Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda is among the select few who can lay claim to witnessing, in person, the dramatic postseason home runs hit by Kirk Gibson and Justin Turner that came 29 years apart.
On Oct. 15, 1988, Gibson appeared as a pinch-hitter and hit a walk-off home run off vaunted Oakland Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley, giving the Dodgers a Game 1 win in the World Series. The home run is regarded as the best in Dodgers franchise history.
On Sunday night, Turner’s walk-off, three-run homer put Los Angeles two wins away from reaching their first Fall Classic since that magical 1988 season. Lasorda was part of the capacity crowd on hand at Dodger Stadum.
Lasorda spoke fondly of his former player, Gibson, and had equal praise Turner as he highlighted a similarity between the two, via ESPN’s Ramona Shleburne:
“Both of them are equal-type ballplayers. They’re real money players. There are times when you need a big hit, and [Justin Turner] is a heckuva ballplayer. I often wonder why those other clubs didn’t keep him.
Turner’s resurgence since signing a Minor League contract with the Dodgers in 2014 has been nothing short of astonishing. Former New York Mets manager Terry Collins recently raved about Turner and what he’s accomplished since joining Los Angeles.
In addition to four productive regular seasons with the Dodgers, Turner has been the team’s top hitter come the playoffs. His .449 career batting average in the Division Series is the highest in MLB history among players with a minimum of 50 plate appearances.
Through two games in this year’s National League Championship Series, he’s 3-for-8 with the one home run, five RBI and one walk.
