Kirk Gibson is still my hero today. I was 15 years old when I watched this on TV. Kirk is in the battle of his life today. His humility today is his greatest strength.
It's crazy to think he quit playing baseball to play college football until he filled in because most of the starting players for MSU at the time were hurt. He only played one season of college baseball... he was a hardnose player in both sports. Even when he was an analyst for the Tigers unless you knew who he was you'd never know he was "The Man" for the Tigers. Never talked about himself or his accolades just the team's current situation. The man, the myth, the legend
Abso-freaking-loutely! Youngsters are always saying, "What's wrong with showing emotion?" Answer: not a damn thing, and this is how you do it, not with douchey bat flips and staring down home runs.
@@millypoo7713 Sorry Milly, but in his Era, BEST is appropriate. And another Tiger was probably 2nd best in that Era. Alan Trammell. You get a reputation when you PRODUCE in the CLUTCH regularly. They both did. REGULARLY.
@@Mister8224 You're obviously a bias Tigers fan. NO... Best is NOT appropriate. George Brett's postseason stats: 43 games 56 for 166 .337 avg .397 OBP .627 SLG 1.023 OPS. 1985 ALCS MVP .348 3 HR. Several clutch postseason hits including a 2 homer game in game 3 of 1985 ALCS, a go ahead 3-run HR off Gossage in game 3 of 1980 ALCS, hit 3 home runs in game 3 of 1978 ALCS all off of HOF Catfish Hunter. Brett played in 2 World Series where he hit .373 (19-51) with a .439 OBP. How about Steve Garvey... In 5 NLCS he hit .356 8 HR 21 RBI .383 OBP whopping .678 SLG & 1.061 OPS. Hit walk off HR In game 4 of 1984 NLCS. In 5 World Series, Garvey hit .319 (36-113). Garvey career postseason... 55 games .338 (75-222) 11 HR 31 rbi. Meanwhile, Kirk Gibson career postseason... .282 (22-72) 7 HR 21 RBI in 21 games including .368 3 HR 9 RBI in 2 World Series. All 3 players have gaudy postseason stats. But if you look at Gibson's numbers and compare them to Brett & Garvey... there's no way you can say he is the best of his era... because he clearly is NOT. Yes, he's one of the best... but not THE best. Just because Gibson hit the walk off HR off of Eckersley in 1988, does not make him the best clutch hitter of his era. Brett and Garvey played in more than 2x the amount of postseason games than Gibson, and both have better overall numbers. So again... there is no way Gibson is the best. More stats: Regular season career with Runners in Scoring Position... Gibson (380-1413) 58 HR 591 RBI .269 avg. Garvey (708-2403) 74 HR 1014 RBI .295 avg. Brett (828-2701) 82 HR 1207 RBI .307 avg
@@millypoo7713 I gotta give you your due in this.You can't say anything bad about G. Brett. Great klutch hitter. You're right about everything. He did have more chances & more successes, I'm very prejudiced for the Tigers. They don't win much, & they are really down now, but they are MY team! Anyway, thanks for responding & have a good summer!
Way to back it up. But I'd say Gibson has more iconic clutch hits and therefore immortalized. Brett is a better hitter overall though. Both are clutch. Or just got the right pitch for their respective moments in time.
I remember watching this on TV. THE YEAR OF THE TIGER! Went from wire to wire Never leaving First Place all year!! First team since the Great 1927 Yankees to do that! Opening the season 35-5!!! Winning every playoff series at home, and the World Series. A magical year where EVERYTHING came together! Wish I could go back!
Motorcityman-Just like the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers-They won their first ten games, and twenty-two of their first twenty-four, gradually pulling away from the rest of the pack, finishing 13.5 games ahead of the second place Boston Braves, and finally vanquishing the monkey from their backs, beating their hated crosstown rivals from the Bronx, shutting out the Yankees 2-0 for the Dodgers' only World Series title while calling Brooklyn home.
@@kevinmiller6380 I was out too sea in October 1984 playing catch the smuggler. Had a bet with a fellow sailor from San Diego. Bet him in May that the San Diego Padres would win the National play Detroit Tigers and loose. I was born in Detroit. Missed the 1968 world series for basically the same reason. No TV in Grafenwohr and too busy to listen to AFN radio. Now I live have Detroit. I guess if I am outside the territories of the US for a year again. The Tigers may win the series again that year.
Sparky Anderson yelling at Gibson saying "they don't wanna walk you" and giving him the sign to swing away and Sparkys laugh after Gibson hits the home run never gets old
I saw a documentary that had film from the other cameras showing Anderson yelling at Gibson that SD was going to pitch to him. The reaction shot of Gibson was "you're speaking gibberish; you're not making any sense". Gossage struck out Evans and Parrish to end the inning and nobody was paying attention; the crowd was still cheering the home run.
@@pabloapostar7275 And four years later a gimpy legged Gibson hobbled his way to the plate to face Oakland's Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, L.A. trailing the A's 4-3. As you know Gibson blasted one into the rightfield seats at Dodger Stadium, and joyfully limping his way around the bases, giving the Dodgers a 5-4 victory in Game 1.
That '84 team went wire to wire in first place and started 35-5. Should have had a couple of World Series years. Almost 40 years ago and they haven't won one since but this moment never gets old.
I was in a bar in Cleveland watching John Lee Hooker play live, Hooker who was a Tigers fan spotted the moment on the one and only TV in the place and made a point of gesturing to the guitar player and pointing at the set to let him know Detroit had won the series. The Tigers had a memorable season that year.
I was an absolute die-hard O's fan back then and so looked forward to the baseball season every year in those days. That year was just misery for me as the season was basically over by May 1 with that remarkable start by the Tigers.
Pisses me off to this day...Tigers should have won in 2006, or at least one of the other two times they went to the Series with Jim Leyland as the skipper. My dad pointed out to me in '84 how the Tigers always seemed to win the World Series every 20 years(or so...look it up) and 2006 would have been 22 years...right on schedule. Which means they will be 'due' around 2028...or 2030, or so.
