The 1984 World Series was a mismatch. The Detroit Tigers were a great team, a team that belongs among the greatest for any one season in baseball history. The San Diego Padres were a good team, but they couldn’t hang with the Tigers, and they were pushed aside in five games.
In Game Five, San Diego reliever Goose Gossage was on then mound trying to stem a Detroit scoring opportunity. With first base open and runners on second and third, manager Dick Williams signaled for an intentional walk to Kirk Gibson. But Gossage had other ideas.
The video below (narrated by Tommy Lasorda), has sound from the dugout conversation between Detroit manager Sparky Anderson, coach Roger Craig, and Gibson. We also get to hear Gossage as he confidently sways Williams to let him pitch to Gibby.
It was a bad decision.
