An Injured Home Run.

« couldn't do it,” Gibson later said.

“But once I got up in that cage, I didn't feel anything until I was going around the bases.” Gibson sent Dodgers batboy Mitch Poole to tell Lasorda that the slugger was ready if needed.

Lasorda hustled to the batting cage to talk to Gibson himself.

“As soonas he heard that I wanted to hit,” Gibson said, “he took off.” During Davis's at bat Gibson entered the dugout and sat in the corner wearing a helmet and holding ablack bat.

Davis drew a walk, Gibson limped to the plate, and the crowd of 55,983 rose to its feet. Gibson fouled off the first three pitches rather feebly.

When he dribbled one foul up the first base line and hobbled a few steps down the line with it, he appeared toneed a cane more than a bat.

“He looked like a newborn deer,” Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser recalled.

“We're thinking this is a terrible decision.

Tommy shouldn'thave him in there.

Gibby can't even swing the bat.

Then Davis steals second.

Now we're hoping for blooper, a bleeder, an error, anything.” Gibson worked the count to 3-2.

He then fouled off four pitches after the count was full.

Eckersley delivered a low slider.

Gibson, batting left-handed, lifted his frontfoot, swung the bat down, and turned on the pitch with a resounding swat.

As he limped around the bases he pumped his fist. The Dodgers knocked off the Athletics in five games.

The home run was Gibson's only appearance in the 1988 World Series.

He won the 1988 National LeagueMost Valuable Player award and played two more seasons for the Dodgers, hitting .213 in 71 games in 1989 and .260 in 89 games in 1990, before finishing hiscareer.

But injuries limited his playing time and his effectiveness.

He certainly never was the impact player he was in 1988. “I had all game to think about that situation,” Gibson said later of his greatest night.

“I could see myself doing the job.

Even though I had a physical disability I knewwhen I stepped out of the dugout the crowd would give me a favorable reaction.

I thank the big Dodger in the sky for choosing me to be the guy to celebrate thatmoment for the rest of my life.” Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.

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