Yet there were players that criticized Gibson , when he was a coach, calling him two swings behind his back. At least he had two swings in the World Series. Which is lot more than many of the players can say today.
Actually, this Gibson HR was not game winning. The game winning HR belongs to Lance Parrish, who homered off Gossage the inning before. Gibson's HR was just icing on the cake.
You make a realy good point that I never thought of...his last at bat in the 84 World Series was a home run, and his next, and only at bat in the 1988 World Series was a home run. Back to back, only separated by time. Great observation!
I can't believe this team was one and done. They had so much talent and so much potential. I never thought 40 years would pass without another World Series crown.
@@mrg8581: That was pretty much our best and final hope of winning another World Series for the next two decades. I really thought Detroit would win it all in '87, but it wasn't meant to be.
@@mrg8581: Good thing the Pistons began their ascent while the Tigers were winding down, otherwise I would have to rest my hopes in the Redwings and Lions.
@@jacksquat4140 Pistons could have three or four titles in a row. But Isiah got hurt during the 1988 finals. And that horrible last second steal by Boston in 1987 Conference finals.
I was at this game, one of thousands standing outside Tiger Stadium on Michigan Ave. They had big speakers outside so we could hear the calls. The crowd noise was incredible! When Gibson hit the homer it was pandemonium. Thanks for the memories!
Don't know about you, but I remember my 1st game at Tiger Stadium. Sunday doubleheader, walking down a ramp from inside, seeing the field for the first time. It was glorious, the bright sun, the perfect diamond, the sound of wood bats, smacking ball after ball in BP. We would get to the park early, my 5 brothers, mom & dad. Of course, we had our mitts to snag anything that came our way. Didn't see any Homer's that day in 1961, but Tigers won & Rocky Colavito roped a double off the top of the fence down the line, Kaline made a couple of his rocket throws from the right field corner, & it was the best day of my life, up to that point.cWow!
@@COKEDUDEUSF He became a national announcer for NBC game of the week and such from 1983 to 1989. I think his most memorable World Series call was the Buckner call in the 1986 World Series (in my mind more memorable than the Kirk Gibson Homerun in 1988 or this call). Not just Dodger fans appreciated his great announcing!
"He don't wanna walk you!" - Sparky. You shoulda walked him Goose. Kirk Gibson always had a flair for the dramatic! First at MSU, then with the Tigers, and then the Dodgers. An amazing athlete!
I was at this game sitting in the upper centre field bleachers right beside the TV cameras. My one and only world series game, and only got to go because my friend's uncle gave up his ticket. The Gibson homer is the one memory that stands out from the game itself. The other thing I remember is that right after the game it started pouring rain, and the people on the field started tearing up pieces of the turf as souvenirs. And after we had left some crazies started turning over cars and I heard some were torched. Had to drive back home to Hamilton, Ontario and got home in the wee hours of the morning. Great memories and glad I was there. Thank you for posting this video.
I was there too, from Kitchener. I sat in the center field upper deck on the Saturday and above third base on the Sunday. I sat 3 people down from Bob Brenley and Wade Boggs and got Boggs autograph when he got up to take a leak. I took home a big piece of that Tiger turf and tried to plant it in my backyard. What a season for Detroit! Kind of a bummer for me being a Jays fan.
Went to a Tigers spring training game in Lakeland that year. Talked to Gibby about 10 minutes. One thing he said was he had a good feeling about the upcoming season. Boy was he right.
I was 12 listening to this on WJR. I had the cassette tape that they put out after to recap the season "Wire to Wire Champions" . One of my teachers a year or so later had a poster in his class room with Gibson, Lemon, and Trammel, and a pile of bats titled "The Lumberyard" a tribute to the insane number of bats the 3 had broken that season.
The Jack Buck call is abysmal compared to Vinny! Buck STOMPS on the fan reaction and make it about him. Like Vin said, after Gibby crossed the plate "In the year that has been so improbable, the Impossible has happened!
Templeton actually wasn't a bad fielder. Above average range, slightly below average fielding percentage, and the strongest infield throwing arm in MLB until Shawon Dunston took over that title. He did make a boneheaded play here (2:59), though. There's no excuse for not being ready for this throw.
No distracting advertising/billboards on every square foot of the ball park, no netting everywhere to "protect" fans from foul balls, no wimpy one inning closers, and one home state hero doing his thing. Not longing for the good old days because for sure there were problems, but as a society we were better than we are now.
And no annoying pitch counts, radar guns, openers, home run distances, launch angles, exit speeds, WAR, win probability, runs created, runs saved, ballpark factors, win expectancy, Pythagorean winning percentage, betting lines on baseball, fantasy baseball, statheads, 4-hour games, pitch framing, defensive shifts, batters who hit right into defensive shifts. I am longing for the good old days when tickets were cheap, parking was free (or maybe a buck or two) and you didn't need a mortgage to buy a beer or soda.
Living in Florida all my life, my dad played into AAA before injury,and he came up in Tiger’s organization. Actually roomed with Mickey Lolich one spring. ‘68 Tigers were the best but ‘84 team went wire to wire and dominated!!Kirk was iconic but the real strength was Trammel & Whittaker up the middle. All Star duo many times. Thanks y’all
Watched it with my dad when I was 14. Dad also took me to a Spartans vs Iowa Hawkeyes game when Kirk Gibson played for the Spartans. People have said I can't be right, but I watched Gibson line up at halfback. They used him like a Swiss army knife that game. But he for sure carried the ball as a running back that game.
Vin: "And maybe because of that, Gossage is saying 'I can get him'" A brief pause. Vin (with a hint of being dubious): "Well, we'll see." 2 pitches and 13 seconds later, we did see.
I actually liked MLB back then and the Detroit Tigers. They were almost unbeatable that year. What a team!!! Don't watch much of any pro sports anymore. Pro athletes are only concerned about money and status these days and no team loyalty anymore.
