1988 Major League Baseball season

Last updated

1988 MLB season
League Major League Baseball
Sport Baseball
DurationApril 4 – October 20, 1988
Number of games162
Number of teams26
TV partner(s) ABC, NBC
Draft
Top draft pick Andy Benes
Picked by San Diego Padres
Regular season
Season MVP NL: Kirk Gibson (LA)
AL: José Canseco (OAK)
Postseason
AL champions Oakland Athletics
  AL runners-up Boston Red Sox
NL champions Los Angeles Dodgers
  NL runners-up New York Mets
World Series
Champions Los Angeles Dodgers
  Runners-up Oakland Athletics
World Series MVP Orel Hershiser (LA)
MLB seasons
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   Giants
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      Phillies
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Pirates   
Locations of teams for the 1977–1992 National League seasons
ButtonGreen.svg West   ButtonBlue.svg East

The 1988 Major League Baseball season ended with the underdog Los Angeles Dodgers shocking the Oakland Athletics, who had won 104 games during the regular season, in the World Series. The most memorable moment of the series came in Game 1, when injured Dodger Kirk Gibson hit a dramatic pinch-hit walk-off home run off Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley to win the game for Los Angeles. The Dodgers went on to win the Series in five games.

Contents

This would also be the final full season for Peter Ueberroth as MLB commissioner.

Overview

A ticket from the game where Goose Gossage earned his 300th career save on August 6, 1988. Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs 1988-08-06 (ticket).JPG
A ticket from the game where Goose Gossage earned his 300th career save on August 6, 1988.

One of the American League's best players in 1988 was Athletics outfielder José Canseco, [1] who became the first player in history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a single season, unanimously garnering league MVP honors. The A's surrounded him with a stellar supporting cast, led by fellow slugger Mark McGwire (with whom Canseco formed the famed "Bash Brothers" duo). Aided by strong pitching from Dave Stewart and Bob Welch and the lights-out Eckersley securing 45 saves, Oakland ran away with the American League West and swept the Boston Red Sox of Boggs, Rice, and Clemens in the playoffs before falling to the Dodgers in the World Series.

Speaking of the Dodgers, nobody expected them even to contend for the National League West title in 1988, let alone win the World Championship.[ citation needed ] However, the intensity and clutch hitting of Gibson (named the NL MVP at season's end) and the solid pitching of Orel Hershiser (who won a league-leading 23 games) spearheaded L.A. to a division championship by seven games over the Cincinnati Reds. In addition to his 23 victories, Hershiser led the National League with 267 innings pitched and 8 shutouts, and also set a record of 59 consecutive scoreless innings (formerly held by Dodger great Don Drysdale). These accomplishments, combined with his 2.26 ERA, earned him the National League Cy Young Award. However, it was in the postseason that Hershiser really distinguished himself – he started Games 1 and 3 of the NLCS against the tough New York Mets, saved Game 4 in relief, and threw a complete-game shutout in Game 7. He hurled another complete-game shutout in Game 2 of the World Series and also helped his own cause, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI, and again went the distance in the clinching Game 5. Hershiser was named MVP of both the NLCS and the World Series, capping off arguably one of the greatest seasons a starting pitcher has ever had.

Awards and honors

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Rookie of the Year Chris Sabo (CIN) Walt Weiss (OAK)
Cy Young Award Orel Hershiser (LAD) Frank Viola (MIN)
Manager of the Year Tommy Lasorda (LAD) Tony La Russa (OAK)
Most Valuable Player Kirk Gibson (LAD) Jose Canseco (OAK)
Gold Glove Awards
PositionNational LeagueAmerican League
Pitcher Ron Darling (NYM) Mark Langston (SEA)
Catcher Benito Santiago (SD) Bob Boone (CAL)
First Baseman Andrés Galarraga (MON) Don Mattingly (NYY)
Second Baseman Ryne Sandberg (CHC) Harold Reynolds (SEA)
Third Baseman Terry Pendleton (STL) Gary Gaetti (MIN)
Shortstop Ozzie Smith (STL) Tony Fernández (TOR)
Outfielders Eric Davis (CIN) Gary Pettis (DET)
Andre Dawson (CHC) Kirby Puckett (MIN)
Andy Van Slyke (PIT) Devon White (CAL)
Silver Slugger Awards
Pitcher/Designated Hitter Tim Leary (LAD) Paul Molitor (MIL)
Catcher Benito Santiago (SD) Carlton Fisk (CWS)
First Baseman Andrés Galarraga (MTL) George Brett (KC)
Second Baseman Ryne Sandberg (CHC) Julio Franco (CLE)
Third Baseman Bobby Bonilla (PIT) Wade Boggs (BOS)
Shortstop Barry Larkin (CIN) Alan Trammell (DET)
Outfielders Kirk Gibson (LAD) Jose Canseco (OAK)
Darryl Strawberry (NYM) Mike Greenwell (BOS)
Andy Van Slyke (PIT) Kirby Puckett (MIN)

