Kirk Gibson- Interview

[bobbyeph]

The greatest moment in baseball history-----period

[LIZYKCHO]

By far, my favorite sports moment.

[FanOfPopCulture]

God, how did we lose to this team in 88?

[bobbyeph]

@FanOfPopCulture the Big Dodger in the Sky was looking out for us . :)

[jesseviv]

damn gibson forgot mickey hatcher hit a two run homer and the dodgers lead 2-0 in the first lol

[rasmithrm9]

My favorite moment in my baseball world. I'll never, ever forget it. Thanks, Kirk. :)

[paddie3535]

i hand carved the bat he used

[ACEDIAMOND666]

GAME 1 OF THE 1988 WORLD SERIES, I WAS THERE!

[SKYVOLTAGE]

I attended the last game at Tiger Stadium Detroit before the strike. The strike was inevitable and everyone knew it was going to happen. During the game there was a 2 hour rain delay. During that long delay, there were only 2 players working out, running sprints, hitting in the center field cage, working on their game and then meeting a couple hundred kids along the 3rd base line to sign autographs...Alan Trammell and Kirk Gibson.

[hoghash78]

My Dad hated Kirk Gibson, after this game. The arm pump...I guess it fucks me up too.

Kirk Gibson had no fucking right to do that!!!

Eat shit, limpy good hitting fucker.

[SeattleLA]

Still electric after all these years, and still talked about. I almost got to go the game that day, wished I could have. When all factors are considered, such as how favored the A's were; Gibson's massive injuries, the mighty Eckersley, etc., it remains THE key component in the series. If the A's had won game one, even with Hershisher's pitching, I do not think the Dodgers would have won the series. The momentum would have been much less.

[bunza800]

U can't even hear it how weird

[DisbandedLetter]

@bunza800 You spelled "U" instead of "You" yet you find it apropriate to capitalize it even though it makes no sense.

[bunza800]

@DisbandedLetter dont juge other people ...

[DisbandedLetter]

@bunza800 Wow okay

[icbm7]

always wondered, Mike Davis, who was on second, did he steal the sign and pass it into Gibson? (heresy, i know ...)

[DetroitLove4U]

The state of Michigan made LA Sports in the Eighties for the most part!!! Kirk Gibson and Magic Johnson!!

[Captb55806]

@DetroitLove4U Steve Howe 1980 Rookie of The Year Michigan Native.

[socalsocal88]

@DetroitLove4 Dodgers won 4-1 and that was Gibby's only hit in the series. So it was a team effort but definitely a memorable home run.

[bdrasin]

I'll never forget that HR, nor I think would anyone else who saw it

[gofsudogs2006]

Fake you really have no clue. Gibsons was off Eckersley best closer alive. The same cannot be said for Podsednik's.

[Fake12345678912]

I can understand his '88 HR was one for the record books, but I don't understand why it is made such a big deal of. I mean Scott Podsednik's HR was more impressive than Gibson's. No disrespect to Kirk. But Kirk hit 25 regular season HRs in 1988, while in 2005 Podsednik hit ZERO HR in 507 AB in 2005. The fact that Podsednik hit a walk-off in game one of a world series after hitting ZERO HR the entire season leading up to the world series seems A LOT more impressive than Gibson's HR. thats all.BYE

[rongee]

@Fake12345678912 If you saw Gibson limping up to the plate, you'd realize what an incredible feat that home run was. Just digging in and swinging at the ball was painful. And, if he had hit anything other than a home run (except for maybe a ground rule double), he would have been easily thrown out. It was an incredible moment of sheer will power.

[tomata182]

He is DETROIT!!!!!

[acegambit54]

find his home run ball i bet that ball goes for more than a million

[Schiz94]

Actually Kirk ,the Dodgers had an early 2-0 lead thanks to a 2-run homer by Mickey Hatcher. Canseco's grand slam made it 4-2.

[landrykkb]

It was that homerun that gave the LA Dodgers all the momentum for the remainder of the series.