I was in the navy...out at sea on a submarine..we were sitting waiting to get an update...finally after 7 hours after game..we got news and sports..lot of tiger fans on my boat were very happy. Remember like it was yesterday
Not that there aren't any good announcers now, because there are some good ones. But it is so nice to hear those two gentlemen in the broadcast booth together. They made a magnificent duo and they were such a pleasure to listen to for any baseball fan!
that 1988 Dodger team on paper had no business winning that WS. they had no business beating the Mets in the NLCS, for that matter. Tommy Lasorda pulled a master class that October. he made so many right decisions that post season, including having a hobbled Gibson pinch hit in that situation.
I sure miss the old days...e.g., when baseball was still worth watching, and people still knew how to disagree with each other without resorting to nasty personal attacks.
I love watching 70s and 80s baseball like this. I also find it interesting / hilarious how the entire crowd is in street clothes. No jerseys, team gear, etc.
The Tigers had many great moments that season but my favorite was the Game 3 clincher against the Royals when Darrell Evans made that great diving play at first base to get the speedy Willie Wilson to preserve Milt Wilcox's 1-0 win. Ironically years later I lived in KC and worked with Wilson's daughter.
Kansas City played Detroit much closer than people realize. That was a very good Royals team except they needed an alpha pitcher to put them over the top. (Bret Saberhagen enters the room. The rest is history.)
@@charlesmurphy3222 the next year the Royals won the WS thanks to the umpire making one of the worst calls ever to rob the Cardinals of a win they had in the bag.
@@123slasher.16Except Jack Clark drops Out #2. Even if it's one out, Balboni singles, Onix Cenception is the pinch runner. It's still a 1-0 ballgame in Game 6. Even if Orta was called out. The Cardinals should've shown up for Game 7. They didn't. It was a bad call, but no excuses after that. Clark catches the foul ball and it's back to 1 out again. Everything resets back to what it was. It's all right here. ua-cam.com/video/FUAH1xg2ruE/v-deo.html
Yep. Let's speed up the game and take a of the thinking out. I think the original reply implies that the auto intentional removes the mound conversation and the manager puts Gibson on.
I wish the Pirates didn't give up on Gibson too early in 1992. He proved in 1993 that he could still hit No way do they lose that game 7 with him on that team. He wouldn't have pulled up in right field like Cecil Espy did in the 9th inning.
Tiger Stadium should have been saved just like Wrigley and Fenway. Yes, it had a few warts but modern engineering could have solved or mitigated most of the problems and extended the life of that baseball shrine at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull for another half century or more.
Wiggins & Templeton....bush little league plays. Nice catch & throw Alan, sorry Gary, they moved 2nd base on you. Tigs would have won Series anyway, but you cannot make those plays, even in Spring Training. Quick ticket to AAA. Williams dumbest managerial decision you could make. Gibby was gonna take it to the upper deck. Saw it coming. 68 & 84. Mr. G......keep posting, love it
Gossage finished a lot of important games, with a win and the SV next to his name. But, because he was that good, there were times he got burned. As a long time Yankee fan, I hated seeing Gossage pitch against George Brett, because Brett always seemed to clobber Goose. Gossage thought he had Gibson's number. Well, for the most part, he did. It is just that the one time he didn't, it was in a big game.
@@dougbrowne9890 I have to say that I've always thought of Gossage as a great pitcher, but not necessarily a staggering pitcher. However, there were some years where his accomplishments were pretty staggering. 1975, 1977, and 1978 in particular were staggering years. He had damn near the innings of some of today's starters, but pitched all in relief. And he had a sub-2 or near-sub-2 ERA.
Loved Tiger Stadium. I loved pro sports until bench warmers started making $5M a year. It’s so ridiculous now, pitchers making $40M a year for pitching 20 games. They won’t get any of my time and money.
Comerica park has no soul. It’s generic compared to Tiger Stadium. One of my favorite memories is in 76 on a hot August night The Bird and Tigers beat KC 2 to 1. 52,000 fans for a near last place team and the place was a living and breathing thing.
If my memory has not failed me Bruce Kimm hit a two run homer in the seventh and Mark struck out the side in the ninth. The place was wild. Longest home run that I witnessed was hit by Harmen Killibrew in the mid sixties. A line shot to straight away center field bleachers. 440 feet to the wall and ball landed 2/3s up the upper deck bleachers. Was sitting behind 1st base dugout and the impact of ball hitting bleachers echoed through out the ballpark.
@@russellgoff6524 Actually, it once was a great measuring stick of talent. When MLB gave the vote to the fans, the first couple were near perfect (like the first one, 1971). But as time went on, your description became the norm. That is why it blows chunks now.
Supposedly one of the main owners was a huge Yankee fan as a kid and kept pushing their colors into Yankee-territory with the Navy & White. Due to fan pressure they brought back the brown & gold of the 70s.
@johndigiallonardo3727 Stacked, really? I doubt it. They played like a little league team. Just because they had Goose & Gwynn did not make them stacked. Weak pitching staff. Poor communication & Williams was senile. A manager that makes the right decision & then let's a player manage. Not good. We had everything. Most balanced team, since 34 & 35 seasons. If you knew someone who was a baseball fan, but not a Tigers fan..... All you had to do was smile, they knew. Gibby carried that team. Sparky knew how to get the most out of his players. Cinci & Tigs. Trammell & Whitaker, one of the best SS / 2nd base combos ever. Parrish & Morris. Senor Smoke + Willie finished them off. That's stacked. LOU....HOF, check the other HOF 2nd basemen & their stats.
For all the talk about Bill Buckner, Leon Durham is worse if you were a Cubs fan...Detroit was going to win the series no matter who they played but, Lee Smith should've been the one throwing to Gibson.
Kirk Gibson is not going to the HOF. "Holy Cow!" Though, He sure has had some HOF "Moments!" Amazingly The voice of Baseball Vin Scully called both home runs!
I remember when Gibson first came up, they had just started using aluminum bats in college, he was worried it would hurt his power numbers going to wood bats. It did, but he hit a lot of homers at Michigan
Boy do I remember THAT! Been a Tiger fan since 1967 and was amazed when they came back and beat Bob Gibson in 1968 - I was in 5th grade. 1984 was a long time to wait but the day finally came. Actually when this happened my wife wanted to have sex - probably pitting me to choose between her and the game - so we were having it in the living room in front of the TV when this play happened!! Unfortunately with all the bullshit and ridiculous length of games today - not to mention the late endings of playoff and WS games I have basically given up on Baseball.
