effort from Bob. Having lost game one on Kirk Gibson's dramatic home run and then game two 6-0, they needed a turnaround at home. Welch helped them get the job done.

Steve Sax led off the game for the Dodgers with a single, but Welch bore down and struck out the next four batters. With two down in the second, the ever-so-resilant Dodgers got a hit and a walk, but Welch got out of their without a run scoring. By fanning Alfredo Griffin, Bob had five strikeouts in two innings. Who is he here? Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson?

Welch then settled down and finally got a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third. Along the way, he picked up his sixth K. The A's helped out Bob in the bottom of the frame by getting a single, a stolen base and another single by Ron Hassey to score a run.

Now with a 1-0 lead, Welch went back to the K's. He got two in the top of the fourth, but John Shelby singled, and stole second. When Mike Davis flied out with only one out, the Dodgers had a chance to tie it. That's when Welch K'd his second batter of the frame, Mike Scioscia to end the inning. Alas, Bob would not be so lucky the next inning. Tim Leary's pitching was keeping Los Angeles right in the thick of things, and the Dodgers weren't about to go away quietly here.

In the top of the 5th inning, Jeff Hamilton led off with a single of Bob. Griffin bunted him to second. Steve Sax grounded out, Hamilton staying on second. Welch seemed safe. But a clutch double by Franklin Stubbs tied things. That was all Los Angeles would get off Bob, but the next inning would finish him off for good in the 1988 World Series.

Danny Heep hit a leadoff double on Welch's first pitch of the 6th inning. John Shelby singled through the hole in short, but Heep had to make sure that it made it through. So he only made it to third, but Shelby made it to second. Little to no chance for the double play, now.

And when Mike Davis walked, it was bases loaded with nobody out. It was also the end of the road for Bobby. It looked like Los Angeles was going to get at least a run or two here.

But Greg Cadaret and Gene Nelson somehow combined to pitch Oakland out of the jam. For good measure, the once-inspired Dodgers were left bewildered at the bullpen of the Athletics the rest of the way. Los Angeles managed to hang on until the bottom of the ninth, but Mark McGwire's solo home run off Jay Howell ended the well-pitched affair. The 2-1 Athletic win proved to be the only game Oakland managed to pull out in the 1988 Fall Classic. It would also prove to be the only game Bob pitched in the Fall Classic that year.

The next year, Welch went 17-8 with an ERA of 3.00. And it helped Oakland win the west for another shot at postseason glory. Welch went 1-1 in the ALCS vs. Toronto. The loss in game three proved to be the only blemish on Welch's or Oakland's playoffs that year. They went on to sweep San Francisco in a very one-sided affair. But no one will remember that. What they remember is the quake before game three. The delay (of twelve days) enabled Dave Stewart to pitch again for Oakland. Stew had started game one. Welch never got to pitch in the 1989 World Series, which Oakland won in four straight.

The third straight World Series for Oakland was not the charm. The second one had been. Oakland was back in 1990 and Welch did get to pitch. But the surprising Cincinnatti Reds had some tricks up their sleeves.

Dave Steward took a rare postseason loss in game one. Welch, with a game two win in the ALCS vs. Boston, was hoping to do the same here and square it. For a while it looked like he had it!

Oakland scored once in the top of the first inning, but the Reds scored twice in the bottom of the frame. In the third, the big bats of the A's made their big move!

Jose Canseco blasted a home run to tie it. Shaken by that, Cincy starter Danny Jackson gave up a single to Mark McGwire and a walk to Dave Henderson. Another walk to Willie Randolph and the bases were loaded. There was only one out and Jackson needed a double play. Cincinatti didn't get it. Catcher Ron Hassey lined out to left, but McGwire tagged and scored. Oakland didn't stop there. Mike Gallego singled to score Henderson and the A's were up 4-2. Welch himself was the last out of the inning. But Jackson was out of the game himself.

Cincinatti would not be denied on this day however. Pinch hitter Ron Oester singled to center in the bottom of the fourth to score score catcher Joe Oliver. 4-3, Oakland. Welch though, seemed to settle down after that.

Bill Hatcher singled to start the bottom of the fifth for the Reds, but he was later picked off by Welch, who retired the other two batters of the inning. The sixth inning saw Bob Welch retire Cincy in order. It was more of the same in the seventh as Welch had a 1-2-3 inning.

But Hatcher led off the bottom of the 8th with a triple. Bob walked Paul O'Neill. Eric Davis was retired on a flyball to short right. Hatcher did not score and O'Neill did not make it to second. Welch, though, had faced his last batter. Cincinatti would score that inning to tie it. Three straight singles off Dennis Eckersley in the bottom of the tenth inning made the Reds winners, 5-4.

