Gibson, Eck recall famous HR at Torre's event

MLB chief baseball officer Joe Torre hosts a Safe At Home Foundation event with appearances from Billy Crystal and baseball legendsLOS 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…