The 1988 World Series matched the Oakland Athletics against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Dodgers upsetting the heavily favored A's to win the Series in five games (the exact opposite result of their 1974 meeting, which also went five games). The most memorable moment of the 1988 World Series occurred when injured Dodgers MVP Kirk Gibson, who could barely walk due to injuries suffered during the National League Championship Series, hit a pinch-hit, walk-off home run against Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley in Game 1.
Although Gibson's walk-off has become an icon of Baseball, Orel Hersheiser was the heart and soul of the team. Hersheiser dominated baseball at the end of the 1988 season, setting the all time scoreless inning streak at 59 innings, recording five straight shutouts, leading the league with 23 wins and 267 innings, and winning the Cy Young and Gold Glove awards. He was the MVP of the NLCS, starting three games, getting the save for Game 4, and shutting out the Mets in Game 7. In the World Series, he shut out the heavily favored A's in Game 2, and pitched a two-run, complete game in the decisive Game 5 victory.
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League West division by seven games over the Cincinnati Reds then upset the New York Mets, four games to three, in the 1988 NLCS. The Oakland Athletics won the American League West division by thirteen games over the Minnesota Twins then swept the Boston Red Sox, four games to none, in the American League Championship Series. This was the first World Series to have the series logo on the players' uniforms.
Read more about 1988 World Series: Summary, Composite Box, Television and Radio Coverage, Aftermath, Series Quotes
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