That was a great at-bats against Eck, but who says he even signs .lwith LA if he doesn't have the great '84 with the Tigers? Do you realize how rude you are to Tiger fans? Let us have a moment, too.
What is amazing is how fast Gossage worked. None of all the nonsense between pitches that goes on today. Get the ball and throw.
THANK YOU! All this time wasted between pitches in today's game has ruined baseball.
True!!!
Omg you are so right. No batters going for a midnight stroll after every pitch.
@@kristopherloviska9042 oh its like watching grass grow!
Also back then you worked more than 6 innings and 100 pitches. Today 6 innings and you're a hero.
Kirk Gibson is still my hero today. I was 15 years old when I watched this on TV. Kirk is in the battle of his life today. His humility today is his greatest strength.
To put himself out there in an effort to help others when he has no incentive to do so is humbling. Makes me ashamed over what I bitch about daily.
It's crazy to think he quit playing baseball to play college football until he filled in because most of the starting players for MSU at the time were hurt. He only played one season of college baseball... he was a hardnose player in both sports. Even when he was an analyst for the Tigers unless you knew who he was you'd never know he was "The Man" for the Tigers. Never talked about himself or his accolades just the team's current situation. The man, the myth, the legend
I was in right field that nite.20 years old .
Kirk Gibson is everything I love about baseball.
The guy played with heart!
He is a Michigan State Spartan once a Spartan always a Spartan
Yes I agree kirk Gibson did play with heart absolutely
Abso-freaking-loutely! Youngsters are always saying, "What's wrong with showing emotion?" Answer: not a damn thing, and this is how you do it, not with douchey bat flips and staring down home runs.
Gibson smiles
That was one incredible, unforgettable summer......I think it is safe to say we will never see another 35-5 start in MLB.
You got that right. Never see a 35 and 5 start again.
Less than one month into the 2022 season and every team has at least 6 losses
There hasn't been one since! 🧢⚾️
@@dennisb-trains23 And won't ever be one again
@@mrg8581 The Ray's will do it this year...
Kirk Gibson definitely the best clutch hitter of his time.
"One of the best" is the more appropriate comment. ]
@@millypoo7713 Sorry Milly, but in his Era, BEST is appropriate. And another Tiger was probably 2nd best in that Era. Alan Trammell. You get a reputation when you PRODUCE in the CLUTCH regularly. They both did. REGULARLY.
@@Mister8224 You're obviously a bias Tigers fan. NO... Best is NOT appropriate. George Brett's postseason stats: 43 games 56 for 166 .337 avg .397 OBP .627 SLG 1.023 OPS. 1985 ALCS MVP .348 3 HR. Several clutch postseason hits including a 2 homer game in game 3 of 1985 ALCS, a go ahead 3-run HR off Gossage in game 3 of 1980 ALCS, hit 3 home runs in game 3 of 1978 ALCS all off of HOF Catfish Hunter. Brett played in 2 World Series where he hit .373 (19-51) with a .439 OBP. How about Steve Garvey... In 5 NLCS he hit .356 8 HR 21 RBI .383 OBP whopping .678 SLG & 1.061 OPS. Hit walk off HR In game 4 of 1984 NLCS. In 5 World Series, Garvey hit .319 (36-113). Garvey career postseason... 55 games .338 (75-222) 11 HR 31 rbi. Meanwhile, Kirk Gibson career postseason... .282 (22-72) 7 HR 21 RBI in 21 games including .368 3 HR 9 RBI in 2 World Series. All 3 players have gaudy postseason stats. But if you look at Gibson's numbers and compare them to Brett & Garvey... there's no way you can say he is the best of his era... because he clearly is NOT. Yes, he's one of the best... but not THE best. Just because Gibson hit the walk off HR off of Eckersley in 1988, does not make him the best clutch hitter of his era. Brett and Garvey played in more than 2x the amount of postseason games than Gibson, and both have better overall numbers. So again... there is no way Gibson is the best. More stats: Regular season career with Runners in Scoring Position... Gibson (380-1413) 58 HR 591 RBI .269 avg. Garvey (708-2403) 74 HR 1014 RBI .295 avg. Brett (828-2701) 82 HR 1207 RBI .307 avg
@@millypoo7713 I gotta give you your due in this.You can't say anything bad about G. Brett. Great klutch hitter. You're right about everything. He did have more chances & more successes, I'm very prejudiced for the Tigers. They don't win much, & they are really down now, but they are MY team! Anyway, thanks for responding & have a good summer!
Way to back it up. But I'd say Gibson has more iconic clutch hits and therefore immortalized. Brett is a better hitter overall though. Both are clutch. Or just got the right pitch for their respective moments in time.
I remember watching this on TV.
THE YEAR OF THE TIGER!
Went from wire to wire Never leaving First Place all year!!
First team since the Great 1927 Yankees to do that!
Opening the season 35-5!!!
Winning every playoff series at home, and the World Series.
A magical year where EVERYTHING came together!
Wish I could go back!
Motorcityman-Just like the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers-They won their first ten games, and twenty-two of their first twenty-four, gradually pulling away from the rest of the pack, finishing 13.5 games ahead of the second place Boston Braves, and finally vanquishing the monkey from their backs, beating their hated crosstown rivals from the Bronx, shutting out the Yankees 2-0 for the Dodgers' only World Series title while calling Brooklyn home.
@@kevinmiller6380 I was out too sea in October 1984 playing catch the smuggler. Had a bet with a fellow sailor from San Diego. Bet him in May that the San Diego Padres would win the National play Detroit Tigers and loose. I was born in Detroit.
Missed the 1968 world series for basically the same reason. No TV in Grafenwohr and too busy to listen to AFN radio.
Now I live have Detroit. I guess if I am outside the territories of the US for a year again. The Tigers may win the series again that year.
