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Williamsburg2599
10-15-2006, 07:09 AM
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Kirk Gibson hit a two-run, pinch-homer to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Oakland in Game 1 of the World Series. Gibson, who did not start because of a strained left knee, limped around the bases as the Dodgers won one of the most dramatic games in Series history.
http://i.timeinc.net/time/2003/worldseries/moments/images/main_6.jpg

The Famous Call:
"And, (relief pitcher Dennis Eckersley) walked (pinch-hitter Mike Davis)... and look who's comin' up!
(36 seconds of crowd cheering)
"All year long, they looked to him to light the fire, and all year long, he answered the demands, until he was physically unable to start tonight—with two bad legs: The bad left hamstring, and the swollen right knee. And, with two out, you talk about a roll of the dice...this is it. If he hits the ball on the ground, I would imagine he would be running 50 percent to first base. So, the Dodgers trying to catch lightning right now!
"Fouled away.
"He was, you know, complaining about the fact that, with the left knee bothering him, he can't push off. Well, now, he can't push off and he can't land...4-3 A's, two out, ninth inning, not a bad opening act!
"Mike Davis, by the way, has stolen 7 out of 10, if you're wondering about Lasorda throwing the dice again. 0-and-1.
"Fouled away again...0-and-2 to Gibson, the infield is back, with two out and Davis at first. Now Gibson, during the year, not necessarily in this spot, but he was a threat to bunt. No way tonight, no wheels.
"No balls, two strikes, two out.
"Little nubber... foul—and, it had to be an effort to run that far. Gibson was so banged up, he was not introduced; he did not come out onto the field before the game. ... It's one thing to favor one leg, but you can't favor two. 0-and-2 to Gibson.
"Ball one. And, a throw down to first, Davis just did get back. Good play by Ron Hassey using Gibson as a screen; he took a shot at the runner, and Mike Davis didn't see it for that split-second and that made it close.
"There goes Davis, and it's fouled away! So, Mike Davis, who had stolen 7 out of 10, and carrying the tying run, was on the move.
"Gibson, shaking his left leg, making it quiver, like a horse trying to get rid of a troublesome fly. 2-and-2! Tony LaRussa is one out away from win number one...two balls and two strikes, with two out.
"There he goes! Wa-a-ay outside, he's stolen it!...So, Mike Davis, the tying run, is at second base with two out. Now, the Dodgers don't need the muscle of Gibson, as much as a base hit, and on deck is the lead-off man, Steve Sax. 3-and-2. Sax waiting on deck, but the game right now is at the plate.
"High fly ball into right field, she i-i-i-is... gone!!
(67 seconds of cheering)
"In a year that has been so improbable... the impossible has happened!
"And, now, the only question was, could he make it around the base paths unassisted?!
"You know, I said it once before, a few days ago, that Kirk Gibson was not the Most Valuable Player; that the Most Valuable Player for the Dodgers was Tinkerbell. But, tonight, I think Tinkerbell backed off for Kirk Gibson. And, look at Eckersley—shocked to his toes!
"They are going wild at Dodger Stadium—no one wants to leave!"

Cubsfan97
10-16-2006, 12:26 PM
One of my favorite home runs of all time. I could watch this video over and over and over.

dmbfan
10-16-2006, 12:40 PM
That was also Gibson's only at bat of the series. Everytime I see this video now I have to laugh because of the Wheaties commerical where the softball player comes to bat with Vin Scully announcing Gibson's at bat.

hudsonharden
10-16-2006, 01:44 PM
Would have been pretty painful had the Athletics not won the following year. Got give the love to Gibby.

however, Eckersley got the WS ring and the HOF ring, so he's got that on Kirk.

PopTop
10-17-2006, 06:22 AM
That was a great one, a great game and one of those calls/moments in baseball you never forget. It was also the first of two World Series upsets against the juggernaut the A's had for a few years, with the Dodgers winning this one behind Hershiser's pitching and Gibson's homer, and then the very unlikey Reds sweep of the A's in '90.

trosmok
10-17-2006, 06:35 AM
Letting the crowd noise fill our ears instead of incessant yammering is likely what makes this one ever so memorable. It was like we were all there, either groaning or cheering, rather than listening to the radio, or watching the drama on the tube. Eck had always been one of my favorites, particularly with his unique delivery. While most pitchers try to hide the ball in their glove and their hand until the last moment, he held the ball out there as if to taunt the batter by saying "here it is, take a good look, 'cause the next time you see it will be in the catcher's glove." Not that night, though.:cool:

sandlot
10-17-2006, 10:23 AM
Letting the crowd noise fill our ears instead of incessant yammering is likely what makes this one ever so memorable. It was like we were all there, either groaning or cheering, rather than listening to the radio, or watching the drama on the tube.Beautifully put, trosmok. The best ones just call the game, without believing that they are the game.

runningshoes
10-17-2006, 10:39 AM
http://www.ajclay.com/PTC/pictures/783.jpg

Elvis
10-17-2006, 10:47 AM
Would have been pretty painful had the Athletics not won the following year. Got give the love to Gibby.

however, Eckersley got the WS ring and the HOF ring, so he's got that on Kirk.

Well after this season, Gibby may have 3 WS rings, so I'd say they'd be pretty even. ;) I'm glad Eckersley took it so well. So many pitchers would've been destroyed by that, but Eck took it in stride. I love his interviews in the Beyond the Glory show.