Cincinatti routed Mike Moore and the A's 8-3 in game three to put Oakland on the brink. They then edged Stewart 2-1 in game four to complete an stunning sweep. Bob Welch would never make it back to the World Series.

With Welch's passing five days ago, it brought with it some great memories of the Fall Classic. From Jackson going down on K's, to McGwire winning it with a walk-off, to Cincinatti's last World Series win. Welch was the common denominator for those. The World Series has had many players that happened to be there for more than one moment, and Welch got to be there for three! While he may not have won a World Series game, he ended his career with two Fall Classic wins with two different teams.

References

Brenner, Richard J. The World Series: The Great Contests. East End Publishing, 1989. Print.

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

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 14 Jun. 2014.

Kirk Gibson: Clutch long before 1988!

Sometimes, doing a deed once forever marks you for life.

It doesn't matter if you never do it again.

You hit a game-winning home run, sink a game-winning shot, score a game-winning goal, you are remembered forever.

That is, if it's a memorable game.

You're Mr. Clutch for life.

But there are some like Micheal Jordan in basketball, who make it a habit. And yes, I am well aware of this commercial:

But are any of you buying that MJ wasn't the guy you wanted with the game on the line?

25 years ago, Kirk Gibson swatted that memorable 2-run home run off Dennis Eckersley (who was the best relief pitcher in the game at the time) to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 Dodgers win.

Now, was that the only time he hit a home run to just say, put the Dodgers (or any team he played for) ahead?

No way!

Coming into the 1988 World Series, Gibson had 62 home runs that put his team ahead. Of these, 5 were walk-offs. And by the time his career came to an end in the 1995 season, Kirk had hit 92 go-ahead home runs, 27 game-tying home runs, and 7 walk-off home runs.

That, of course, is just the regular season!

But for those wondering, the only other home run Gibby hit off Eckersley was 6 years before their historic meeting.

The Red Sox, Eckersley's team that day, took this one easily. But in the top of the 8th inning, with the Red Sox up 9-3, Kirk Gibson led off.

And slammed Eck's pitch for a solo shot! A flyball out and a double by Larry Herndon finished off Eckersley.

A bit of a sidenote here: Eckersley was once a starter

And a pretty good one at that, winning 149 games there. This was one of those 149 wins, of course.

Gibson's Tigers are a story in themselves two seasons later.

See, the Tigers in 1984 (the season, not the novel) were one awesome team. And it seemed as though they thrived off Kirk! It was somehow better then the novel, if you asked me.

How's this for a stat: Tigers' record when leading after 8 innings (including postseason), 100-0!

But I've given you the false sense that it all came easy. It didn't.

Now, as it was, the Tigers were 104-58. Only two teams, Baltimore and Boston were above .500 against Detroit that season. Seattle went 6-6 against them, if it matters.

But how about 1-run games? The Tigers were 25-11. So 36 games were nail-biting close.

Gibson had 2 hits in the opener of the ALCS against Kansas. The Tigers ended up sweeping them. But this was a KC team that won it all the next year. And while game 1 was a rout, 8-1, the next two games were anything but.

In game 2, Gibson's home run in the top of the 3rd made it 3-0. But Kansas fought back to tie it before the Tigers pulled it off in the 11th.

In game 3, we almost had a double no-hitter. Each team managed just 3 hits. The Tigers managed to score the game's only run.

So it was on to the World Series, but that ALCS was anything but easy. The last two games could have gone to KC. And then you're down 2-1, in a best of 5 Series. Odds not looking good for Detroit.

Gibson, I should tell you, ended up getting the MVP of that short Series. Short, but tough!

The San Diego Padres would face the Tigers in the World Series of 1984.

San Die-Go. Not exactly a fitting name, for the Padres did anything but, "Go Die."

The Tigers might have told them to do that. But it was obvious from the first game that the Padres weren't about to listen.

The Tigers were behind 2-1, when a 2-run home run by Herndon made it 3-2 Tigers. They held on to win this one. But San Diego won game 2, despite Gibson's 2 hits, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.

In game 3, now in Detroit, the Padres out-hit the Tigers 10-7. But somehow lost 5-2! Gibby didn't get a hit, but walked twice and got another RBI.

In game 4, the Tigers won 4-2, but again they only got 7 hits. Gibby got one and stole a base. No RBIs or runs scored, though.

Something had to Gib in game 5.

Did it ever!

Gibson swatted a 2-run shot in the bottom of the 1st to put the Tigers up 2-0.