[hypersphere]

Greatest moment in baseball. I don't see how it could be topped. Gibson had two mangled legs and his swing looked awful. A's were heavily favored and Eckersley was the most feared pitcher in baseball. (He had just dominated the Red Sox in the ALCS) When Gibson hit it out, for a second it truly made you question whether it had really happened. It seemed that impossible.

[SeattleLA]

@hypersphere excellent points

[TheDodgersAreTrash]

This man is an untalented prick who's pinch-hit home run relied entirely on scouting reports on Dennis - and luck. That moment should absolutely not go down in MLB history as there is absolutely nothing to admire about it.

[hubciti]

@TheDodgersAreTrash > You must be a Pittsburg fan. After all, they are mired at the bottom just like your comment.

[hubciti]

@TheDodgersAreTrash > "Oh, That explains everything"...You know, there are plenty of Giant moments too. You could find them and post them.

[archona4]

@TheDodgersAreTrash - Gee (and I'm a Royals fan), something relied on scouting reports? That means what? NOTHING. A *LOT* of things are scouted. It takes NOTHING away from the achievement, because guess what, he still has to HIT it.

The Dodgers aren't my favorites, and although I dislike the Yankees more, NEITHER are trash.

Shut it.

[TheDodgersAreTrash]

@archona4 why would anyone take you seriously? You're a Royals fan.

[kidyubyub]

@TheDodgersAreTrash You are a moron and intellectually dishonest if you think that this moment is anything other than great. What have you accomplished, other than pumping the neighbors dog every weekend?

[TheDodgersAreTrash]

@kidyubyub "What have you accomplished, other than pumping the neighbors dog every weekend?" Well, other than that, trolling Dodger fans on YouTube.

[kidyubyub]

@TheDodgersAreTrash Voted a thumbs up.

[TheDodgersAreTrash]

@kidyubyub I love you.

[tORLiSON]

@TheDodgersAreTrash Luck-when preparation meets oppurtunity.

[quinnlax9]

A great moment. Those A's teams should have won at least two, the Reds was crushing.

[landrykkb]

@quinnlax9 Or even 3 straight World Series!Oakland was the far superior team on paper against both the Dodgers and the Reds.

[jpsartrean]

This is the mentality to which ALL of mankind should aspire... This... is LIFE. 

[JediDude38]

One of the greatest moments in the history of baseball ... thanks Gibby ... I'll never forget it even though I didn't see it.

[JediDude38]

22 years & I remember it like it was yesterday. I had to leave for work at the end of the 7th. I told a friend of mine to call me with the final score. Like Gibby said, Eck had been pretty much un-hitable that year so when the phone rang I wasn't expecting much. I picked it up & all I could hear was people screaming & going crazy. I could barely make out what my friend was saying. I heard Gibson, home run, and they won and that was all I needed to hear to start freaking out myself.

[thekth]

Probably my favorite play in baseball. But why is there no good footage of the HR on youtube? Someone has to have it.

[Chrisp1611]

@thekth copyright...just go to google/bing and you should find it i found the whole game i was just amazed = D

[los1975]

@thekth

If you look around for any footage on baseball, it is hard to find here. I guess baseball has a strict policy about footage on here. Any other sport you can find substantial footage, but not baseball. Lame.

[Koorice]

he broke a catchers leg from sliding into home dats how great dis player is

[quarf53206]

his 1988 home run is one of the moments where you would just wants to be a fly on the wall in the clubhouse.

[MadeInTheMotorCity]

I watched Gibby pretty much his entire career. When he was a rookie, Sparky Anderson dubbed him "the next Mickey Mantle". Well, about the only ways he can compare to Mantle is in the injury category and the heart category. He didn't receive enough votes to stay on the HOF ballet, but if I was a manager and needed a big hit with the game on the line, I would take Gibby over anyone. He hit many walk-off HR's over his career. I was at a double header in Detroit in '84 and personally saw him do it.

