The climactic Game 1 ending of the 1988 World Series is one of the all-time great moments in sports history. Trailing Oakland by a 3-2 margin, with one on and two away in the bottom of the 9th, Dodgers skipper Tommy Lasorda called on Kirk Gibson with two bad legs to pinch hit against lights-out closer Dennis Eckersley. Against all odds, Gibson limped to the plate, fell behind 0-2, fought off several tough pitches from Eck, worked the count to 3-2, and then...boom! Cue Vin Scully...
"High fly ball into right field, she iiiis GONE!!!"
This magical moment has spawned one of the better baseball trivia questions: Who was on deck when Gibson hit the famous homer? Answer: Leadoff hitter, Steve Sax.
Featured here is the actual jersey Sax was wearing when he enthusiastically ran up the third base line to greet Gibson as the hobbling hero finished his miraculous home run trot. The classic home jersey has “Dodgers" across the front in royal blue tackle twill above Sax’s No. "3" in red. A Rawlings size 44 label is sewn inside the collar and a white flag tag with “1½ INCH EXTRA LENGTH” is sewn below. The right sleeve has the custom 1988 World Series patch, and the back has “SAX” and his “3” both in royal blue and white tackle twill. The Dodgers second baseman has signed the jersey on the front in blue marker below his number and inscribed it, “88 W.S. Champs On Deck Gibson H.R.” Game wear is evident throughout. Sax went 1-3 with a single, HBP and a stolen base and a run scored. He would wear this shirt again in Game 2, going 1-4 with a run scored as Hershiser shut out the A's, 6-0. This remarkable piece of baseball history comes directly from the Steve Sax Collection with a letter from Sax and a full LOA from PSA/DNA for the autograph and inscription.
A portion of the auction proceeds from all items sold in the Steve Sax Collection will benefit the foundation named for Steve’s son, John, who was one of five U.S. Marines killed in a training flight accident in June 2022 in the California desert. The Capt. John J. Sax Foundation “serves to support those who choose to further their education, exploration and passion for flight."