1988 World Series

The 1988 World Series matched the Oakland Athletics against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Dodgers upsetting the heavily favored A's to win the Series in five games (the exact opposite result of their 1974 meeting, which also went five games). The most memorable moment of the 1988 World Series occurred when injured Dodgers MVP Kirk Gibson, who could barely walk due to injuries suffered during the National League Championship Series, hit a pinch-hit, walk-off home run against Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley in Game 1.

Although Gibson's walk-off has become an icon of baseball, Orel Hersheiser was the heart and soul of the team. Hersheiser dominated baseball at the end of the 1988 season, setting the all time scoreless inning streak at 59 innings, recording five straight shutouts, leading the league with 23 wins and 267 innings, and winning the Cy Young and Gold Glove awards. He was the MVP of the NLCS, starting three games, getting the save for Game 4, and shutting out the Mets in Game 7. In the World Series, he shut out the heavily favored A's in Game 2, and pitched a two-run, complete game in the decisive Game 5 victory.

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League West division by seven games over the Cincinnati Reds then upset the New York Mets, four games to three, in the 1988 NLCS. The Oakland Athletics won the American League West division by thirteen games over the Minnesota Twins then swept the Boston Red Sox, four games to none, in the American League Championship Series. This was the first World Series to have the series logo on the players' uniforms.

Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers' team batting did not finish in the top five in any offensive statistical category except batting average (fifth), at .248—no regular or backup hit over .300 or drove in over 90 runs. Kirk Gibson’s 25 home runs led the team but was only good enough for seventh in the National League. Slugger Pedro Guerrero had a sub-par year and was traded in July to the Cardinals for pitcher John Tudor. Kirk Gibson was the only position player named to the All-Star Game, but declined the invitation. However, the Dodgers were sixth in the NL in runs scored and backed that up with excellent pitching. Despite dealing All-Star pitcher Bob Welch to Oakland prior to spring training and an injury to Fernando Valenzuela (5–8, 4.24 ERA), the Dodgers were second in the NL in team ERA and runs allowed, and led the league in complete games and shutouts. The staff was anchored by Cy Young Award-winner Orel Hershiser, who led league in wins, won-loss percentage (23–8, .864), complete games (15), shutouts (8), and sacrifice hits (19).

Hershiser was backed-up by a pair of “Tims,” Tim Leary (17–11, 2.91) and rookie Tim Belcher (12–6, 2.91), and the July acquisition of John Tudor further strengthened the staff. The bullpen was outstanding, headed by Jay Howell (21 saves, 2.08), Alejandro Peña (12 saves, 1.91), and longtime New York Mets closer Jesse Orosco. The Dodger bullpen led the league in saves with 49.

It was intensity and fortitude, however, that defined the 1988 Dodgers, a trend that began when Kirk Gibson was signed as a free-agent over the winter from the Detroit Tigers, the team he helped lead to the 1984 World Championship. Moreover, the invincible Hershiser threw shutouts in his last six regular season starts en route to a record 59 consecutive scoreless innings pitched, breaking the mark held by former Dodger great Don Drysdale. Hershiser would dominate the Mets in the NLCS, while Gibson hobbled through on bad knees and a bruised hamstring but would produce a memorable, if not the greatest, at-bat (in Game 1) of the World Series.

Oakland Athletics
The powerful Oakland Athletics had all the confidence and swagger of a heavily-favored team. The “Bash Brothers” duo of Mark McGwire (32 home runs, 99 RBI, .260 batting average) and José Canseco (42 home runs, 124 RBI, .307 batting average) were in their early twenties, emerging as young superstars. Canseco became the first player to hit 40 or more home runs and steal 40 or more bases in Major League history and would capture the Most Valuable Player award in the American League. Veterans Dave Henderson (24 home runs, 94 RBI, .304 batting average) and longtime Pirate Dave Parker (12 home runs, 55 RBI, .257 batting average), also contributed with both their bats and their experience. The 1988 World Series marked Don Baylor's third consecutive World Series with three separate teams. Besides being a member of the 1988 Athletics, Baylor was also a member of the 1986 Boston Red Sox and 1987 Minnesota Twins.