[ManPigApe]

Well he's pretty humble when talking about himself, he was well above average in determination and hustle, Hall of Fame material in my opinion

[tinomal]

your right Kirk, you made history, i remember that moment vividly, i was bouncing up and down as a young kid cuz i knew you'd pull it off.

[mhz23]

@tinomal

Same here. I was in fourth grade at the time.

[mackerevich]

I saw a replay of the '84 homer vs Gossage where they had a mike on Sparky Anderson. There was a man on 2nd, 2 out. When Goose refused the intentional walk sign, Sparky got real exited and started yelling "he thinks he can strike you out!". You could see those words fire up Gibson, and he delivered on the next pitch. That's my greatest baseball moment.

[WHYTRIP206]

"I'll hear the fans. It won't hurt. This is what it's all about. This is what you play the game for."

Epic quote.

Kirk Gibson ftw.

[sentenced666]

Man, this guy rocks. I was rooting for the Pathetics at the time and this HR made my world crumble down hehe but it was a great moment in the WS after all.

[Alaskan20]

This was the most dramatic, but I like his HR against Gossage in the 84 series even more. Gibson had not done well against Goose and Goose believed he owned him. He did. He elected not to walk Gib. Gib smacked one . To me, it was just as dramatic, but doesn't get as much air time. It should.

[bigfatdummy00]

I was there 3rd row off first base.

[jred378]

greatest SPORTS moment in history....and yes, greater than anything Gretzky, Jordan, or Montana ever did.

[corymazz]

thanks Gibby for an epic moment I will never forget.

[Alonso061074]

Is the most wondwerful moment that my eyes have seen in the beisball.

October 15th 1988

[soraroxasdude2]

My mom was in attendance

[cjc26miles]

In the year of the improbable, the impossible has happened ...

[lamons71]

He's worthy of the Hall just for that one play,He wasnt a bad player,How many players can do what he did?,Could Bonds do that injured?

[antoniopuerto92]

the Ken Burns film (or should I say film series) documents kirk's incredible achevement beauthifully i realy recomend it i beleve its the ninth edition titled Home.

[Kicksmeintheshowers]

I have the game saved on my DVR thanks to ESPN Classics. I watch it now and then and it still gives me chills!!! I have been a huge Dodger fan since 77' and I remember watching it in my dorm TV room at SDSU. I was sitting next to a huge A's fan from Piedmont. Fly ball to right field...SHE IS GONE!!!!!! Vin Scully baby!!! I started yelling in his face, YA BABY, he took a swing at me but missed. What a moment!! LOL

[dodgerslover4lyfe]

wow I wanna see the home run best moment in dodgers history

[gfscarface13]

Its not on youtube because of that money loving jew bud selig

[snoopy3161]

Fuck Bug selig. I just spent the last 15 minutes searching for the Kirk Gibson WS homerun and cant find it because of that fucking kike.

[billheartyface]

nazi.

[miguelhenriquezg1977]

i remember that home run i was 11 years old and my dad was a diehard dodgers fan, usually i root for the twisn or yankees but that series i was a dodgers fan for my dad, one of the gretaes moments in baseball (to me at least) and Orel Hersheiser was the best world series pitcher i remember seeing, i really liked his windup and tried to replicate it when i played baseball, great memories great players

[sknyrd77]

go to the web site " ball hype" -they have almost ten minutes of this dramatic moment-STILL gives me goosebumps!

[davidh0187dc]

I WANT TO see that HR; how come utube doesnt offer it?

[josedelagaca1]

they don´t make players like him anymore... 88 WS, the best moment of baseball history... we made it happen

[itroll3fun]

@josedelagaca1 no, *you* didn't make it happen.  You're just a sycophant.

[unputer]

@josedelagaca1 "we"? what position did you play? don't remember any Jose Delagaca on the roster.

[cobbarts]

@josedelagaca1 and it will never happen agian.. go Giants 2010 Champs!

