LOS ANGELES -- One of the overlooked elements of the epic eight-pitch showdown between Dennis Eckersley and Kirk Gibson in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series was how close it came to ending in a harmless groundout. Behind in the count, 0-2, a frail, hobbled Gibson hit a slow bouncer down the first-base line that rolled foul just before Eckersley and his first baseman, Mark McGwire, could get a glove on it.
Gibson brought that up on Thursday night, with Eckersley seated next to him onstage.
"Oh," Eckersley bellowed, raising his palms up in front of his face, "that could've been fair.