The Oakland pitching staff was quite possibly the best in the American League in 1988. They led in ERA (3.44), wins (104), saves (64), and were second in strikeouts (983) and second in least amount of runs allowed and home runs allowed. The ace of the staff was Dave Stewart, an ex-Dodger (1978–83), who won 20 games for the second straight season. Another ex-Dodger was reliable Bob Welch (17–9, 3.64) followed by sixteen-game winner Storm Davis. After spending the previous twelve years as a starter, mostly for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, Dennis Eckersley would be converted into a closer in 1987 and would lead the American League in saves in 1988 with 45. He would eventually have a distinguished 24-year career, gaining election into the Hall of Fame in 2004. Another longtime starter (and another ex-Dodger), Rick Honeycutt, proved to be a capable set-up man to Eckersley, finishing with three wins and seven saves.

But anything can happen in a short series, as proven by these 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers, who out-hit (41–28, .246–.177), out-muscled (5 HRs–2 HRs), and out-pitched (2.03–3.92) the seemingly unbeatable Oakland Athletics incredibly winning the Series in five games, outscoring the A’s, 21–11, bringing Tommy Lasorda and the Dodgers their sixth World Series Championship.

Game 1
Saturday, October 15, 1988 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California

Because of using ace Orel Hershiser in Game 7 of the NLCS, the Dodgers had to open with rookie Tim Belcher in Game 1. Meanwhile, Oakland sent a well-rested Dave Stewart to the mound. Both pitchers, however, would have their troubles in this game starting out. Belcher loaded the bases in the first by giving up a single to Dave Henderson, then hitting José Canseco and walking Mark McGwire. Canseco was hit in the forearm as he checked his swing, but home plate umpire Doug Harvey signaled a strike, thinking the ball had hit Canseco's bat. Audio from the game seemed to confirm this, but replays showed the ball hit Canseco in the forearm. Mark McGwire would comment later, "Jose's arms are as hard as a bat, so I can see where Harvey was confused." Terry Steinbach flied out, however, to end the threat.

Stewart's problems began in the bottom of the first when he hit Steve Sax with his first pitch. After retiring Franklin Stubbs, Stewart balked Sax to second. Mickey Hatcher, who hit only one homer all season, then shocked the crowd by hitting a two-run shot off Stewart. Hatcher further excited the Dodger stadium fans by running full speed around the bases, prompting Vin Scully to comment, "He's a Saturday Evening Post character!" Commentator Joe Garagiola noted, "He ran in like they thought they were going to take it off the scoreboard! He really circled those bases in a hurry!"

Stewart would calm down, however, and the A's provided him a lead in their half of the second. With two outs, Glenn Hubbard singled. Belcher's control problems continued as he walked both Stewart and Carney Lansford to load the bases. With a two outs and a 1–0 count to Canseco, Canseco crushed the next pitch for a grand slam over the left-center field fence, denting an NBC game camera in the process. The A's had a 4–2 lead. Canseco's grand slam in Game 1 was his only hit of the series. His fellow Bash Brother Mark McGwire had only one hit as well, the game-winning shot that ended Game 3.

In the sixth, the Dodgers broke Stewart's groove with three singles, the latter one by Mike Scioscia that scored Mike Marshall. The A's lead was cut to 4–3.

While Kirk Gibson was taking practice swings in the Dodgers' clubhouse during Game 1, Orel Hershiser set up the hitting tee for his teammate. Along the way, NBC's Bob Costas could hear Gibson's agonized-sounding grunts after every hit.

A's closer, Dennis Eckersley, came on to pitch the ninth to close it out for Stewart. After retiring the first two batters, Eckersley faced former A's teammate Mike Davis. Despite a poor 1988 season with the Dodgers, Davis has hit over 20 home runs a year the past three seasons in Oakland. In addition, Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda sent light hitting Dave Anderson to the on deck circle as a ruse that he would be the next pinch hitter should Davis extend the inning. Thus, Eckersley pitcheed very carefully to Davis, falling behing 3–0 before walking him. Suddenly, the crowd began going crazy as Lasorda called Anderson back to the dugout, and sent up a hobbled Kirk Gibson to the plate to bat for reliever Alejandro Peña. Gibson bravely fouled off Eckersley's best offerings, demonstrating in the process just how badly he was hurting as his swings were hobbled by his injured legs. One swing in particular that dribbled up the first base line before rolling foul, forcing Gibson to hobble towards first, prompted Scully to observe, "And it had to be an effort to run THAT far." After fouling off several pitches, Gibson finally took a pitch for ball three as Davis stole second. Gibson later said he gained confidence after Davis stole second, because now he only needed to slap a single into the outfield to score David and tie the game. Gibson then stepped out of the batters box for a moment, and recalled a scouting report that said Eckersley liked to throw a backdoor slider to left handed hitters on 3–2 counts. Gibson stepped back in, and sure enough he hit a backdoor slider into the right field bleachers to win the game. The footage of Gibson hobbling around the bases on both hurt legs and pumping his fist as he rounds second will forever live on in highlight reels. Gibson would never bat again in the Series. Kirk Gibson's walk-off homer in Game 1 marked the first time that a World Series game ended with a come-from-behind home run, and it is considered the greatest moment in Los Angeles Dodgers' history.

