PADRES 101

 

More dramatic World Series home runs have been hit, but this one ranks as one of the most memorable because of its unlikeliness. 

The Oakland A's led the Los Angeles Dodgers by one run in game one of the '88 Fall Classic going into the bottom of the ninth inning. With ever-reliable closer Dennis Eckersley and his 45 saves on the mound to close it out, it looked like a done deal for the A's, especially when Eckersley retired the first two batters. But after walking a man to bring the winning run to the plate, the Dodgers pulled an ace out of the hole, sending their hobbled slugger, Kirk Gibson, to the plate.

Gibson's leg was in such bad shape that he had not even participated in pregame introductions on the field. The Dodgers had purposely not sent him to the on-deck circle because they didn't want the A's to know that he was available to hit. Check out Gibson's swing–he didn't even move his legs, he basically "armed it" over the fence.

Tags: Baseball, Dennis Eckersley, Kirk Gibson, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Oakland A's, San Diego, San Diego Padres, World Series

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