Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, played on October 15 at Dodger Stadium, was a contest filled with dramatic turns and unexpected heroes, culminating in one of baseball's most iconic moments. The Los Angeles Dodgers, facing the formidable Oakland Athletics, entered the game at a disadvantage, with star player Kirk Gibson sidelined by injuries and their ace pitcher, Orel Hershiser, unavailable for a full series workload after a grueling NLCS. This set
the stage for a game that would test the Dodgers' resilience and ultimately etch itself into baseball lore.
Early Struggles and a Grand Slam
The Dodgers started rookie Tim Belcher on the mound, while the well-rested Athletics countered with Dave Stewart. Both pitchers, however, encountered early difficulties. Belcher loaded the bases in the first inning, giving up a single to Dave Henderson, hitting José Canseco, and walking Mark McGwire. A dispute arose when Canseco was hit in the biceps, with Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda believing the ball hit Canseco's bat, though replays confirmed the hit. Stewart's problems began in the bottom of the first when he intentionally hit Steve Sax with his first pitch. After retiring Franklin Stubbs, Stewart balked Sax to second. Mickey Hatcher, filling in for Gibson and having hit only one home run all season, then shocked the crowd with a two-run shot off Stewart, giving the Dodgers an early lead. Hatcher's enthusiastic sprint around the bases was noted by commentator Joe Garagiola, who quipped, "He ran in like they thought they were going to take it off the scoreboard!"
Stewart settled down, and the Athletics quickly responded in the second inning. After a leadoff single and two walks, Belcher's control issues continued, loading the bases. Dave Henderson struck out, but José Canseco then crushed a 1-0 pitch for a grand slam to almost dead center field, even denting an NBC game camera. This powerful hit gave the Athletics a 4-2 lead. Canseco's grand slam would be his only hit of the series, and remarkably, Game 1 remains the only World Series game in history where a grand slam-hitting team failed to win both the game and the series.
The Dodgers' Comeback and Gibson's Preparation
The Dodgers began to chip away at the lead in the sixth inning. With one out, they broke Stewart's rhythm with three consecutive singles from Mike Marshall, John Shelby, and Mike Scioscia, allowing Marshall to score. Stewart managed to retire the next two batters, stranding Shelby in scoring position, but the Dodgers had cut the Athletics' lead to 4-3. Unbeknownst to most, Kirk Gibson was watching the game from the clubhouse, undergoing physical therapy. His decision to prepare for a potential pinch-hit appearance, spurred by Vin Scully's comment about his absence, proved crucial. He took warm-up swings, his painful grunts audible, signaling his readiness despite his severe injuries.
As the game moved into the bottom of the ninth, the Athletics brought in their formidable closer, Dennis Eckersley, to secure the win. Eckersley retired the first two batters, Mike Scioscia and Jeff Hamilton. However, Mike Davis, pinch-hitting for Alfredo Griffin, walked on five pitches. This brought up the pivotal moment. Manager Tommy Lasorda, instead of sending in Dave Anderson, made the dramatic decision to call upon the hobbled Kirk Gibson to pinch-hit. The crowd erupted in cheers as Gibson, visibly in pain, made his way to the plate. He fouled off several pitches, demonstrating his struggle, and during his at-bat, Davis stole second base on ball three. On the eighth pitch of the at-bat, a backdoor slider that Gibson had been anticipating based on a scout's report, he connected. The ball sailed over the right-field fence, a two-out, two-run walk-off home run that gave the Dodgers a stunning 5-4 victory. Gibson's slow, triumphant limp around the bases, pumping his fist, became an indelible image of the 1988 World Series, setting the tone for the Dodgers' eventual 4-1 series win.
