Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Kirk Gibson Still A Grand Draw

According to the Grand Rapids Press, Dodger great Kirk Gibson had around a thousand fans show up to get his signature in Detroit. Sure, many were probably there because he was a once a Detroit Tiger. But Gibson said the fans still recall his Dodger highlight with fond memories:

Gibson said there aren't many days that go by that someone doesn't ask him about the homer he hit in the 1988 World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Hobbled by injuries to both legs, Gibson was sent out to pinch hit in the ninth inning against Oakland closer and future Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley. Gibson used his upper-body strength to muscle a slider over the right-field fence to win Game 1 and propel the Dodgers to the title.

Gibson said the memories of pumping his fist as he rounded the bases are as vivid as they were in '88.

"That's fine because that's a good memory," Gibson said, chuckling. "I've always been a team guy, that's what I played for. There were a zillion excuses for me not to go out there, but that's just not how I operate."

photo: Adam Bird / Grand Rapids Press. (Get it? "Grand" = 1,000?)

18 comments:

Wesley Vento said...

"dodgers have their eye on Wang"

LOL

Steve Sax said...

...says the guy Hong like a Chih Kuo

Wesley Vento said...

We Dodgers fans are known through out baseball as being very high class. Always preferring the Socratic Method of debate of baseball topics to the slack-jawed honking of a Philadelphia Phillies fan, the drunken and reckless verbal spouts of anger from a Cubs fan, or the vapid and airy discourse of an OC Angels fan. Yes, we are among the elite.

Wesley Vento said...

(Gibby rules!)

Steve Sax said...

San Dimas High School Football Rules!

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Wait, we do the Socratic Method here? And I always came here for the slapstick. Damn am I confused.

Kyle Baker said...

HLACK- You forgot the trite, sacrosanct musings of Cardinals fans.

Steve Sax said...

btw HLACK, I had written my 12:00N post last night, before I saw your comment here. You're either clairvoyant, or you're SoSG Orel in disguise.

Wesley Vento said...

Sax,

I saw that comment on MLBTR posted by Eric Stephen. It made me giggle. I'm not Orel though. I just love baseball related innuendo and making fun of fans of other teams. The only team's fans I won't make fun of are Cleveland's. Those poor bastards and been through enough already.

MeanieBreanie said...

@HLACK It's not easy to be a Dodgers fan in Texas. Out of curiosity what do you say about Texas baseball fans? Inquiring minds want to know.

In other Dodger news Burt Hooton was inducted Monday into the Texas Hall of Fame. He was the only person from MLB. That's quite an accomplishment in state where football is the most revered sport. He's in good company as he was inducted with Dan Reeves, Chuck Howley, and Harvey Martin.

Wesley Vento said...

I know a good deal of people in and from Texas and they are solid citizens, couldn't smack talk a state that prides itself on its independent spirit. The Astros were formidable foes during the old days before the Wild Card, and they were daring enough to wear these beauties. That DEMANDS respect.

MeanieBreanie said...

Those "beauties" are a bad blast from the past. They rate right along with the Dodgers new spring training hats, although the caps have the edge.

Yes, we are independent and prideful people. We can also be fair weather fans. Houston has been known as the "Lastro's" for years. The Rangers have a history of getting off to a great start and then imploding. Fans are not happy when they get talent they cannot do anything with and then trade it away. A-Rod and a few others come to mind.

Wesley Vento said...

Here's my hierarchy of teams to hate:

Tier 1- Giants, Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox
Tier 2 - Padres, Rockies, D-Bags, White Sox, Cardinals, Cubs, Mets, Braves, Reds, Athletics, Angels

Don't care about the rest so much, but I have on occasion hated Florida, Detroit, Milwaukee, Houston, and Seattle and Texas

Teams I can't hate: Indians, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Pirates, Nationals, Twins, Toronto, and Baltimore

Steve Sax said...

@HLACK: I'm picturing the Wooden Pyramid of Success, only it's the HLACK Pyramid of Hate.

Kyle Baker said...

HLACK-

It cracks me up that you have some degree of hate for White Sox. Isn't that like hating Switzerland? What have they ever done to you?

I must admit that I have a soft spot for the Nats. All the yrs I lived in DC I supported a team being put there to make up for the loss of the Senators. It's a (surprisingly) great sports city and I always thought a baseball team, placed right there in the city, would be a great idea. Today, the stadium brilliant and a fun place to watch the game. Since I'm in DC all the time I get to watch many games there. I wear a Nats hat, unless they're playing the Dodgers, of course.

Wesley Vento said...

Dusty,

I hate on the White Sox b/c of Ozzie, AJ Pierzynski (spelling) and the fact that Paul Konerko has hit over 300 HR in his career, most of them not as a Dodger. That team just pisses me off, plus I'm a bit of a fair-weather Twins fan b/c I played on the Twins in little league (which is also why I root for the Orioles). Thus I can not like the White Sox, throw in AJ and Ozzie and that bumps you into hate status, though not on the level of the Giants or Phillies. Yankees and Red Sox deserve everybody's hate.

Kyle Baker said...

That is some well-reasoned hate, HLACK! I approve wholeheartedly.

Wesley Vento said...

All I need is a better costume and I can join these guys.