Here we have the last ten minutes of Game 1 of the 1988 World Series — Dodgers against the Oakland Athletics. It's the bottom of the ninth. Two outs. The Athletics have a one-run lead, 4-3.
Dennis Eckersley is pitching…one out away from victory. Dodger Mike Davis is at the plate as this clip starts and as you'll see, he gets a walk. But that's no big deal to Eckersley and there may even have been something slightly intentional about it…because in the on-deck circle, obviously there to pinch-hit for the pitcher, he sees Dave Anderson…not a powerhouse hitter. After Davis walks though, it isn't Anderson who comes to the plate.
Kirk Gibson, who was a powerhouse hitter, wasn't going to play that night. He'd been in the clubhouse undergoing physical therapy for some recent leg injuries as he watched the game on TV. When he heard sportscaster Vin Scully note his absence from the dugout, he called that dugout and told manager Tommy Lasorda that he was ready to play if needed. Lasorda had him suit up and take some batting practice. And then after Davis took first, Eckersley and the crowd were stunned to see Gibson limping (literally) up to bat.
Let's go to the videotape and our man Vin Scully in the booth with, I think, Joe Garagiola…
