Classic MLB 11: Video: ON Sports: MLB 1981-4/11-Houston Astros @ Los Angeles Dodgers: Full Game

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The Astros-Dodgers rivalry was pretty good in the 1980s when both clubs were in the NL West and were consistently in the NL West race. The Astros won the division from the Dodgers in 1980 and the Dodgers took the division from the Astros in 1981, 85 and 88. Both teams were consistent winners in the 1980s, because they both played a big pitcher friendly ballparks and both had very good defense and pitching. And at least in the Dodgers case were also very good offensively, with speed, power and guys who could hit for average. The Astros of this period were sort of a light-hitting team that would score enough to win, because they didn’t need a lot of runs to win when they pitched well.

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ABC Sports: MLB 1978- NLCS Game 4- Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers: Full Game

Source:ABC Sports– with the 1978 NLCS at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Al Michaels, Don Drysdale, and Johnny Bench with the call of the game.

Source:The New Democrat

“1978 NLCS Game 4 – Phillies vs Dodgers @mrodsports”

From Classic Phillies TV

This was a very good matchup for an NLCS between the Phillies and Dodgers because you had a more power-hitting offensive oriented team in the Phillies, going up against a pitching and defensive oriented team in the Dodgers that also had a very good lineup, with hitters like Steve Garvey, Reggie Smith, Ron Cey, Dusty Baker and others. And I think that was the difference in this series. The teams were fairly even, but the Dodgers had more pitching and I believe a more complete team than the Phillies.

On paper anyway, I think the Dodgers were better than the New York Yankees in 1978. I think they had more offensively and had just as must pitching. But the Yankees got better pitching and clutch hitting in the 1978 World Series and that was the difference.

You can’t really afford any off games in a World Series or a championship series. Which is what happened to the Phillies in the first two games of the NLCS losing both of them at home. And having to win three-straight at Dodger stadium to win the series.

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NBC Sports: MLB 1988- World Series Game 1 – Oakland Athletics @ Los Angeles Dodgers: Full Game

Source:NBC Sports– Kirk Gibson, at the plate to face Dennis Eckersley, in game 1 of the 1988 MLB World Series.

“Oakland Athletics 4 at Los Angeles Dodgers 5, F — The Dodgers, already serious underdogs against the A’s and Bash Brothers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, are given even less of a chance with injured star Kirk Gibson on the shelf. Canseco’s second-inning grand slam gives Oakland a 4-3 lead until the bottom of the ninth, when dominating closer Dennis Eckersley comes on to finish it up. But with the tying run on first, Gibson limps up to pinch hit and makes World Series history with a spine-tingling, game-winning two-run homer in his only at-bat of the Series.”

From MLB Vault

“LOS ANGELES — What baseball fan has not seen video of Kirk Gibson pumping his arm while limping around the bases after smashing one of the most memorable home runs in the sport?

It was the stuff of legend. Gibson was the National League’s most valuable player that season, but he was unable to start that night because of leg injuries. He came off the bench with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to pinch-hit, then blasted a game-ending, two-run home run off Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Dennis Eckersley, a future Hall of Famer.

It was Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, and the A’s never recovered. It was also the last World Series title the Los Angeles Dodgers won.

Thirty years later, the ball Gibson sent into the right-field pavilion at Dodger Stadium still has not been located.”

Source:New York Times– ” Vin Scully’s greatest calls: Kirk Gibson’s greatest home run.”

From The New York Times

“I don’t believe what I just saw!” Which of course was Jack Buck’s famous call of Kirk Gibson’s famous home run for the Dodgers in-game 1 of the 1988 World Series off of Dennis Eckersley of the Athletics. Referring to the fact that Gibson essentially had no leg strength in that at bad, because he had two bad legs. I believe two broken ankles, perhaps just one broken ankle, but the other leg was hurt as well. And Gibson hits that home run off the best closer in MLB who was a power pitcher and for a time in the late 1980s early 1990s almost un-hittable.

The Eck was the Mariano Rivera of his generation. The Gibson home run, Kirk’s only hit in this World Series, is just an example of how great a player and hitter he was. And had he only been able to stay healthy, we are talking about a five tool player headed to first ballot status in the MLB Hall of Fame.

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ABC Sports: MLB 1988- NLCS Game 4- Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Mets: Full Game

Source:ABC Sports– Los Angeles Dodgers LF Kirk Gibson.

“Los Angeles Dodgers 5 at New York Mets 4, F/12 — Backed by homers from Darryl Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds, Dwight Gooden and the Mets enjoyed a 4-2 lead in the 9th, and seem poised to take a 3-1 series lead. But Mike Scioscia, who had only three home runs all season, had other ideas, and his two-run homer forced extra frames. Then in the 12th, Kirk Gibson foreshadowed his forthcoming World Series dramatics with a solo, go-ahead dinger off Roger McDowell. But it wasn’t over yet. In the bottom half of the inning it looked as though Gibson’s heroics might go to waste, as the Mets put two men on against Tim Leary. So Manager Tommy Lasorda called on his “bulldog,” Orel Hershiser, to close it out. Despite having pitched into the ninth in Game 1, not to mention seven innings pitched in Game 3 the night before, Hershiser recorded the final out to tie the series at two games apiece.”

Source: MLB Vault

The Mets and their fans have to feel that 1988 was a year that got away from them. Because the Mets and Oakland Athletics were the two best all around teams in MLB that year and neither one of them won the World series.

1988 goes to show you that baseball is a game where if you get great pitching and play great defense, all you need to do is score enough runs to win. Which is one more run than your opponent for every game that you win. That you don’t need a great lineup and even a very good lineup to win and be successful and even win the MLB World Series.

The 1969 Mets proved that you don’t need a good, let alone very good, or great offense, to win the World Series. So did the 1985 Kansas City Royals proved that and the 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers proved that as well. Probably the three worst World Series champions at least since divisional play started in 1969.

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