Friday, October 15, 2010

Remembering '88: Orel Hershiser's Game 2 Performance


Today is the 22nd anniversary of Kirk Gibson's famous walk-off homerun in game 1 of the 1988 World Series . It may be the greatest moment in Dodger history, if not baseball history. The Dodgers would go on to win the World Series in five games.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of game 2. Orel Hershiser started that game. It was an amazing outing by the Bulldog, one that was, in my opinion, overshadowed by Gibby's homerun the night before. But it shouldn't be forgotten.

From the 1988 World Series Wiki:

With a rested Orel Hershiser on the mound, the Dodgers took a 2–0 lead. Hershiser got all the runs he needed in the third, with Mike Marshall providing the big blow with a three-run homer. Hershiser went the distance, allowing only three singles, all three hit by Dave Parker.

Hershiser also contributed offensively, with three hits, including an RBI double in the fourth inning. In the five-run third inning, he singled, went to third on an opposite-field single by Steve Sax and later scored. He was the first pitcher to get three hits in a World Series game since 1924.
That's what you want to see from your "Ace", a gem.

With that in mind, I wanted to show one of my favorite Orel Hershiser cards. It's a 2005 Donruss Diamond Kings autograph game-used jersey card, #'d 16/25. This was Orel's third Diamond Kings appearance, with the previous two coming in 1986 and 1993.






I love this card, it always reminds me of '88 and Orel's Game 2 performance.

10 comments:

  1. Crap, now I must have that card! :) nice to see a bulldog story, tnx!

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  2. Dutch - I know you're a huge fan of Hershiser's. See if you can find one on ebay.

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  3. I keep trying to forget 1988 and I just keep getting reminded of that aweful year. I was in the army and my room mate was from LA. We were waking up at 3am to watch the games that year. We were in Germany, 6 hours ahead of the states. If no one was around to see it...I'd let my dog attack Orel Hershiser! Can't stand him. LOL

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  4. BTB - Sorry for the bad memory. But 1988 is my last good memory.

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  5. Awesome card. He pitched a great game. I actually remember seeing that game on TV.

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  6. BCR - Thanks. Yeah, it feels like a million years ago.

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  7. I'm 1986...let's split the difference and call 1987 the last year of glory for us.
    : D

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  8. I have one of his cards signed 1 of 1 interested?

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  9. pbaseball68@comcast.net

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