Absolutely CORRECT !!! Tigers started
35-5 after their first 40 games of the Season & never looked back , PHENOMENAL !!!!!
Sparky Anderson yelling at Gibson saying "they don't wanna walk you" and giving him the sign to swing away and Sparkys laugh after Gibson hits the home run never gets old
I saw a documentary that had film from the other cameras showing Anderson yelling at Gibson that SD was going to pitch to him. The reaction shot of Gibson was "you're speaking gibberish; you're not making any sense". Gossage struck out Evans and Parrish to end the inning and nobody was paying attention; the crowd was still cheering the home run.
@@pabloapostar7275 here you go.. ua-cam.com/video/dmukTdo-WuY/v-deo.html
I know Right!!!!
Nobody deserved it more than Goose.
@@pabloapostar7275 And four years later a gimpy legged Gibson hobbled his way to the plate to face Oakland's Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, L.A. trailing the A's 4-3. As you know Gibson blasted one into the rightfield seats at Dodger Stadium, and joyfully limping his way around the bases, giving the Dodgers a 5-4 victory in Game 1.
1984, man what a year. Perhaps the greatest year in the United States in the 20th Century
It's been all down hill since then that's for sure.
You got that right.
One of the happiest days of my life, the 2nd time I saw the Tigers win it all.
I remember the fun I had from April to that Sunday in October.
Yes we had a blast in 84 following the Tigers . My dad and I made the trip to the motor city numerous times .
my dad still talks about this team alllll the time....legendary stuff
Kirk Gibson one of the greatest athletes of all time. Tough and competitive.
True!!!!
That '84 team went wire to wire in first place and started 35-5. Should have had a couple of World Series years. Almost 40 years ago and they haven't won one since but this moment never gets old.
I was a Marine in San Diego then so cheered for Padres. Nobody was going to beat Detroit this year. Tigers definitely should have won more series.
I was in a bar in Cleveland watching John Lee Hooker play live, Hooker who was a Tigers fan spotted the moment on the one and only TV in the place and made a point of gesturing to the guitar player and pointing at the set to let him know Detroit had won the series. The Tigers had a memorable season that year.
I was an absolute die-hard O's fan back then and so looked forward to the baseball season every year in those days. That year was just misery for me as the season was basically over by May 1 with that remarkable start by the Tigers.
Pisses me off to this day...Tigers should have won in 2006, or at least one of the other two times they went to the Series with Jim Leyland as the skipper. My dad pointed out to me in '84 how the Tigers always seemed to win the World Series every 20 years(or so...look it up) and 2006 would have been 22 years...right on schedule. Which means they will be 'due' around 2028...or 2030, or so.
New York says the same about the 86 Mets
Kirk Gibson hits a game winning HR in 1984 against a future member of the Hall Of Fame, then goes to 1988 and does it again, in consecutive at bats !
Yet there were players that criticized Gibson , when he was a coach, calling him two swings behind his back. At least he had two swings in the World Series. Which is lot more than many of the players can say today.
Actually, this Gibson HR was not game winning. The game winning HR belongs to Lance Parrish, who homered off Gossage the inning before. Gibson's HR was just icing on the cake.
HE WAS OFF THE BAG!
You make a realy good point that I never thought of...his last at bat in the 84 World Series was a home run, and his next, and only at bat in the 1988 World Series was a home run. Back to back, only separated by time. Great observation!
@@JpStewart0169 Against Hall of Farmers Gosse and Eck !!! ⚾⚾
I can't believe this team was one and done. They had so much talent and so much potential. I never thought 40 years would pass without another World Series crown.
@@jacksquat4140 1987 Tigers were a good team. It was just the Twins year.
@@mrg8581: That was pretty much our best and final hope of winning another World Series for the next two decades. I really thought Detroit would win it all in '87, but it wasn't meant to be.
@@jacksquat4140 Tigers had a decent team in 1988 and went downhill after that
@@mrg8581: Good thing the Pistons began their ascent while the Tigers were winding down, otherwise I would have to rest my hopes in the Redwings and Lions.
@@jacksquat4140 Pistons could have three or four titles in a row. But Isiah got hurt during the 1988 finals. And that horrible last second steal by Boston in 1987 Conference finals.
I was at this game, one of thousands standing outside Tiger Stadium on Michigan Ave. They had big speakers outside so we could hear the calls. The crowd noise was incredible! When Gibson hit the homer it was pandemonium. Thanks for the memories!
And fans inside the stadium stormed the field after Tigers won it all.
It's good to be a Tigers fan. I've seen the greats from Colavito, Kaline, Gibson, to Verlander and Cabrera. It never gets old! ⚾️
Don't know about you, but I remember my 1st game at Tiger Stadium. Sunday doubleheader, walking down a ramp from inside, seeing the field for the first time. It was glorious, the bright sun, the perfect diamond, the sound of wood bats, smacking ball after ball in BP. We would get to the park early, my 5 brothers, mom & dad. Of course, we had our mitts to snag anything that came our way. Didn't see any Homer's that day in 1961, but Tigers won & Rocky Colavito roped a double off the top of the fence down the line, Kaline made a couple of his rocket throws from the right field corner, & it was the best day of my life, up to that point.cWow!
Rest in peace Vin Scully.
@Mr G How was Vin Scully able to call this game? I thought he called the LA Dodger games?
@@COKEDUDEUSF He became a national announcer for NBC game of the week and such from 1983 to 1989. I think his most memorable World Series call was the Buckner call in the 1986 World Series (in my mind more memorable than the Kirk Gibson Homerun in 1988 or this call). Not just Dodger fans appreciated his great announcing!
DON'T WALK HIM! DON'T WALK HIM!
"He don't wanna walk you!" - Sparky. You shoulda walked him Goose. Kirk Gibson always had a flair for the dramatic! First at MSU, then with the Tigers, and then the Dodgers. An amazing athlete!