By the time Kirk Gibson reached his locker after Game 1, bullpen coach Mark Cresse had written "R. HOBBS" on a piece of paper and taped it over Gibson's nameplate, which was in reference to Gibson's heroics mirroring those of the fictional slugger played by Robert Redford in The Natural.

Kirk Gibson would later say that prior to the Series, Dodgers scout Mel Didier had provided a report on Eckersley that claimed with a 3–2 count against a left-handed power hitter, one could be absolutely certain that Eckersley would throw a backdoor slider. Gibson said that when the count reached 3–2, he stepped out of the batter's box and, in his mind, could hear Didier's voice, with its distinctive Southern drawl, reiterating that same piece of advice. With that thought in mind, Gibson stepped back into the batter's box; and thus when Eckersley did in fact throw a backdoor slider, it was, thanks to Didier, exactly the pitch Gibson was looking for.

Game 2
Sunday, October 16, 1988 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California

With a rested Orel Hershiser on the mound, the Dodgers took a 2–0 Series lead. Hershiser got all the runs he needed in the third, with Mike Marshall providing the big blow with a three-run homer. Hershiser went the distance, allowing only three singles, all three hit by Dave Parker.

Hershiser also contributed offensively, with three hits, including an RBI double in the fourth inning. In the five-run third inning, he singled, went to third on an opposite-field single by Steve Sax and later scored. He was the first pitcher to get three hits in a World Series game since 1924.

Game 3
Tuesday, October 18, 1988 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California

The A's got back in the series on the strength of strong pitching by former Dodger World Series hero Bob Welch and three relievers. Dodger starter John Tudor left during the second innings with tightness in his pitching shoulder.

The A's struck first in the third when Glenn Hubbard singled, stole second, and came home on a single by Ron Hassey. The Dodgers tied it in the fifth when Franklin Stubbs drove home Jeff Hamilton with a double.

A's relievers helped squelch a Dodger threat in the sixth. Danny Heep led off with a double. John Shelby singled to left, but Heep was held up at third on the throw home as Shelby took second. Welch walked Mike Davis to load the bases, and left-hander Greg Cadaret was brought in to face lefty-hitting Mike Scioscia. Scioscia popped out to third. A's manager Tony LaRussa then brought in right-hander Gene Nelson to face Hamilton, who forced Heep out at home. Alfredo Griffin grounded out to end the threat.

The A's got their winning run in the bottom of the ninth when Mark McGwire deposited a one-out fastball from Jay Howell into the left-center field seats.

Jay Howell was suspended for two games (shortened from three) by then National League president Bart Giamatti, for using pine tar during the 1988 National League Championship Series against the New York Mets. Howell was, incidentally, also the losing pitcher in the prior year's All-Star Game in Oakland while a member of the Oakland Athletics.

Game 4
Wednesday, October 19, 1988 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California

Game 4 didn't feature very many big hits or any home runs, but it was won by the Dodgers in typical scratch-and-claw fashion that defined their 1988 season.

The Dodgers got two in the first when Steve Sax walked, went to third on a Mickey Hatcher single, and scored on a passed ball by A's catcher Terry Steinbach. Hatcher scored the second run on a groundout by John Shelby. The A's got one back in their half when Luis Polonia led off with a single, went to second on a passed ball, and later scored on a José Canseco groundout.

The Dodgers went up 3–1 when Franklin Stubbs doubled and scored on A's shortstop Walt Weiss's throwing error on a ball hit by Mike Davis. The A's answered in the sixth on an RBI single by Carney Lansford.

A key play came when the Dodgers got their final run in the seventh. With Alfredo Griffin on third and Steve Sax on first with one out, pinch-hitter Tracy Woodson hit what looked to be an inning ending double play grounder. But Lasorda called for a hit and run play so Sax was going on the pitch. Oakland tried for the double play, but Sax barely beat the throw to second. So when the throw to first beat Woodson, it was only the second out, allowing Griffin to score.

