With this season marking the 30-year anniversary since the Los Angeles Dodgers last won the World Series, the club is set to honor the 1988 team on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium. Included in that is Kirk Gibson throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
The following night, March 30, the Dodgers will distribute a Kirk Gibson bobblehead to the first 40,000 ticketed fans in attendance. The design of which depicts Gibson celebrating his game-winning home run off vaunted Oakland Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the World Series.
The pinch-hit at-bat was Gibson’s lone appearance in the Fall Classic that saw the Dodgers defeat the Athletics in five games.
Along with the first pitch ceremony and bobblehead, the Dodgers and Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) are partnering with the Kirk Gibson Foundation during the opening week of the 2018 season to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease.
LADF will hold an online auction from April 9-30 for 88 Gibson-autographed bobbleheads and the Dodgers’ game-worn jerseys from the March 30 game. Proceeds will benefit the Kirk Gibson Foundation.
Gibson will be present for the fundraising efforts, which include the donation of the proceeds of the Opening Day LADF 50-50 raffle and a silent auction.
I imagine the Kirk Gibson bobblehead will be among the more popular giveaways this season. pic.twitter.com/fXAMpyAc8v
— Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015) February 24, 2018
“I’d like to thank the Dodger organization, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and Dodger fans for their support of the Kirk Gibson Foundation and Parkinson’s Disease research,” Gibson said. “We’re going to be able to help a lot of people through the money raised during Opening week.”
Limited tickets for Opening Day are available through the purchase of mini plans at Dodgers.com/miniplans. Single-game tickets are still available for the March 30 contest, which will also feature Friday Night Fireworks, at Dodgers.com/promotions.
