"All year long, they looked to him to light the fire, and all year long, he answered the demands, until he was physically unable to start tonight—with two bad legs: The bad left hamstring, and the swollen right knee. And, with two out, you talk about a roll of the dice...this is it. If he hits the ball on the ground, I would imagine he would be running 50 percent to first base. So, the Dodgers trying to catch lightning right now!"
I was an eight year old boy who was newly minted in his love for baseball. I had not yet picked a favorite pro team. I didn't know that on October 15, 1988 that I would find my team.
"No balls, two strikes, two out."
The excitement was building in the stadium and in me as well. I hung onto every word that Vin Scully said. I just couldn't sit still, from the couch to the floor and back again.
"Mike Davis, the tying run, is at second base with two out. 3-and-2. Sax waiting on deck, but the game right now is at the plate."
I could feel magic in the air, it seemed like I was witnessing a once in a lifetime event. The moment seemed to grow bigger and bigger with each passing second. The chess game that is baseball was on full display.
"High fly ball into right field, she i-i-i-is... gone!! In a year that has been so improbable... the impossible has happened! They are going wild at Dodger Stadium—no one wants to leave!" - Vin Scully
With one swing of the bat, Kirk Gibson won Game One of the World Series and cast me as a life long Dodgers fan. I remember running around in circles, jumping up and down, and pumping my fists in the air. It was a moment of unbridled joy and excitement.
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