The A's half of the seventh also dramatic. With one out, Weiss singled and reached second when he was called safe on a double-play grounder hit by Polonia; he was running with the pitch. Dave Henderson cut the Dodger lead to 4–3 on a two-out RBI double. José Canseco walked and Dave Parker reached on a Griffin error to load the bases, but Game 3 hero Mark McGwire popped out, stranding three and ending the inning.

Game 5
Thursday, October 20, 1988 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California

Orel Hershiser capped one of the greatest seasons ever by a starting pitcher and one of the most improbable World Series wins in history by pitching a complete game, allowing only four hits, two runs, and striking out nine.

In addition to Hershiser's performance, the Dodgers won because Mickey Hatcher stepped in for the hobbled Kirk Gibson in left field and provided spark, enthusiasm, and unexpected offense. He blasted his second home run in the Series, a two-run shot, in the first; he had hit only one home run in the 1988 season.

Mike Davis, a disappointing free-agent signing for most of the 1988 season, added a two-run blast in the fourth, and former World Series MVP Rick Dempsey, filling in for an injured Mike Scioscia, added an RBI double in the sixth.

The Dodger pitching tamed Oakland monsters José Canseco (one hit, his grand slam in Game 1) and Mark McGwire (one hit and one RBI, which came in Game 3) for pretty much the entire series.

The Dodgers became the first (and so far only) team to have a perfect game pitched against them and win a World Series in the same season. Tom Browning of the Cincinnati Reds pitched the Perfect Game on September 16, 1988.

With the Lakers winning their fourth NBA championship in seven years four months before, the Dodgers winning the World Series made Los Angeles the first city to have both NBA and World Series champions in the same year.

Composite line score
1988 World Series (4–1): Los Angeles Dodgers (N.L.) over Oakland Athletics (A.L.)

Television and radio coverage
The 1988 World Series marked the last time that NBC would televise a World Series for seven years. Beginning in 1990, NBC would be shut out of Major League Baseball coverage completely, after CBS signed a four year, exclusive television contract. After splitting coverage of the 1995 World Series with ABC, NBC would next cover a World Series exclusively in 1997.

Longtime Dodgers' broadcaster Vin Scully called the 1988 World Series for a national television audience on NBC with Joe Garagiola. According to Scully (during an interview on ESPN Classic's SportsCentury profile on Dennis Eckersley), when he saw Kirk Gibson walk up to the plate, he seemed to be using his bat as a cane. When NBC returned from a commercial break at the start of the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 1, Scully commented (as NBC's cameras were panning the Dodgers' dugout) that Gibson (who wasn't in the dugout at the time) wouldn't play for sure. According to Gibson, Scully's comments in large part influenced his decision to want to bat.

Bob Costas, who along with Marv Albert, hosted NBC's World Series pregame coverage and handled postgame interviews made on-air statements that enraged many in the Dodgers' clubhouse (especially manager Tommy Lasorda). Costas said that the 1988 Dodgers possibly had the weakest hitting line-up in World Series history. After the Dodgers won Game 4, Lasorda (during a postgame interview with Marv Albert) sarcastically said that the MVP of the World Series should be Bob Costas.

On the radio side, Jack Buck and Bill White provided commentary for CBS Radio. It was White's last World Series as a broadcaster, as he left broadcasting to become President of the National League following the final game.

Aftermath
This was the last World Series that Peter Ueberroth presided over as commissioner. Ueberroth rose to prominence for organizing the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Following this confrontation, both teams appeared on Family Feud with Ray Combs for a special sweeps week billed as a World Series Rematch.

As of 2012, this is the last World Series appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 24 year pennant drought is their longest in franchise history.

Series quotes
"Gibson...swings, and a fly ball to deep right field! This is gonna be a home run! Unbelievable! A home run for Gibson! And the Dodgers have won the game, five to four; I don't believe...what I just saw! I don't believe what I just saw!"

- Jack Buck on CBS Radio with the call of Kirk Gibson's walk-off home run to end Game 1.

"High fly ball hit into right field! She is......gone! (long pause where only crowd noise can be heard) In a year that has seen the improbable, the impossible has happened!"

- Vin Scully on NBC calling the same home run.

"the pitch, high fly, right field, way back, home run!"

- Dodger radio announcer Don Drysdale

"'Nobody thought we would win the division. Nobody thought we would beat the mighty Mets. Nobody thought we would beat the team who won 104 games, but we believed it!"

- Tommy Lasorda in the Dodgers clubhouse to his team after Game 5.