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World Series: Kirk Gibson’s reaction to Freddie Freeman’s Game 1 walk-off home run

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World Series: Kirk Gibson’s reaction to Freddie Freeman’s Game 1 walk-off home run

Freddie Freeman (2024 World Series Game 1) and Kirk Gibson (1988 World Series Game 1) come home after hitting walk-off homer runs. (Left photo: Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers; right photo: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

by Cary Osborne

Kirk Gibson missed most of Game 1 of the 2024 World Series on Friday.

The avid outdoorsman was, well, outdoors before returning to his ranch in Michigan late at night. He was finally eating dinner and decided to open up the game on his phone just as the Dodgers were hitting in the bottom of the 10th inning.

“I just thought, ‘This is going to happen,’” Gibson said on Saturday. “I could just feel it.”

Gibson to this day — 36 years after hitting one of the most legendary home runs in Dodger and World Series history — is a little uncomfortable with his icon status. But his pinch-hit, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 1 of the 1988 World Series to this day is one of baseball’s ultimate symbols of grit.

Gibson’s left hamstring was torn. The right knee had a torn medial collateral ligament. Gibson, on the eighth pitch, hit a two-run home run off the best closer in the game, Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley, to give the Dodgers a 5–4 victory on Oct. 15, 1988.

Freeman was in the batter’s box on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, with the bases loaded, two outs and the Dodgers trailing 3–2 to the New York Yankees.

“I remember. I just had a premonition,” Gibson said.

Freeman, who has been playing the entire postseason on a badly sprained ankle, drove the first pitch he saw from Nestor Cortes into the same Right Field Pavilion where Gibson hit his improbable home run.

“I heard the call. Was it ‘Gibby meet Freddie?’” Gibson said, clearly smiling when he recalled Joe Davis’ call.

“What a great guy,” Gibson said of Freeman. “All he’s been through this year, and it’s incredible. And he’s got to feel outstanding today — not just for himself, but for his teammates and his organization. It’s been incredible. It’s not been all smooth sailing, for sure. I don’t know Freddie very well. We work in the same places from time to time, and he’s always been cordial and respectful. I know he really cares about the game and the people that have supported him and his teammates. So it couldn’t happen to a better guy.”

After Friday’s Game 1, Freeman described the feeling of running around the bases as “floating.”

“Those are the kind of things, when you’re 5 years old with your two older brothers and you’re playing wiffle ball in the backyard, those are the scenarios you dream about, two outs, bases loaded in a World Series game,” Freeman said. “For it to actually happen and get a home run and walk it off to give us a 1–0 lead, that’s as good as it gets right there.”

Gibson can identify.

“When it happened to me running around the bases, it happens so fast, but yet so slow,” Gibson recalls.

After Gibson touched home plate and was enveloped by Dodger teammates, NBC (which telecasted the game) asked Gibson to stop for an interview. Gibson told them they’d have to wait. He wanted to celebrate more with his teammates first.

Freeman celebrated with teammates. He ran to his father, Fred — who was sitting in the Dugout Club seats at Dodger Stadium — to include him in the moment. Then he did his interviews.

Freeman was asked about the similarity to Gibson’s homer. He acknowledged his love of the game and deep appreciation of its history.

Now he has partner in Dodger World Series history.

Though the one on the ranch in Michigan, true to his nature, humbly says it’s Freeman’s time.

“After it’s all said and done. There’s a new guard,” Gibson said. “Freddie Freeman’s his name.”

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