SPRING TRAINING, 1988, THE EYE-BLACK INCIDENT

1988.  Perhaps the most memorable year for the avid L.A. sports fan.  It was the year the Lakers made good on Pat Riley's promise of a REPEAT, and the Blue would bring home the World Series in an improbable triumph over the A's in 5 games.  20 years .  Seems like yesterday  huh ?  Can this year be a repeat of 1988?  I'm not betting on it.  But, speaking of '88, it was January 30th, 1988, that the Dodgers, after consecutive 73-89 seasons, would land their first free-agent in 8 years, a gung-ho, all-hustle, scruffy looking outfielder with a football mentality with a big bat but a weak throwing arm.  Captain Kirk, aka, Kirk Gibson, would sign for 3 years and a little over $4 million ( Remember, this was 1988 folks....) to help restore the glory the Blue once coveted.  He would also make it clear that he was here to win and all slackers would have to answer to him.  This would be evidenced by the now  famous eye-black incident when relief pitcher Jesse Orosco, acquired from the Mets, placed the black stuff in the rim of Gibsons hat, placing a huge black mark on his forehead, causing his teamates to fall-off once he took his hat off.  When realizing what had happened, Kirk went ballistic, goin' off on everyone, looking for the **** who put the eye-black on his hat.  From that day , the players knew that Gibson wasn't gonna take anyones s*** .   The now famous eye-black incident, as we would later witness, would set the tone for a magical 1988 season.

This is the first of hopefully many moments to come in celebration of THE GREATEST SPORTS YEAR IN L.A, 1988.  As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the L.A. DODGERS, this year is also a celebration too of the greatest season in L.A. SPORTS history.  As always, let's hear your stories, and feel free to toss me some ideas as well.