Other awards

Player of the Month

MonthAmerican LeagueNational League
April Dave Winfield Bobby Bonilla
May Carney Lansford Bobby Bonilla
June Mike Greenwell Will Clark
July Chili Davis Tony Gwynn
August Kent Hrbek Eric Davis
September Jose Canseco Kevin McReynolds

Pitcher of the Month

MonthAmerican LeagueNational League
April Dave Stewart Orel Hershiser
May Frank Viola David Cone
June Mark Gubicza Greg Maddux
July Roger Clemens John Franco
August Bruce Hurst Danny Jackson
September Mark Langston Orel Hershiser

MLB statistical leaders

Statistic American League National League
AVG Wade Boggs BOS.366 Tony Gwynn SD.313
HR José Canseco OAK42 Darryl Strawberry NYM39
RBI José Canseco OAK124 Will Clark SF109
Wins Frank Viola MIN24 Orel Hershiser LA
Danny Jackson CIN
23
ERA Allan Anderson MIN
Teddy Higuera MIL
2.45 Joe Magrane STL2.18
SO Roger Clemens BOS291 Nolan Ryan HOU228
SV Dennis Eckersley OAK45 John Franco CIN39
SB Rickey Henderson NYY93 Vince Coleman STL81

Standings

American League

AL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Boston Red Sox 8973.54953283645
Detroit Tigers 8874.543150313843
Milwaukee Brewers 8775.537247344041
Toronto Blue Jays 8775.537245364239
New York Yankees 8576.52846343942
Cleveland Indians 7884.4811144373447
Baltimore Orioles 54107.33534½34462061
AL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Oakland Athletics 10458.64254275031
Minnesota Twins 9171.5621347344437
Kansas City Royals 8477.52219½44364041
California Angels 7587.4632935464041
Chicago White Sox 7190.44132½40413149
Texas Rangers 7091.43533½38433248
Seattle Mariners 6893.42235½37443149

National League

NL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Mets 10060.62556244436
Pittsburgh Pirates 8575.5311543384237
Montreal Expos 8181.5002043383843
Chicago Cubs 7785.4752439423843
St. Louis Cardinals 7686.4692541403546
Philadelphia Phillies 6596.40435½38422754
NL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Los Angeles Dodgers 9467.58445364931
Cincinnati Reds 8774.540745354239
San Diego Padres 8378.5161147343644
San Francisco Giants 8379.51211½45363843
Houston Astros 8280.50612½44373843
Atlanta Braves 54106.33839½28512655

Postseason

Bracket

League Championship Series
(ALCS, NLCS)
World Series
East Boston 1361
West Oakland 24104
ALOakland 4 02*32
NLLos Angeles 5* 6145
East NY Mets 3384450
West Los Angeles 264512716

*Denotes walk-off

Managers

American League

TeamManagerNotes
Baltimore Orioles Cal Ripken, Sr., Frank Robinson
Boston Red Sox John McNamara, Joe Morgan Won AL East
California Angels Cookie Rojas, Moose Stubing
Chicago White Sox Jim Fregosi Final season as White Sox manager
Cleveland Indians Doc Edwards
Detroit Tigers Sparky Anderson
Kansas City Royals John Wathan
Milwaukee Brewers Tom Trebelhorn
Minnesota Twins Tom Kelly
New York Yankees Billy Martin, Lou Piniella Martin's final season as a Major League manager
Oakland Athletics Tony La Russa Won American League Pennant
Seattle Mariners Dick Williams, Jim Snyder Williams final season as a Major League manager
Texas Rangers Bobby Valentine
Toronto Blue Jays Jimy Williams

