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.
Adding to the perfect symmetry was Fox Sports play-by-play commentator Joe Davis, who channeled legendary longtime Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, who was on the call for Gibson's home run.
SHE IS ... GONE!!
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
1988 meets 2024
Absolute chills pic.twitter.com/w22CGpnmtO
"She is ... Gone!" Davis exclaimed in a perfect tribute to the identical call Scully had made of Gibson's iconic 1988 home run in the Fall Classic. "Gibby meet Freddie!"
What a way to honor Scully, arguably the game's greatest broadcaster who passed away in August of 2022.
And both Dodger sluggers, hobbled by injuries, raised their right arms in victory as the crowd went wild.
Baseball is poetic.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Joe Davis's Call of Freddie Freeman's Walk-Off Was Perfect Tribute to Vin Scully.
