1988 NLCS Game 6

Lore & Background

The 1988 Dodgers, after two consecutive 89-loss seasons in 1986 and 1987, won an improbable World Championship in 1988. The 1988 championship was highlighted by Kirk Gibson's walk-off home run in Game 1 of the World Series, which was named the greatest moment in team history by the Los Angeles Times.

In Their Own Story

The tunnel at Shea Stadium smelled of cut grass and nervous sweat. A Dodgers player tightened his cleats, listening to the roar of twenty thousand fans singing for the home team. The scoreboard flashed red: three games down, two up. One loss meant defeat. He stepped onto the diamond, the lights blinding against the night sky. There was no time to think about the history books, only the next pitch, the next play, and the promise that the season wasn't over yet.

Reader's Guide

The Dodgers' 1988 season was part of a period of sustained success from 1973–1988, during which the team won two championships (1981, 1988), five pennants (1974, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1988), and seven National League West division titles.

Did You Know?

• The Dodgers have won nine World Series, 27 pennants, and 23 National League West titles.
• The most wins the Dodgers ever had in a season was 111, which occurred in 2022.
• The Dodgers have made the postseason thirty-nine times, the most recent in 2025.