By the top of the 4th, the Tigers had watched their 3-0 lead become a 3-3 tie. Gibson was needed.

So in the bottom of the 5th, Gibson singled and scored (on short fly ball) to put the Tigers ahead again. A Lance Parrish later hit a home run of Goose Gossage to made it 5-3 Detroit. Game in the bag?

Not quite.

The stubborn Padres got a home run of their own in the top of the 8th, by Kurt Bevacqua. We need a laugh now! Remember what Tommy Lasorda had to say about Kurt? Oh, wait! I don't want to lose 99 percent of my readers!

Seriously though, if you have not seen it, make it a point to.

As long as you don't mind some colourful words!

Anyways, where was I?

Oh, the bottom of the 8th. Tigers holding on for dear life.

Yep, it's only 5-4, and there were runners on 2nd and 3rd and only one out. Gossage still on the mound.

Gossage was in the middle of a conference on the mound. He begged his manager, Dick Williams, to allow him to pitch to Gibson.

Yes, first base is open.

But we need to look at the head-to-head stats, don't we?

Gibson was 1-9, lifetime in the regular season vs. Gossage.

And 0-1, lifetime in the World Series vs. Gossage.

Yep, we got a case of a .100 hitter vs. pitcher!

So, the decision was made to pitch to Kirk. Would it work?

Well, not quite! Gibson would swat a 1-0 pitch to deep right. This sewed up The Detroit Tigers' World Championship!

Alan Trammell got the MVP of the World Series that year, but man, did Gibby ever help!

So, let's get to '88, right?

Quick stop in 1987, though. Tigers trail the Jays 3 1/2 with 7 games to play. Done deal right?

Top of the 9th, Jays looking for the 4 game sweep. Looking to go up 4 1/2 games with only 6 to play.

Up 1-0, too! That is, until Kirk Gibson saved the day!

3 outs away from victory, Gibson snatched it away from Toronto by belting a home run off Tom Henke (another great relief specialist, another 300 + saves).

Then in the 13th, it was Kirk's single that put the Tigers ahead for good!

A few days later, October 1st, the Tigers were facing the Baltimore Orioles. They were holding on to a slim 7-5 lead.

Here comes that man again!

Another dinger, another game blown wide open. The Tigers were down only 1 game to the Jays with 3 to play. 3 to play against the Jays.

And the Tigers won all 3 games. In fact the Jays ended the season on a 7-game losing streak. That Gibson home run off Henke made the difference. His single later started the Jays down the loss road!

So it is now on to 1988. And a new league and team for Gibson: Los Angeles Dodgers

Kirk Gibson was MVP that season.

Odd, isn't it? He didn't hit 30 home runs, he didn't drive in 100 runs. He didn't even bat .300.

But was he ever needed in the NLCS of that year.

The Mets were too good it seemed.

Poor Gibby had just 1 RBI in the first three games, and the Dodgers were down 2 games to 1.

The Mets were 3 outs away from being down 3-1, but a clutch home run by Mike Scioscia scored 2. It was on to extra innings!

The Dodgers seemed to lose steam here. They couldn't do a thing in the 10th or 11th. Then there were 2 outs in the top of the 12th.

That's when our boy came through, again!

Gibson hit a home run and the Dodgers survived a bases loaded jam. Series tied at 2!

In game 5, the Dodgers were up 3-0. But this was a Met team that was known to come back with run after run. More offence was needed. Gibson would provide it.

Gibson hit a 3-run shot in the top of the 5th. The Dodgers really did need it. The Mets came back and scored 4 times, but the Dodgers held on to win, 7-4.

The Dodgers lost game 6, however. It was down to a winner-take-all game 7.

In the bottom of the 1st, Gibson hit a sacrifice fly to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. That's all pitcher Orel Hershiser (who had a knack for throwing shutouts that year, believe me!) would need. But buoyed by Kirk, the Dodgers scored 5 more times in the second!

It was Hershiser who got the MVP, but I think Gibson really provided the spark. Games 4 and 5 would not have been won without him!

And then, of course, the World Series.

And Kirk Gibson's home run off Eckersley. At this point I have one question for everyone:

What did you expect?



References

Brenner, Richard J. "A Team Of Destiny." The World Series: The Great Contests. East End Publishing, 1989. Print. pp. 95-120.

Toronto Blue Jays Souvenir Program. Spring Training, 1988. 

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 15 Aug. 2013.

Retrosheet. Web. 15 Aug. 2013.  <www.retrosheet.org>.

Youtube. Web. 15 Aug. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com>.