On January 29, 1988, the Los Angeles Dodgers sign free agent outfielder Kirk Gibson to a three-year contract worth $4.5 million. Gibson will win the 1988 NL MVP Award (25 HR, 76 RBI, 106 runs, .290 BA, .377 OBP, .860 OPS) . Thanks in large part to Gibson’s fiery leadership, the Dodgers will win the National League pennant in 1988 and leads them to a World Series title.

In Game 1 of the World Series against the Oakland Athletics, Gibson, too hobbled to play the field, will hit one of the most dramatic home runs in World Series history, a game-winning pinch-hit home run off Dennis Eckersley. Eckersley had become the most dominant closer in baseball. Eck finished 2nd in Cy Young Voting, 5th in MVP voting and lead the lead with 45 saves. In the ALCS he appeared in 4 games, saving all 4 and pitched 6 innings of 1 hit baseball allowing no runs.