SI.COM

FOR OCT. 21, 2013

True Blue Moment

This week marks the 25th anniversary of an alltime World Series moment: Kirk Gibson's pinch-hit, walk-off homer off A's closer Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Relive that night with SI.com's oral history.

GIBSON: After I swung the first two times, the count was 0--2, and I knew I was going to have trouble. I called my two-strike approach my emergency stroke. I said to myself, This is a full emergency, let's go. I kept willing myself to hit the ball. I get to 3--2 and Dennis goes into the stretch position. I call time out and step out of the box. I said to myself, Pardner, sure as I am standing here breathing, you are going to see a 3--2 backdoor slider. He threw the pitch and the ball went out.

ECKERSLEY: The last thing on my mind was a home run. I thought, He's [Gibson's] going to try to flick this. He'd seen so many fastballs, I thought he'd pull off, roll it over. But he didn't.... I was in shock, total shock. Everything just went into slow motion.

Read more reflections on Gibson's homer, including those of Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda and A's skipper Tony La Russa, at SI.com/mlb

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Pro Football Now

How does Tom Brady keep finding ways to win? SI writers and former NFL players discuss the Patriots' QB and other NFL news on SI.com's weekly live NFL talk show, Pro Football Now, hosted by Maggie Gray and former Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer, Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. EST @ SI.com/profootballnow

SI DIGITAL BONUS

Behind The Bison

From the SI Vault | Feb. 16, 1998

Clinically depressed? A fan of eating dirt? Brian Williams—later known as Bison Dele (page 54)—was one of the Pistons' highest-paid players 15 years ago. But the center's mysterious demeanor kept the focus on his off-court activities—and perhaps foreshadowed the strange end he met years later.

By John Ed Bradley

TWO PHOTOS

HEINZ KLUETMEIER/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

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JACQUELINE DUVOISIN FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (GIBSON CELEBRATING)

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GEORGE TIEDEMANN FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (DODGERS CELEBRATING)

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JEFFREY LOWE FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (DELE)

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DAMIAN STROHMEYER FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (BRADY)