I was at this game sitting in the upper centre field bleachers right beside the TV cameras. My one and only world series game, and only got to go because my friend's uncle gave up his ticket. The Gibson homer is the one memory that stands out from the game itself. The other thing I remember is that right after the game it started pouring rain, and the people on the field started tearing up pieces of the turf as souvenirs. And after we had left some crazies started turning over cars and I heard some were torched. Had to drive back home to Hamilton, Ontario and got home in the wee hours of the morning. Great memories and glad I was there. Thank you for posting this video.
I was there too, from Kitchener. I sat in the center field upper deck on the Saturday and above third base on the Sunday. I sat 3 people down from Bob Brenley and Wade Boggs and got Boggs autograph when he got up to take a leak. I took home a big piece of that Tiger turf and tried to plant it in my backyard. What a season for Detroit! Kind of a bummer for me being a Jays fan.
Went to a Tigers spring training game in Lakeland that year. Talked to Gibby about 10 minutes. One thing he said was he had a good feeling about the upcoming season. Boy was he right.
My gosh, this is almost FORTY YEARS ago!!!!!!
And, just like that, the 40th year has arrived.
One of my favorite years ever....what fun we had!
I was 12 listening to this on WJR. I had the cassette tape that they put out after to recap the season "Wire to Wire Champions" . One of my teachers a year or so later had a poster in his class room with Gibson, Lemon, and Trammel, and a pile of bats titled "The Lumberyard" a tribute to the insane number of bats the 3 had broken that season.
DAMN SKULLY CALLED BOTH OF THEM! I had forgotten that
And I personally prefer his "She is...gone!" call over the "don't believe what I just saw" one from '88.
Some serious gamers on that squad....and one of the greatest managers of all time--if not THE greatest.
The Jack Buck call is abysmal compared to Vinny! Buck STOMPS on the fan reaction and make it about him. Like Vin said, after Gibby crossed the plate "In the year that has been so improbable, the Impossible has happened!
Thanks for the memories, tiger stadium looked great, broke my heart to see it get torn down....
Mine too. And then to see the former playing field get replaced with astroturf.
Who you gonna call? "Goosebusters!" That was the chant of the night that night in Detroit! What awesome memories.
Another Gary Templeton fielding gem. This shows why the Cards swapped him for Ozzie
Templeton actually wasn't a bad fielder. Above average range, slightly below average fielding percentage, and the strongest infield throwing arm in MLB until Shawon Dunston took over that title. He did make a boneheaded play here (2:59), though. There's no excuse for not being ready for this throw.
I see what you did there
At least Templeton could hit.
Goose or no Goose there was no stopping Detroit in '84. Bless you Boys!
No distracting advertising/billboards on every square foot of the ball park, no netting everywhere to "protect" fans from foul balls, no wimpy one inning closers, and one home state hero doing his thing. Not longing for the good old days because for sure there were problems, but as a society we were better than we are now.
And no annoying pitch counts, radar guns, openers, home run distances, launch angles, exit speeds, WAR, win probability, runs created, runs saved, ballpark factors, win expectancy, Pythagorean winning percentage, betting lines on baseball, fantasy baseball, statheads, 4-hour games, pitch framing, defensive shifts, batters who hit right into defensive shifts. I am longing for the good old days when tickets were cheap, parking was free (or maybe a buck or two) and you didn't need a mortgage to buy a beer or soda.
Same people that bring us social justice messages in back of End Zone for NFL games. Ridiculous. I can't stand watching sports now
@@firebird6522 Exactly. MLB has changed Same with all pro sports. Not for better either.
@@mrg8581 Amen, brother!
Living in Florida all my life, my dad played into AAA before injury,and he came up in Tiger’s organization. Actually roomed with Mickey Lolich one spring. ‘68 Tigers were the best but ‘84 team went wire to wire and dominated!!Kirk was iconic but the real strength was Trammel & Whittaker up the middle. All Star duo many times. Thanks y’all
Watched it with my dad when I was 14.
Dad also took me to a Spartans vs Iowa Hawkeyes game when Kirk Gibson played for the Spartans. People have said I can't be right, but I watched Gibson line up at halfback. They used him like a Swiss army knife that game. But he for sure carried the ball as a running back that game.
If you look at his collage stats he had 11 carries for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns
@@DR-wp5ux Surprised Spartans didn't use Gibby more often as a running back.
He was more useful as a receiver in MSU's sophisticated passing attack. An automatic mismatch against smaller DBs and slower LBs.
This was the best recap of the last game '84 WS, IMO.
In 1984 I was 14 yrs old and I remember watching this homerun on TV. Gibby was the man.
Same - I was 14 too at the time (class 0f '88). Gibson's alma mater (Waterford Kettering) was in the same athletic conference as my high school.
14 also..lol
Absolutely love how quickly Gossage works here.
Just another reason today’s game is so boring
Exactly. Baseball sucks now.
Goose ain't gettin paid by the hour
@@mrg8581 let's see what the CBA has to offer us this year
I love it. Gets right into business.
I was just thinking that. He throws 10 pitches for every 1 thrown today!
Vin: "And maybe because of that, Gossage is saying 'I can get him'"
A brief pause.
Vin (with a hint of being dubious): "Well, we'll see."
2 pitches and 13 seconds later, we did see.
True!!!
I actually liked MLB back then and the Detroit Tigers. They were almost unbeatable that year. What a team!!! Don't watch much of any pro sports anymore. Pro athletes are only concerned about money and status these days and no team loyalty anymore.
I remuneration every pitch of this series. Great season for Detroit
After all these years I still remember the bar I was in and the people I was with watching this game. It's great to see it all again!!
This was the World Series where the same Willie Hernandez was both 1984 American League MVP and Cy Young award winner
Kirk Gibson defined the word "intensity." He was a football player playing baseball.
This dude hit two huge World Series homeruns within the span of four years (five postseasons).
My greatest moment as a Tiger fan and easily the most exciting and clutch!
I was in the navy...out at sea on a submarine..we were sitting waiting to get an update...finally after 7 hours after game..we got news and sports..lot of tiger fans on my boat were very happy. Remember like it was yesterday
@@atlbuck The good old days before social media and the Internet. 😉. Thank you for your service.👍
5:09 - 5:23 That’s the footage from “Kidsongs: A Day At Old MacDonald’s Farm”.
