How Vin Scully Shaped Iconic Detroit Tigers' Home Run And Detroit History

DETROIT — Legendary broadcaster Vin Scully died Tuesday at 94. He was best known for calling some of sports' most memorable moments, including Joe Montana's game-winning touchdown pass to Dwight Clark, Hank Aaron's record-breaking home run, Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series home run, among many others.

"In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened," Scully said after Gibson's walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. "And now the only question was, could he make it around the base paths unassisted."

But it was another Gibson home run Scully called that shaped one of the most iconic sports moments in Detroit's history.

The Detroit Tigers were just one inning away from their first World Series title since 1968 when Kirk Gibson walked to the plate in the bottom of the eight inning with a 5-4 lead over the San Diego Padres in the 1984 World Series.

With Marty Castillo and Lou Whitaker on base with first open, everyone in Tiger Stadium, including Scully, expected the Padres to intentionally walk the Tigers' slugger. Although Gibson homered earlier in the game, Padres ace reliever Goose Gossage had just struck out Gibson on three pitches the previous inning.

But this scenario was different. A base hit — let alone a home run — could put the Tigers up for good, ending the Padres chances for a world championship before the series shifts back to southern California.

That fear prompted Padres manager Dick Williams and catcher Terry Kennedy to visit Gossage on the mound and feel him out before an at-bat that could determine the 1984 World Series. With just one out in the inning and first base open, it made seemingly logical sense to walk the slugger and set up a force out at any base, possibly leading to an inning ending double-play for the Padres infield.

But Gossage, possibly still thinking about the solo shot Lance Parrish hit off him the prior inning and was on-deck, convinced Williams and Kennedy he wanted Gibson.

"You know, it’s interesting: Kirk Gibson made his major-league debut, his very first at-bat in the big leagues against Goose Gossage. That’s a great way to break in. And Gossage struck him out on three pitches," Scully said.

"Blew him away, Sparky says," Scully's broadcast partner Joe Garagiola Sr. said.

"And maybe because of that, Gossage is saying, ‘I can get him.’ So we’ll see," Scully said.

After Gibson took a first-pitch ball from Gossage, Scully said, "The infield is up. … They give Gibson the left-field foul line. Brown is in left."

Gossage's next pitch was inside, about belt high, when Gibson swung, sending a high fly ball into deep right field.

"And there it goes!" Scully said as the high-arcing ball was launched into the right field grandstand, a three-run home run, putting the Tigers up 8-4.

Always envisioning himself as part of the crowd, calling games as if they were a conversation between fans, Scully paused for nearly two minutes to allow The Corner (Michigan and Trumbull) and fans everywhere to roar and enjoy the moment.

After the first three pitches to the next hitter, Scully said, "I have a distinct feeling that Goose Gossage talked Dick Williams out of the intentional walk."

"And that’ll be another one of those things that’ll haunt Dick Williams, because it looked like they were maybe gonna set up the double play. But Williams was doing all the talking," Garagiola Sr. said.

"I know Kennedy figured to walk him; he held four fingers up," Scully said.

The Tigers took the 8-4 lead into the ninth inning and with two outs, Scully said "The way this crowd's been going, we're just going to be quiet and let you listen and enjoy it until your heart's content," just before Tigers' left-fielder Larry Herndon caught the third out in left field, giving the Tigers their first World Series title in 16 years.