The 1988 Dodgers
- 1988 Record:
- 94 - 67, 1st place in N.L. Western Division
- Postseason:
- Won National League Championship Series, 4-3 vs. New York Mets | Won the World Series over the Oakland A’s, 4 - 1
- Manager:
- Tommy Lasorda
- All-Stars:
- Orel Hershiser, P
- Home Attendance:
- 2,980,262
Season Recap:
A total team effort and never give up attitude led the 1988 Dodgers’ to a 21-game improvement from 1987 and their second World Championship of the 1980s. First, the underdog Dodgers had to beat the New York Mets in a seven-game National League Championship Series. Catcher Mike Scioscia hit a crucial two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning in Game 4 off Dwight Gooden to tie the score at 4-4 and send the Dodgers into extra innings. Kirk Gibson homered to win the game and even the NLCS at 2-2. Winning Game 5 and Game 7, the Dodgers clinched the N.L. Pennant at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers next beat the favored “Bash Brothers” Oakland A’s in the World Series, four games to one, to capture their sixth World Championship. Game 1 was the difference maker as an injured Kirk Gibson hobbled to home plate to pinch hit with the Dodgers trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. Gibson was not scheduled to play due to injuries in both legs. But, he willed himself to pinch-hit after taking several swings off a tee in the clubhouse and hearing Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully repeatedly announce that Gibson would not play. The sellout crowd went crazy when they saw Gibson emerge from the dugout. Mike Davis drew a walk off A’s closer Dennis Eckersley with two out and while Gibson was batting, Davis stole second. Gibson worked the count to 3-and-2 before hitting the most dramatic home run in Dodger history to win the game, 5-4. Scully, who was working for NBC-TV, famously said, “In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!” The Dodgers went onto win three more games to clinch the title in Oakland. Gibson’s homer was voted “the Greatest Moment in L.A. Sports History” in a 1995 poll by the L.A. Sports Council with a panel of sports experts. Honors were plentiful following the championship, as Gibson was named National League MVP; pitcher Orel Hershiser was named National League Cy Young Award winner and World Series MVP; Tommy Lasorda was named National League Manager of the Year; and Dodger Executive Vice President Fred Claire was named The Sporting News and Baseball America Executive of the Year. To win the National League Western Division, the Dodgers went 94-67 on the wings of Hershiser, who had 23 wins and a 59-inning consecutive shutout string over seven games, and Gibson’s .290 average with 25 home runs and 76 RBI. But, it was the contribution of the Stuntmen,a band of reserves who stepped up from cameo roles to the big time contributing whenever asked, including Mickey Hatcher, Dave Anderson, Franklin Stubbs, Danny Heep, Mike Sharperson, Rick Dempsey, and Tracy Woodson. Dodger starter Tim Leary was The Sporting News’ Comeback Player of the Year with a 17-11 record and a 2.91 ERA. Tim Belcher won 12 games, while closer Jay Howell was 5-3 with a 2.08 ERA and 21 saves. Mike Marshall hit 20 home runs, second to Gibson, while John Shelby added 10 homers. The 1988 Dodgers famous battle cry after a win: “What a team!” Indeed.
Below are the Dodger Front Office department heads and personnel who worked for Peter O’Malley.
- Board of Directors
- Peter O’Malley, President; Harry M. Bardt; Roland Seidler, Jr., Vice President, Treasurer; Terry O’Malley Seidler, Secretary
- President:
- Peter O’Malley
- Executive Vice President, Player Personnel:
- Fred Claire
- Vice President, Communications:
- Tommy Hawkins
- Vice President, Finance:
- Bob Graziano
- Vice President, Marketing:
- Merritt Willey
- Vice President, Treasurer:
- Roland Seidler, Jr.
- Assistant Secretary and General Counsel:
- Sam Fernandez
- Assistant to the President:
- Ike Ikuhara
- Auditor:
- Michael Strange
- Controller and Assistant Treasurer:
- Ken Hasemann
- Director, Community Relations:
- Don Newcombe
- Community Relations:
- Roy Campanella
- Community Relations:
- Lou Johnson
- Director, Data Processing:
- Mike Mularky
- Director, Dodgertown:
- Terry Reynolds
- Director, Human Resources:
- Irene Tanji
- Director, Marketing and Promotions:
- Barry Stockhamer
- Director, Minor League Operations:
- Charlie Blaney
- Director, Publications and Asst. Director, Publicity:
- Brent Shyer
- Director, Publicity:
- Mike Williams
- Director, Scouting:
- Ben Wade
- Director, Stadium Club and Transportation:
- Bob Schenz
- Director, Stadium Operations:
- Bob Smith
- Director, Ticket Department:
- Walter Nash
- Traveling Secretary:
- Billy DeLury
- Team Doctors:
- Dr. Frank W. Jobe; Dr. Michael F. Mellman