the game, 6–5. And when New York took the seventh and final game the following day, Boston's hopes of “reversing
the Curse” were dashed once again. And Buckner was forever after the most hated player in Red Sox history.
On the flip side of that coin, of course, are the players who, in a single moment, become heroes. In 1988, it was Kirk Gibson
of the L.A. Dodgers who earned such a place in baseball history.
Even before Gibson made his mark in the 1988World Series against the Oakland Athletics, he was already beloved by his fans. One week earlier, Gibson had homered in the
twelfth inning of game four of the National League Championship series, breaking the tie to win the game for the Dodgers.
The next game, he homered again, this time with two men on base. Those three runs made the difference in the game. The Dodgers
went on to win the NLCS, four games to three.
Unfortunately, the pennant race took its toll on Gibson. He suffered injuries to his right knee and a hamstring pull in his
left leg. The pain was so great that the star player could barely stand, let alone swing a bat or run the bases.
When the World Series began on October 15, Gibson was in the team training room, nursing his injuries. He cheered as his teammate,
Mickey Hatcher, slugged a two-run homer in the first inning — and then groaned as the lead slipped away on a grand-slam home
run by Jose Canseco the very next inning.
The Dodgers managed to shave that two-run advantage to one in the sixth, but going into the bottom of the ninth, they were
still behind by one. Closer Dennis Eckersley came in to pitch for theAthletics and promptly retired the first two batters. Oakland was one out away from winning game one.
Then pinch hitter Mike Davis got on base with a walk. With the tying run on first, the Dodgers desperately needed a hit. But
they weren't likely to get it from the next scheduled batter, relief pitcher Alejandro Pena. They needed a pinch hitter, someone
who could deliver a powerful blast in a clutch. Dave Anderson was available, but manager Tommy Lasorda wasn't sure Anderson
was the player for the job.
He wanted Kirk Gibson. And he got him.
The crowd roared and stamped their feet as the burly outfielder, obviously in agony, hobbled to the plate. “You talk about
a roll of the dice,” said TV announcer Vin Scully. “This is it.”
Eckersley worked Gibson to a full count. Then, as Gibson readied himself for the next pitch, something a scout named Mel Didier
had told him jumped into his head. Eckersley, Didier had said, had a favorite pitch he liked to throw when he got a lefty
in a full count.
“I looked at Eckersley,” Gibson later recalled, “and I said, ‘Partner, as sure as I'm standing here breathing, you're going
to throw me that three-and-two backdoor slider.’”
Gibson called time and stepped out of the box. He took a moment to imagine the slider. Then he stepped back in and waited.
Eckersley went into his windup and threw. Sure enough, it was a slider!
Gibson swung.
Pow!
“A fly ball to deep right field!” yelled radio announcer Jack Buck. “This is gonna be a home run! Unbelievable! A home run
for Gibson! And the Dodgers have won the game, 5–4! I don't believe what I just saw! I don't believe what I just saw!”
Vin Scully was just as excited. “High fly ball hit into right field … she is … GONE!” the usually soft-spoken announcer bellowed.
“The impossible has happened!”
Gibson limped around the bases, grinning from ear to ear and pumping his fists. That blast was the only at bat he had all
Series, but it remains to this day one of the most memorable home runs of all baseball history. Perhaps buoyed by Gibson's
achievement, the Dodgers went on to win the championship, upsetting the A's four games to one.
CHAPTE NINE
1990s
1991: The Worst-to-First Classic
The 1991 postseason saw two unlikely teams battling for the championship. The Minnesota Twins had had
the Curse” were dashed once again. And Buckner was forever after the most hated player in Red Sox history.
On the flip side of that coin, of course, are the players who, in a single moment, become heroes. In 1988, it was Kirk Gibson
of the L.A. Dodgers who earned such a place in baseball history.
Even before Gibson made his mark in the 1988World Series against the Oakland Athletics, he was already beloved by his fans. One week earlier, Gibson had homered in the
twelfth inning of game four of the National League Championship series, breaking the tie to win the game for the Dodgers.
The next game, he homered again, this time with two men on base. Those three runs made the difference in the game. The Dodgers
went on to win the NLCS, four games to three.
Unfortunately, the pennant race took its toll on Gibson. He suffered injuries to his right knee and a hamstring pull in his
left leg. The pain was so great that the star player could barely stand, let alone swing a bat or run the bases.
When the World Series began on October 15, Gibson was in the team training room, nursing his injuries. He cheered as his teammate,
Mickey Hatcher, slugged a two-run homer in the first inning — and then groaned as the lead slipped away on a grand-slam home
run by Jose Canseco the very next inning.
The Dodgers managed to shave that two-run advantage to one in the sixth, but going into the bottom of the ninth, they were
still behind by one. Closer Dennis Eckersley came in to pitch for theAthletics and promptly retired the first two batters. Oakland was one out away from winning game one.
Then pinch hitter Mike Davis got on base with a walk. With the tying run on first, the Dodgers desperately needed a hit. But
they weren't likely to get it from the next scheduled batter, relief pitcher Alejandro Pena. They needed a pinch hitter, someone
who could deliver a powerful blast in a clutch. Dave Anderson was available, but manager Tommy Lasorda wasn't sure Anderson
was the player for the job.
He wanted Kirk Gibson. And he got him.
The crowd roared and stamped their feet as the burly outfielder, obviously in agony, hobbled to the plate. “You talk about
a roll of the dice,” said TV announcer Vin Scully. “This is it.”
Eckersley worked Gibson to a full count. Then, as Gibson readied himself for the next pitch, something a scout named Mel Didier
had told him jumped into his head. Eckersley, Didier had said, had a favorite pitch he liked to throw when he got a lefty
in a full count.
“I looked at Eckersley,” Gibson later recalled, “and I said, ‘Partner, as sure as I'm standing here breathing, you're going
to throw me that three-and-two backdoor slider.’”
Gibson called time and stepped out of the box. He took a moment to imagine the slider. Then he stepped back in and waited.
Eckersley went into his windup and threw. Sure enough, it was a slider!
Gibson swung.
Pow!
“A fly ball to deep right field!” yelled radio announcer Jack Buck. “This is gonna be a home run! Unbelievable! A home run
for Gibson! And the Dodgers have won the game, 5–4! I don't believe what I just saw! I don't believe what I just saw!”
Vin Scully was just as excited. “High fly ball hit into right field … she is … GONE!” the usually soft-spoken announcer bellowed.
“The impossible has happened!”
Gibson limped around the bases, grinning from ear to ear and pumping his fists. That blast was the only at bat he had all
Series, but it remains to this day one of the most memorable home runs of all baseball history. Perhaps buoyed by Gibson's
achievement, the Dodgers went on to win the championship, upsetting the A's four games to one.
CHAPTE NINE
1990s
1991: The Worst-to-First Classic
The 1991 postseason saw two unlikely teams battling for the championship. The Minnesota Twins had had
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