8802150604
DETROIT FREE PRESS
881019
Wednesday, October 19, 1988
METRO FINAL CHASER
1D
MITCH ALBOM
Copyright (c) 1988, Detroit Free Press
OAKLAND, DODGERS EVEN IN DRAMATIC SERIES HITS
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The stadium was nearly empty now. The game was long
since over. He sat in a small director's chair behind home plate, watching the
tiny TV monitor.
"This is the first time you're seeing it?" a TV man asked.
"Yeah," said Mark McGwire, his eyes locked on the screen. "Wow."
He did not limp. He did not need a shave. Mark McGwire did not steal all
of Kirk Gibson's act from Game 1 of this World Series -- just the important
part: Bottom of the ninth. Game on the line. Home run.
Wow.
"Did you know it was gone the moment you hit it?"
"Well, I better have," McGwire said. "Look, I got my hands raised over my
head on the way to first base. I'd better pray it goes out, right?"
It went out. Over the left-center wall. A 2-2 pitch with one out in the
ninth that provided glory, heroics and a 2-1 Oakland victory in Game 3 of this
World Series. It was a home run of substance, a shot in the dark that changed
the complexion of this Fall Classic as much as Gibson's blast did Saturday
night. It's a World Series now.
It almost wasn't. Here were the Athletics, "The Bashers," all muscle and
grit, being pussycatted once again -- this time in their own stadium. They
had already lost the first two games of this series, including a shutout in
Game 2. Now this. One run? That's all they could muster in eight innings? One
run? Where was Jose Canseco? Where was Carney Lansford? Where -- for that
matter -- was Mark McGwire? The cleanup man who had hit 32 home runs and 99
RBIs during the regular season, the man who batted .333 during the American
League playoffs, was yet to get a hit in this World Series, 0-for-9. Where
was he?
Look. There he is. Watch the screen. Fastball from reliever Jay Howell, his
former teammate, now throwing for the Dodgers. Swing! And . . . it's . . .
outta here!
"That has to be the top feeling," said McGwire, smiling again at the
replay. "You know when that newspaper comes around and asks you what you most
want to do in your life? I said hit a home run that would win a game in the
World Series. And there it is."
On the screen. Over and over.
Wow.
Now, OK. It is true, this World Series may be becoming a highlight film of
slow-motion victory trots around the base paths. But make no mistake. The
Athletics needed McGwire's home run desperately. Until that point, they were
nothing short of lucky to be still alive in this series. The Dodgers had
ample opportunity to win this game in the sixth inning, when they loaded the
bases with nobody out, yet unbelievably, did not score: Mike Scioscia fouled
out. Jeff Hamilton grounded into a fielder's choice at the plate. And Alfredo
Griffin grounded to first.
And still -- with the sold-out Coliseum roaring for some offense -- the
Athletics could not unleash the muscle. Canseco, Mr. Rippling Biceps, began
the ninth with a high pop- up.
But then came McGwire, the southern Californian who set the league on fire
last year. He took a few, fouled off a few, and then . . . rip.
Like Gibson, he watched the homer go. Like Gibson, he raised his hands over
his head.
He did, however, make it around the base paths a little faster. How did
you feel watching that home run versus watching Gibson's Saturday night?"
someone asked Tom Lasorda, the Dodgers' manager.
"When I watched the home run Saturday night, I felt great," he said. "When
I watched this one, I felt terrible."
Stupid question, stupid answer. But the fact is, Lasorda may have something
to worry about. If that home run, that victory -- and remember, the first
World Series win is the hardest -- can serve to inspire the Athletics'
lagging offense, then the party could be over for LA. Gibson is still ailing,
Mike Marshall left Tuesday's game with a stiff back, John Tudor was hurt early
and left the game in the second inning. Lasorda's bullpen was taxed, and he
has to come right back tonight and Thursday.
We'll see soon enough. They may not be overlaying McGwire's home run with
Robert Redford from "The Natural," but the fact is, he has now nullified the
effect of Gibson's blast. That homer gave one game to the Dodgers. This one
gave one game to the Athletics.
A home run of substance. A shot in the dark. And so they sat, watching it
over and over, deep into the night, slow motion, fast motion, the instant
replay of glory, and then, perhaps because he couldn't think of anything
better to ask, the TV man said: "Mark, which was better? Hitting that homer
tonight or your wedding night?"
McGwire paused. "I'd have to say this. You dream about hitting a home run
in the World Series your whole life. I mean, you dream about getting married,
too. But if you want to, you can get married. Hitting a World Series home run,
well . . . you never know."
Forgive him, Mrs. McGwire. Wherever you are.
COLUMN;MARK MCGUIRE;BASEBALL;WORLD SERIES