Ahhhh...My Grad. Year '84 Being from San Diego Cali...Detrit was so Bad Ass I'm Really Surprised that the Padres even Won One Game⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️
Not that there aren't any good announcers now, because there are some good ones. But it is so nice to hear those two gentlemen in the broadcast booth together. They made a magnificent duo and they were such a pleasure to listen to for any baseball fan!
How lucky to be one of the best players in the game and to have played under both Sparky Anderson and Tommy Lasorda.
And just four years later...that glorious night in October...Gibson went to the right field fence for the Dodgers.
Yes, now that you mentioned it!!!!
that 1988 Dodger team on paper had no business winning that WS. they had no business beating the Mets in the NLCS, for that matter. Tommy Lasorda pulled a master class that October. he made so many right decisions that post season, including having a hobbled Gibson pinch hit in that situation.
@@bconni2 Two words come to mind: Orel Hershiser.
@@Banff1998 You’re right about that!!!!
For Tiger fans this is Kirk Gibson’s greatest homer.
I was there at 9 years old. My grandmother was trying to get us to storm the the field so we can grab some dirt. Gibson was awesome.
Kirk Gibson deserves to be in the HOF more than more than gossage does.
You really need to stop sniffing glue.
I sure miss the old days...e.g., when baseball was still worth watching, and people still knew how to disagree with each other without resorting to nasty personal attacks.
I love watching 70s and 80s baseball like this. I also find it interesting / hilarious how the entire crowd is in street clothes. No jerseys, team gear, etc.
Need more charismatic legends like Kirk Gibson Immortal
I love these old clips
The Tigers had many great moments that season but my favorite was the Game 3 clincher against the Royals when Darrell Evans made that great diving play at first base to get the speedy Willie Wilson to preserve Milt Wilcox's 1-0 win.
Ironically years later I lived in KC and worked with Wilson's daughter.
Kansas City played Detroit much closer than people realize. That was a very good Royals team except they needed an alpha pitcher to put them over the top.
(Bret Saberhagen enters the room. The rest is history.)
@@charlesmurphy3222 the next year the Royals won the WS thanks to the umpire making one of the worst calls ever to rob the Cardinals of a win they had in the bag.
@@123slasher.16Except Jack Clark drops Out #2. Even if it's one out, Balboni singles, Onix Cenception is the pinch runner. It's still a 1-0 ballgame in Game 6. Even if Orta was called out.
The Cardinals should've shown up for Game 7. They didn't. It was a bad call, but no excuses after that. Clark catches the foul ball and it's back to 1 out again. Everything resets back to what it was.
It's all right here.
ua-cam.com/video/FUAH1xg2ruE/v-deo.html
Roar of 84 and I’m calling a roar of 2024
I dunno, 2022 IS the Year of the Tiger after all
Vin Scully. Classic.
And now, thanks to the automatic intentional walk, we'll never have another moment like this again.
Another rule change to ruin the game.
Interesting take on a sequence that didn't include an intentional walk.
@@vinceo1058 I see that someone didn't pay attention or watch the video.
@@1981lashlarue Well, you're correct that *somebody* didn't. Please tell us who you think was intentionally walked - I love fan fiction.
Yep. Let's speed up the game and take a of the thinking out. I think the original reply implies that the auto intentional removes the mound conversation and the manager puts Gibson on.
GREAT Sports moments, most of the time, not all the time. come from baseball games.
Hollywood has made A LOT of Sports movies. I am willing to bet. there most profitable have been the Baseball movies.
It's amazing how Kirk Gibson came through on crucial games !
I wish the Pirates didn't give up on Gibson too early in 1992. He proved in 1993 that he could still hit
No way do they lose that game 7 with him on that team. He wouldn't have pulled up in right field like Cecil Espy did in the 9th inning.
4:09 Candlesticks always make a nice gift.
Oh the days of good ol' baseball!!
Before the liberal wokens ruined everything.
I like seeing everyone wear their socks on the outside
it completes the look
There is nothing better than Scully and Garagiola
Harwell and Carey, thank you very much.
Miss these old ballparks
Me too
Tiger Stadium should have been saved just like Wrigley and Fenway.
Yes, it had a few warts but modern engineering could have solved or mitigated most of the problems and extended the life of that baseball shrine at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull for another half century or more.
5:56 The Great Tony Gwynn was the final out of the Padres losing their first chance at the World Series
what bitter irony
Wiggins & Templeton....bush little league plays. Nice catch & throw Alan, sorry Gary, they moved 2nd base on you. Tigs would have won Series anyway, but you cannot make those plays, even in Spring Training. Quick ticket to AAA. Williams dumbest managerial decision you could make. Gibby was gonna take it to the upper deck. Saw it coming. 68 & 84. Mr. G......keep posting, love it
Why is Lou Whitaker not in the HOF???
He should be.
He's going to get in at some point, but he should already be in
@@cs5845 Agreed
The Tigers were wondering the same thing
that's why effective this year
no Tiger will ever be seen with the number 1 ever again
@@thedude3065 Whitaker's number should be retired. Number 1. Sweet Lou.
And four years later, he does it again
Dang, no wonder Gossage is so bitter these days. He said he could get Gibson out and then this happens. I can't believe his manager even let him try.
Gossage finished a lot of important games, with a win and the SV next to his name. But, because he was that good, there were times he got burned. As a long time Yankee fan, I hated seeing Gossage pitch against George Brett, because Brett always seemed to clobber Goose. Gossage thought he had Gibson's number. Well, for the most part, he did. It is just that the one time he didn't, it was in a big game.
How do you know he's bitter? You know him personally?
@@millypoo7713 I don't need to know him personally. I have ears and have listened to the things he's said.
@@dougbrowne9890 I have to say that I've always thought of Gossage as a great pitcher, but not necessarily a staggering pitcher. However, there were some years where his accomplishments were pretty staggering. 1975, 1977, and 1978 in particular were staggering years. He had damn near the innings of some of today's starters, but pitched all in relief. And he had a sub-2 or near-sub-2 ERA.
