Major League Season Recap 1988 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers NL over Oakland A’s AL 4 games to 1 World Series MVP – Orel HershiserBabe Ruth Award – Orel Hershiser ALCS Oakland Athletics over Boston Red Sox 4 games to 0 ALCS MVP – Dennis EckersleyNLCS Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Mets 4 games to 3 NLCS MVP…
On November 2, 1988, for the third straight season a member of the Oakland A’s is named American League Rookie of the Year, as shortstop Walt Weiss wins the award. The previous two season, sluggers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire had won the award. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@
At Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Mark McGwire goes deep off LA’s Jay Howell with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the A’s a 2-1 victory for its only win in the Series. With Kirk Gibson’s heroics in Game 1, ‘Big Mac’s’ walk-off home run marks the first time that two game-winning round-trippers occur in the same Fall Classic.
At Dodger Stadium, Don Baylor becomes the first player to participate in three consecutive World Series for three different teams when he pinch-hits in the eighth inning of the A’s 6-0 loss to L.A. in the second game of the Fall Classic. The 39 year-old veteran played with the pennant-winning Red Sox in 1986 and the World Champion Twins in 1987.
In his only plate appearance in the Fall Classic, a limping Kirk Gibson, appearing as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning of Game 1, sends a two-out, 3-2 back-door slider from future Hall of Fame relief ace Dennis Eckersley over the right field fence, giving the Dodgers a 5-4 victory over the A’s. The round-tripper marks the first time a World Series game is ever decided on a come-from-behind home run in the final inning.
Jose Canseco of the A’s becomes baseball’s first 40-40 player when he swipes his 39th and 40th base in a 14-inning victory over the Brewers, 9-8. The Oakland slugger, who will finish the season with 42 homers and 40 stolen bases, will never have a 30-30 season in his 17 years in the major leagues.
Jose Canseco became the 11th player in major league history to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in a season. The A’s outfielder, with 31 homers, joins the 30-30 club, stealing second base with one out in the ninth inning for his 30th as Oakland beat the Mariners, 5-4.
1988 – Jose Canseco belts two home runs in the A’s 6 – 2 win over Seattle to become the first player to hit 30 or more home runs in each of his first three major league seasons.
In the Oakland Athletics’ 39th game of the season, pitcher Dave Stewart breaks a major league record committing his 12th balk of the season in a 4 – 1 loss to the Red Sox. Stewart will extend the record with 16 balks during the year.
The A’s sign a one-year deal with free agent Don Baylor. The 39 year-old designated hitter will appear in 92 games, hitting .220 for the American League champs before retiring at the end of the season.
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