If it felt at all like history was repeating itself during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ thrilling 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night, that’s because, in multiple ways it was.
A hobbled Freddie Freeman won the game for the Dodgers with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the tenth inning, sending Dodger Stadium into a frenzy—and the heartbroken Yankees trudging back to the visitor’s clubhouse.
And all the while, it was hard not to conjure up the lasting image of former Dodgers slugger Kirk Gibson. Two left-handed batters gutting through injury, Kirk Gibson and Freddie Freeman, hitting walk-off—and potentially World Series-changing—Game 1 home runs 36 years apart…