Up until this AB Gossage owned Gibson! (Gibby was 0 for 14 against Goose!) Dick Williams was playing the percentages on this one…….And lost.
Landed all four high-fives like the pure athlete he was, too.
he's off the bag. he's off the bag.
Tiger Stadium! Should’ve been restored rather than torn down, one of the most unique ballparks of all time
Plus there was more shaded seating at Tiger Stadium. Too many seats at Comerica Park are in the direct sunlight.
Loved Tiger Stadium. I loved pro sports until bench warmers started making $5M a year. It’s so ridiculous now, pitchers making $40M a year for pitching 20 games. They won’t get any of my time and money.
@@acerothstein4755 Exactly. And the game itself has changed since the 1980s. And not for the better either.
Comerica park has no soul. It’s generic compared to Tiger Stadium.
One of my favorite memories is in 76 on a hot August night The Bird and Tigers beat KC 2 to 1. 52,000 fans for a near last place team and the place was a living and breathing thing.
If my memory has not failed me Bruce Kimm hit a two run homer in the seventh and Mark struck out the side in the ninth. The place was wild.
Longest home run that I witnessed was hit by Harmen Killibrew in the mid sixties. A line shot to straight away center field bleachers. 440 feet to the wall and ball landed 2/3s up the upper deck bleachers. Was sitting behind 1st base dugout and the impact of ball hitting bleachers echoed through out the ballpark.
84 best year ever
Bless You Boys!
I remember that game I allways liked Mr Gibson lots of memory s best Dodgers game limped around the bases HR👍
Talk about Mr Clutch….Kirk was a pressure kind of player, that’s when he was at his best 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thurman Munson was 10x the clutch Gibson could have ever hoped to be.
I remember this just like the Homerun in 1988.
Strange fact: Kirk Gibson never even made All-Star in his career, though he was regular season MVP once.
@@russellgoff6524 Actually, it once was a great measuring stick of talent. When MLB gave the vote to the fans, the first couple were near perfect (like the first one, 1971). But as time went on, your description became the norm. That is why it blows chunks now.
Back in the days when you had to wait for the end of an inning or pitching change to find our what the score was.
Exactly.
What a great year start to finish the Tigers had.
I'm glad the Padres brought back their old colors
what they had before that felt like they were trying to imitate the Dodgers only with a darker blue
Supposedly one of the main owners was a huge Yankee fan as a kid and kept pushing their colors into Yankee-territory with the Navy & White. Due to fan pressure they brought back the brown & gold of the 70s.
@@naturallawman2965 it's better with this color scheme
it's THEIRS it's plain to see that these are the true San Diego Padres
We were there in 84!
I was there in 84 also.. sitting in the bleachers about 10 people from left field stands
He was brought to the Dodgers to do just that and he did it!
People forget just how stacked that Padres team was in 84.
This WS might have been a little bit different if Kevin McReynolds hadn’t been hurt in NLCS against the Cubs. His absence against the Tigers was huge.
@johndigiallonardo3727 Stacked, really? I doubt it. They played like a little league team. Just because they had Goose & Gwynn did not make them stacked. Weak pitching staff. Poor communication & Williams was senile. A manager that makes the right decision & then let's a player manage. Not good. We had everything. Most balanced team, since 34 & 35 seasons. If you knew someone who was a baseball fan, but not a Tigers fan..... All you had to do was smile, they knew. Gibby carried that team. Sparky knew how to get the most out of his players. Cinci & Tigs. Trammell & Whitaker, one of the best SS / 2nd base combos ever. Parrish & Morris. Senor Smoke + Willie finished them off. That's stacked. LOU....HOF, check the other HOF 2nd basemen & their stats.
The Best clutch hitter all time!
One of the classic confrontations in World Series history Gibson vs Gossage!
Marty for MVP.
'" you're talking about striking him out'"---Williams
Gibson was a middle linebacker in a baseball uniform.
Wasn't he a tight end at State?
@@dougbrowne9890 was a jack of all trades, but mostly WR
For all the talk about Bill Buckner, Leon Durham is worse if you were a Cubs fan...Detroit was going to win the series no matter who they played but, Lee Smith should've been the one throwing to Gibson.
You are oh so right!
Kirk Gibson is not going to the HOF. "Holy Cow!" Though, He sure has had some HOF "Moments!" Amazingly The voice of Baseball Vin Scully called both home runs!
Have you heard Jack Buck's call of Kirk's homer in 1988? It was on the radio.
How Perfect was that! Try to Tell us Baseball isn't God's Game!
@@playmusicnet7347 Us are too busy robbing liquor stores to listen to baseball talk.
@@Steve-cm2ys congrats on the stupidest comment of the year, and it’s only April!
Vin Scully replaced a guy named Ernie Harwell as the color man for the Dodgers when Ernie moved to the Giants to be the primary announcer.
I don't think there was a piece of sod left in Tiger Stadium after this victory...
Little did we know that Tiger stadium would pass into history
@@Jleed989 True That...
I remember when Gibson first came up, they had just started using aluminum bats in college, he was worried it would hurt his power numbers going to wood bats. It did, but he hit a lot of homers at Michigan
One of the very few moments of celebration in Detroit….
Boy do I remember THAT! Been a Tiger fan since 1967 and was amazed when they came back and beat Bob Gibson in 1968 - I was in 5th grade. 1984 was a long time to wait but the day finally came. Actually when this happened my wife wanted to have sex - probably pitting me to choose between her and the game - so we were having it in the living room in front of the TV when this play happened!! Unfortunately with all the bullshit and ridiculous length of games today - not to mention the late endings of playoff and WS games I have basically given up on Baseball.
LOL, and with the length of games today some Viagra would likely be helpful even if you do have to end up calling your doctor! 😬😎😂🤣
I think Gibson's most amazing WS at bat was when he hit the game winning ph hr against "Mr. Automatic save" Dennis Eckersley. That was amazing!
That was a great at-bats against Eck, but who says he even signs .lwith LA if he doesn't have the great '84 with the Tigers? Do you realize how rude you are to Tiger fans? Let us have a moment, too.