![]() ![]() ![]() Podres retired the Yankees with ease over the final three innings, while Gil Hodges supplied the Dodgers’ offense with a run-scoring single and sacrifice fly. But Amoros caught up, reaching out with full arm extension toward the seats to make the catch he then put on the brakes, turned and fired back to first, doubling up a disbelieving McDougald-who had run past second on the fly, convinced the ball would drop uncaught. Berra next drilled a line drive down the left field line, and speedy but seldom-used Sandy Amoros-positioned toward left-center to help cover the Stadium’s expansive power alleys-made what many believed would be a futile dash to catch the ball. ![]() But things really got hairy for Podres in the sixth he walked Billy Martin to start the frame and then allowed a bunt hit to Gil McDougald. The Yankees’ Tommy Byrne was cooling off the Dodgers’ formidable offense, while Brooklyn’s Johnny Podres-who had won just two games over the regular season’s final three months-was keeping the Yankees off the scoreboard, but just barely in three of the first five innings, the Yankees were retired leaving runners in scoring position. Both teams were battered the Dodgers were without Jackie Robinson while the Yankees could not field Mickey Mantle, out with a torn leg muscle.īoth starting pitchers were on. In 1955, the Dodgers came across the Yankees yet again at the Fall Classic and dreadfully felt that sense of “ déjà vu all over again,” as rival Yankee catcher Yogi Berra famously once quipped.Īfter losing the first two games and rebounding to win the next three at Ebbets Field, the Dodgers lost Game Six to set up a decisive seventh game in enemy territory at Yankee Stadium. Seven World Series appearances-including five against the New York Yankees between 1941-53-and no championships. The Brooklyn Dodgers had become baseball’s bridesmaids. ![]() It was, arguably, the greatest home run ever hit Dodger Stadium exploded into pandemonium as Gibson struggled just to circle the bases on his knees with his only at-bat in the series-sending the A’s into shock from which they would not recover, as the mentally energized Dodgers went on to stun Oakland in five games. Somehow, someway, Gibson connected-and pulled the ball deep into the right-field bleachers. Eckersley then dared Gibson to reach painfully down to go after a dipping breaking ball. But he persevered, drawing the count full and fouling off four pitches to stay alive. Gibson initially looked to be no match against the slick, smooth Eckersley, hobbling about home plate like a newborn dear on wobbly knees with every swing he attempted. He took a few swings in the batting cage, grunting in pain, and somehow convinced his coaches that he was ready if needed. Throughout the game, the battered Dodger had been worked on in the clubhouse, receiving ice, rubdowns, cortisone shots-anything to possibly get him ready. That’s when Anderson got pulled-and up came Gibson. Dennis Eckersley, who had about as perfect a regular season as a closer could have, retired the first two batters in the ninth with ease-then walked Mike Davis, which to him was no big deal since light-hitting Dave Anderson was on deck. Oakland ace Dave Stewart pitched eight solid innings. Bash Brother Jose Canseco (40 homers, 40 steals in 1988) smashed a grand slam. Worse, untouchable ace Orel Hershiser couldn’t get a Game One starting assignment because he just pitched a shutout to end the NLCS two days earlier, and star hitter Kirk Gibson was essentially ruled out for the entire series because he could barely stand on his knees-one sprained, the other with a recently re-aggravated torn hamstring.įor eight and two-thirds innings in Game One, the A’s showed off all their strengths and appeared ready to clinch a made-to-order victory. The Dodgers entered the 1988 World Series as a true David against the Goliath that were the power-laden, powerhouse Oakland A’s. ![]()
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