1988 World Series game 2 w/ pre game Kirk Gibson/The Natural parallel production

1948_Swell_Robinson

Gibson's home run is the greatest HR in history. It puts a smile on my face every time I still watch Vin Scully make the call.

The game 2 pre game featured a nice little Kirk Gibson/The Natural video comparison in addition to all the bells and whistles of the event. They even asked Gibson about The Natural in the pre game interview.

Here is the whole pregame and game 2 as it aired in its entirety in 1988.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gXRh4ftmDM

countdouglas

I like the fact that Gibby swung at a 2 strike pitch, making contact and putting it in play. You just never know what can happen if you try.

1948_Swell_Robinson

@countdouglas said:
I like the fact that Gibby swung at a 2 strike pitch, making contact and putting it in play. You just never know what can happen if you try.

The entire event doesn't happen without the two out walk before Gibson came to the plate.

He swung at a strike two pitch because he knew what was coming and it was a strike. Had it been a ball and he swung for the sake of "you never know what can happen," then he would have tapped out to second or struck out.," like so many bad hitters(or overrated hitters) do.

Gibson had a good eye for his career with a nice lifetime .352 OB% despite a lifetime .268 BA, and his strikeout rate was quite high for the era, so he was actually not the batter you are describing.

The best of the best have a High OB% and high SLG%, not a swing at everything mentality just for the sake of more contact outs that are 99% the same as non contact outs.

Darin

Not the greatest home run in history. It was game 1. That would be like me saying Alex Gordons’s game 1 dinger against the Mets unhittable closer was the greatest. It served notice to the Mets that KC is a team that doesn’t give up just like Gibsons homer but there were plenty more dramatic late series homers that trump gibsons game 1 blast.

1948_Swell_Robinson

@Darin said:
Not the greatest home run in history. It was game 1. That would be like me saying Alex Gordons’s game 1 dinger against the Mets unhittable closer was the greatest. It served notice to the Mets that KC is a team that doesn’t give up just like Gibsons homer but there were plenty more dramatic late series homers that trump gibsons game 1 blast.

Not the most series swinging home run, I agree, but with all the factors in play, nothing tops it. I guess Vin and Joe said it better in the pre-game of game 2 calling it the most theatrical home run ever. I shouldn't have tried to 'out describe' it over Vin Scully lol.