National League

TeamManagerNotes
Atlanta Braves Chuck Tanner, Russ Nixon
Chicago Cubs Don Zimmer
Cincinnati Reds Pete Rose, Tommy Helms (acting)
Houston Astros Hal Lanier
Los Angeles Dodgers Tommy Lasorda Won World Series
Montreal Expos Buck Rodgers
New York Mets Davey Johnson Won NL East
Philadelphia Phillies Lee Elia, John Vukovich
Pittsburgh Pirates Jim Leyland
St. Louis Cardinals Whitey Herzog
San Diego Padres Larry Bowa, Jack McKeon
San Francisco Giants Roger Craig

Home field attendance and payroll

Team nameWinsHome attendancePer gameEst. payroll
New York Mets [2] 1008.7%3,055,4450.7%38,193$15,401,81411.2%
Minnesota Twins [3] 917.1%3,030,67245.6%37,416$13,308,96625.7%
Los Angeles Dodgers [4] 9428.8%2,980,2626.5%36,793$17,141,01518.4%
St. Louis Cardinals [5] 76−20.0%2,892,799−5.8%35,714$13,192,50012.2%
New York Yankees [6] 85−4.5%2,633,7018.5%32,921$20,371,1524.7%
Toronto Blue Jays [7] 87−9.4%2,595,175−6.6%32,039$14,412,72533.9%
Boston Red Sox [8] 8914.1%2,464,85110.5%30,430$14,687,0926.7%
Kansas City Royals [9] 841.2%2,350,181−1.8%29,377$14,850,06218.7%
California Angels [10] 750.0%2,340,925−13.2%28,900$12,249,888−11.6%
Oakland Athletics [11] 10428.4%2,287,33536.2%28,239$10,653,833−16.3%
Chicago Cubs [12] 771.3%2,089,0342.6%25,476$13,956,698−9.8%
Detroit Tigers [13] 88−10.2%2,081,1620.9%25,693$13,432,07110.8%
Cincinnati Reds [14] 873.6%2,072,528−5.2%25,907$9,697,4094.5%
Philadelphia Phillies [15] 65−18.8%1,990,041−5.2%24,568$13,900,50011.4%
Houston Astros [16] 827.9%1,933,5051.2%23,870$12,641,167−0.9%
Milwaukee Brewers [17] 87−4.4%1,923,2380.7%23,744$9,502,00030.3%
Pittsburgh Pirates [18] 856.3%1,866,71360.8%23,046$7,128,500−18.9%
San Francisco Giants [19] 83−7.8%1,785,297−6.9%22,041$12,822,50050.3%
Baltimore Orioles [20] 54−19.4%1,660,738−9.5%20,759$14,389,0751.0%
Texas Rangers [21] 70−6.7%1,581,901−10.3%19,530$6,385,6316.6%
San Diego Padres [22] 8327.7%1,506,8963.6%18,604$10,723,502−11.1%
Montreal Expos [23] 81−11.0%1,478,659−20.1%18,255$10,046,83314.7%
Cleveland Indians [24] 7827.9%1,411,61031.0%17,427$9,261,5002.5%
Chicago White Sox [25] 71−7.8%1,115,749−7.6%13,775$8,537,500−29.6%
Seattle Mariners [26] 68−12.8%1,022,398−9.9%12,622$7,754,95067.7%
Atlanta Braves [27] 54−21.7%848,089−30.3%10,735$13,065,674−25.1%

Television coverage

NetworkDay of weekAnnouncers
ABC Monday nights Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver, Gary Bender, Joe Morgan, Reggie Jackson
NBC Saturday afternoons Vin Scully, Joe Garagiola, Bob Costas, Tony Kubek

Events

Movies

Deaths

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