Gibby met Freddie — a magical moment
by Cary Osborne
Kirk Gibson’s ceremonial first pitch to Freddie Freeman on Opening Day Thursday at Dodger Stadium was such a good secret that even he didn’t know it was a secret.
In the hour before he was due to make the ceremonial first pitch, the Legend of Dodger Baseball and the author of one of the greatest moments in World Series history was eager.
He made two trips out to the Dodger batting cage to throw a baseball to get his arm warmed up for what was sure to be one of the more memorable first pitches on Major League Baseball’s Opening Day.
How rare is it that two players who hit World Series walk-off home runs participated in a ceremonial first pitch?
Considering there have been only 18 walk-off home runs in World Series history and the Dodgers and Yankees are the only teams with multiple members of this club, this was quite possibly the first.
Gibson relaxed — as best he could — in a room just below the field at Dodger Stadium. He was joined in the room by his wife, JoAnn, three friends and 1988 World Series MVP Orel Hershiser.
Hershiser adores Gibson and often gets emotional around the man who hit the walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. He couldn’t turn down an opportunity to see his old friend while he was in town from Michigan.
Gibson is a symbol of grit for hitting a pinch-hit, walk-off home run on a hamstring tear in his left leg and a right medial collateral ligament tear on his right for the Dodgers. He invites emotion whenever he returns to Los Angeles.
So this pitch was sure to bring the emotion out of more than 50,000 people — whether they were around or not in 1988.
Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series rekindled the memories of Gibson’s homer and brought it to life for those who weren’t alive in 1988.
Freeman, playing on a terribly damaged right ankle and broken rib cartilage, became the modern symbol of Dodger grit after hitting his home run into the same Right Field Pavillion as Gibson did for the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.
Adding to the connections for the first pitch, both were National League MVPs and Gibson would be making the pitch during a game where the Dodgers were playing the Detroit Tigers.
Gibson also carries hero status in Detroit — a place he played 12 seasons. Gibson hit two home runs in the World Series-clinching Game 5 for the Tigers in 1984.
Thursday’s Opening Day ceremonies included the Dodgers raising a 2024 World Series championship flag, revealing the 2024 World Series championship disc on the right field side, player introductions (and Dodgers trading Dodger blue on their uniform for gold) and entertainer Ice Cube driving the World Series trophy in through center field on a low rider.
Gibson wanted to experience it. That’s when he caught on that his presence at Dodger Stadium was a secret.
So he walked to the base of some steps and listened instead of risking being seen.
“Are they going to do a flyover?” he asked.
He watched as jets later streamed overhead.
Later, the moment arrived.
Gibson’s battle with Parkinson’s disease is well known. His Kirk Gibson Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life of those living with the disease.
Though his steps have been slowed, it was hard to tell on Thursday. Once Dodger broadcaster Joe Davis announced Gibson, the sound of surprise and exuberance filled the stadium.
Gibson and Freeman — representing the connection of improbable moments and the Dodgers — created a lasting memory.
Gibson stayed eager. He walked to the front of the pitcher’s mound and barely stopped before firing the first pitch to Freeman.
After the pitch, both Gibson and Freeman walked off the field.
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Gibby met Freddie — a magical moment was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.