<P> While Kirk Gibson was taking practice swings in the Dodgers' clubhouse during Game 1, Orel Hershiser set up the hitting tee for his teammate . Along the way, NBC's Bob Costas could hear Gibson's agonized - sounding grunts after every hit . </P> <P> A's closer Dennis Eckersley came on to pitch the ninth to close it out for Stewart . After retiring the first two batters (Mike Scioscia and Jeff Hamilton), Eckersley's former A's teammate Mike Davis, batting for Alfredo Griffin, walked on five pitches . During Davis' at - bat, Dave Anderson initially entered the on - deck circle to hit for Alejandro Peña . Eckersley pitched carefully to Davis because the A's remembered all of the home runs he hit for the A's a year earlier, not because the light - hitting Anderson was on deck, as popularly believed . After Davis walked, Lasorda called back Anderson and sent up a hobbled Kirk Gibson to the plate, amidst cheers from the Dodger Stadium crowd . Gibson bravely fouled off Eckersley's best offerings, demonstrating how badly he was hurting . On one foul, Gibson hobbled towards first and prompted Scully to quip, "And it had to be an effort to run THAT far ." After Gibson fouled off several pitches, Davis stole second on ball three . On the next pitch, the 8th of the at bat, Gibson, with an awkward, almost casual swing, using pure upper - body strength, and remembering a scouting report that said Eckersley liked to throw a backdoor slider to left handed hitters on 3--2 counts, slammed that backdoor slider into the right field bleachers to win the game . The footage of Gibson hobbling around the bases on both hurt legs and pumping his fist as he rounded second became an iconic baseball film highlight . </P> <P> Gibson would never bat again in the Series, and his walk - off homer in Game 1 marked the first time that a World Series game ended with a come - from - behind home run . </P> <P> By the time Kirk Gibson reached his locker after Game 1, bullpen coach Mark Cresse had written "R. HOBBS" on a piece of paper and taped it over Gibson's nameplate, which was in reference to Gibson's heroics mirroring those of the fictional slugger played by Robert Redford in The Natural . </P>

When was the last time the dosgers were in the world series