[ACEDIAMOND666]

@josedelagaca1 i was there at that game

[cuntrytrash]

Who says Gibby is overrated? In an age when you can lead the league in home runs with 35 home runs he was hitting 25-27 while missing 40 games! Add 30 stolen bases to that and you had a perennial 40/40 man if he would have stayed healthy!

[cuntrytrash]

Im meant 30/30 man, although 40/40 could have been probable for him in 1986 and 1987

[iamcool12345679]

kirk gibson is the best....and he is my uncle! he is soooo nice and really funny! if you dont believe me than you suck............

[gchav002]

I agree... although he is not my uncle and I never have met him, Kirk Gibson Rules! Greatest Moment is MLB history. Tell your uncle I said Thank You.

[essboarder]

Then I guess I suck

[gregwddriver]

Gibby will always be a Tiger to me.

[gordojr328]

gibby has what a lot of 2dys plyers don hav heart

[down4adrink2]

is there any footage posted on youtube that shows that hit ??

[PEERAMIDEYE]

kuz of copyrights MLB pulled it off!!!'

greedy bastards

[lisi7266]

volumetwoholiday, how old are you, thirteen? Maybe if you were alive in 1988 you'd understand better. Although it did not win the series, Gibson's walk off homerun with two outs, down a run, in the bottom of the ninth inning off the best closer in the game by a man with two bum knees against a team in Oakland that seemed invincible propelled LA to the series win. It gave the team confidence, shocked the world, and left Oakland with a feeling of vinciblity.Plus it was his only atbat of the series

[PEERAMIDEYE]

although it did not win the series...

...propelled la to win the sereies.

what r u talkin about??

[stickitupyourasteric]

@PEERAMIDEYE ill explain iasorta was a so so coach and lasorda was the same gibby came in and showed them how to prepare as champons ie practice then he gave his last swing that year with leg and back pain bam babby against a top 5 all tme closer thats everything

[Cowboys912]

wooh

[bbdigit]

By far my favorite baseball moment....I was at the game, after Debbie Gibson sung the national anthem she sat about 10 rows down from me on the 3rd baseline just at the edge of the outfield grass. I stood on my seat for Gibbys whole at bat and hugged total strangers near me when the homer landed in right field. The funny part is my father got the tickets from work...they were supposed to give us game one of the NLCS vs the Mets...got the WS tickets by accident and didnt give them back.

[750ACEMAN]

over rated....fuck man , the guy could hardly walk @ the time, you try slamming one out of the park with 2 screwed knees...asshole, fuck Jeter.

[PEERAMIDEYE]

who is overrated??

[volumetwoholiday]

great but it is over rated it didnt win the world series it was game 1 jeter did the same for new york and what about in 01 with the d backs winning that is a much better moment but this is considered better wow

[RobynHode8]

You had to have watched it when it happened. There has been nothing like it in Dodger history (for the Dodgers)--we'll not think about Bobby Thompson and Ralph Branca!

[rayameel]

You are forgetting that Gibson was in no condition to walk, let alone play. This was Baseball Dedication at it's best. What do you mean by OVER-RATED? Compaired to what?

Jeter is great, but nothing compairs to this event. NOTHING!

[dodgersfan7800]

Totally agree.

[cuntrytrash]

Not to mention hitting it off of one of the stingiest closers from 1988 - 1990 with ERAs of 3.03, 2.35 and 0.61-- Eck was THE best closer of that age, far better than Mo Rivera.

[HighNortherner]

Great interview. Nice insights!

We loved him back in Michigan.

[SQUIRRELTEAMSIX]

yes michigan but he was msu..

[TacoBellManager]

3 balls, 2 strikes, 1 man on, zero chance.

Five to four.

[rsbirk]

I watched this game. When Kirk came to the plate, the crowd was going wild and I thought to myself, "He's gonna hit a home run." Definitely one of the greatest moments in baseball!

[Desperadorrj]

Your damn right it was buddy. Thanks for one of my greatest World Series memories, it meant a lot to me and to a lot of Dodger fans.