Famous Finishes - Kirk Gibson's Home Run - 1988 World Series - Game 1

This version of Famous Finishes features Game 1 of the 1988 World Series between the Oakland A's and Los Angeles Dodgers, which is one of the most famous games in baseball history because of the heroics of Kirk Gibson:

1988 World Series (Game 1) - Los Angeles Dodgers 5 - Oakland A's 4 (Boxscore)

With two out and his team trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda had Dave Anderson -- who batted .249 with two homers during the season -- waiting in the on-deck circle to pinch-hit for pitcher Alejandro Pena. But at the last moment, Lasorda pulled Anderson in favor of Kirk Gibson. World Series history was about to be made.

Earlier in the day, few people outside of Los Angeles would tell you the Dodgers had much of a chance. Led by Bash Brothers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, the Oakland A's swaggered into the '88 World Series, owners of 104 regular season wins and a four-game ALCS sweep of the Red Sox. The Dodgers, on the other hand, were a bunch of overachievers, riding Orel Hershiser and his 59-inning scoreless streak all the way to a division title and an upset of the powerhouse Mets in the NLCS. Most were predicting a quick and painless victory for the A's.

And with Hershiser having made four appearances in the NLCS, including going the distance in Game 7, he was unavailable to start the Series for LA. Instead, Lasorda sent rookie Tim Belcher to the mound to face Oakland ace Dave Stewart, who was coming off his second straight 20-win season.

The Dodgers got two quick runs when Mickey Hatcher took Stewart deep in the bottom of the first. But the A's flexed their muscle in the top of the second as Canseco blasted a grand slam off a shaky Belcher.

Belcher was replaced in the third inning, but despite several opportunities the A's couldn't add any runs against the Dodgers bullpen. LA managed another run off in the seventh, but things looked bleak when Stewart turned the ball over to Dennis Eckersley in the ninth. In his second year as a closer, Eckersley had really taken to the role, posting 45 saves. But after recording two outs, Eckersley was uncharacteristically wild and issued a free pass to pinch-hitter Mike Davis.

That's when Lasorda sent Gibson to bat down by a run with one on and two out. Gibson, the National League's MVP that season, was on the bench with hamstring and knee problems. But the crowd at Dodger Stadium roared as Gibson limped to the plate. After working a 3-2 count, Gibson sent one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history into the right-field stands for a Game 1 victory.

Gibson's limp-off home run was the first time a team had been trailing in a World Series game and homered to win in the bottom of the ninth. It was also Gibson's only at-bat of the entire Series. But it was enough, as the Dodgers rode the moment all the way to a World Series championship. (MLB.com

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