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. 

--------------. The World Series: Complete Play-By-Play of Every Game, 1903-1989, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1990.

Nemec, et al. The Baseball Chronicle: Year-By-Year History of Major League Baseball. Publications International, Ltd., 2008.

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

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. https://www.baseball-reference.com/. 12 Feb. 2023.

Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/. 12 Feb. 2023.

YouTube, Google, www.youtube.com/. 12 Feb. 2023.

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.

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>.

My Favourite Homeruns In The World Series, From Game 1

My father always reminded me as a child, that the least important game in 7 game series (any sports) or even 5 game series, is the first game.

That got me thinking, World Series, it's had it's share of home runs that were hit in the first tilt. Here are my top 5 home runs from game 1 of any World Series.

5) Casey Stengel, 1923 World Series

Too many of you out there think Stengel was merely a clown as a player. Actually, he hit .284 lifetime. In the postseason he was even better, batting .393 lifetime in twelve postseason contest. His best World Series was the 1923 World Series, his last. Batting .417, he popped 2 home runs and 4 RBIs in the 6 game set.

Facing Bullet Joe Bush at Yankee Stadium in the ninth inning, Casey smashed a ball to left, and kept on running, running, for an inside the park dinger!  This broke a 4-4 deadlock and Stengel's Giants would win, 5-4. Stengel also won game 3 of the Series with a home run off Sad Sam Jones.

All for not, as the Giants lost to their cross town rivals, 4 games to 2.

4) Jose Santiago, 1967 World Series

To the best of my knowledge, this is the only time a pitcher has hit a homerun in the World Series, and lost the game. The reason is, it was hit off Bob Gibson, who gave the Red Sox nothing else on a fine 6-hit, 1 walk, 10 K, complete game 2-1 win.

Santiago (with help from John Wyatt) wasn't too bad himself in this game, giving up 10 hits, but just 2 (earned) runs (both of which were scored by Lou Brock on Roger Maris groundouts). He fanned 5 himself, but 3 walks contributed to him being removed in the bottom of the 7th for a pinch hitter.

Santiago's homerun tied the game @ 1 in the bottom of the third as he went deep over the Green Monster.

But the Cards won the game as the Sox came unglued in the top of the 7th. Brock singled and Boston could not hold him. A steal and two groundouts scored him and St Louis had the lead for good.

3) Jimmy Sebring 1903 World Series

Gotta start somewhere!

How about the first World Series game ever?

How about against Cy Young, no less.

How about from someone who hit only six other homeruns in his entire career?

Jimmy Sebring's major league career and life were too short. Yet , in the 7th inning, October 1, 1903, he smoked a Cy Young pitch to the centerfield ropes, then raced around the bases at the Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds for the first ever World Series homerun. The Pirates beat the Sox on that day, 7-3 as Sebring had three hits and 4 RBIs.

2) Dusty Rhodes, 1954 World Series

I admit, this maybe should be higher on the list, as it was a dramtic 3-run shot in the bottom of the 10th against Cleveland's Bob Lemon.

But there is a slight problem with this one.

It wasn't the dramatic play of the afternoon.

On a day where the Giants made 3 errors, including two by right fielder Don Mueller.

But there was the matter of the man to his left, Mays.

The Catch!

Right there in the top of the eighth at the old Polo Grounds.

Little known fact, Larry Doby, who was on second base, tagged and made it to third.

It didn't matter, Mays had stopped the Indians uprising, making Rhodes' heroics possible.

1) Kirk Gibson, 1988 World Series

It was Gibby vs. Eck. And it was a classic that saw the Dodgers' star forever etch his name in baseball lore.


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.

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. 26 March 2012.