With the World Series now just under two weeks away, let's start doing one World Series moment per day in a "Remember When" series, just as we did leading up to the All-Star Game.
With the first entry in our series, let's go with one of the most dramatic homers in World Series history.
Take a look:
I can still picture sitting there speechless with my eyes wide open as a 10 year old. Amazing.
To set the scene:
Kirk Gibson was a big-ticket signing for the Dodgers in the offseason following the 1987 season. He would go on to hit .290/.377/.483 with 28 doubles, 25 homers and 31 stolen bases -- taking home the NL MVP.
Heading into the World Series, Gibson was banged up with injuries to both legs. He also battled a stomach virus prior to Game 1. He didn't start and wasn't even seen in the dugout through most of the game.
Then, in the bottom of the ninth, trailing the Athletics by one with a runner on base, the pitcher's spot in the batting order came up. And Tommy Lasorda inserted Gibson as an unlikely pinch hitter against Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley, at the time the best closer in baseball.
And on a 3-2 count, Gibson took Eck yard with a walkoff homer. The Dodgers would go on to win the series in five games against the heavily favored A's, who had a 104-58 regular season record -- compared to the Dodgers' 94-67 mark -- and cruised through the ALCS with a four-game sweep of the Red Sox.
That home run would end up being Gibson's only plate appearance in the series.