Homers top the list of memories

Results of a completely random survey of baseball fans’ favorite World Series memories.

• Mike Archer, Selah HS baseball coach: Reggie Jackson’s three homers in Game 6 of the Yankees’ 1977 series win over the Dodgers, and Kirk Gibson’s walkoff off Dennis Eckersley in 1988. “It’s funny,” Archer said. “A guy like me who likes to bunt and run, and all I can remember is the long ball.”

• Chris Bristol, news reporter, Herald-Republic: A three-run homer by San Diego’s Kurt Bevacqua off Dan Petry that won Game 2 of the 1984 World Series with Detroit, which eventually was won by the Tigers. Some contended that Bevacqua missed second while rounding the bases. Bevacqua had earlier won the 1975 Joe Garagiola/Bazooka bubble gum blowing championship, and later was featured in an episode of Fox TV’s “King of the Hill.”

• Dave Edler, Yakima mayor: Got to see part of the great ‘75 Series up close and personal. As a member of that season’s American Legion World Series champions, and after being named national player of the year, Edler and the rest of the Yakima Beetles were treated to the three games that were played in Cincinnati’s then-almost new Riverfront Stadium. They included Game 3, which featured the controversial play in which the Reds’ Ed Armbrister collided with Carlton Fisk after a bunt, prompting the Red Sox to claim interference when their catcher’s throw sailed into center field. “That’s the play that sticks out in my mind,” Edler said. “It was an incredible experience for a bunch of baby-faced young kids.”

• Jane Gargas, Herald-Republic education and features writer: Noted strong ties to both Boston and Chicago (the cities, not necessarily the Red Sox, Cubs or White Sox), but no specific memories other than increased hot dog consumption during early October, “in keeping with the theme.”

• Spencer Hatton, assistant city editor, Herald-Republic: Listening to Gibson’s L.A. homer on the radio. He was giving one of his children a bath and missed the live TV version.

• Bill Lee, Herald-Republic editorial page editor, former YH-R sports writer and diehard Seattle Mariners fan: Watching Mel Stottlemyre pitch in the 1964 World Series. The Mabton sinkerballer won Game 2, 8-3 over St. Louis, but lost Game 7, 7-5 as the Cardinals’ Bob Gibson came back on only two days rest. This Bill Lee was not the Bill Lee who threw the infamous blooper pitch that Tony Perez crushed for a tape-measure homer in the ‘75 Series.

• Pat Muir, Herald-Republic news reporter and passionate Detroit Tigers fan: A Gibson homer — in 1984 off San Diego’s Goose Gossage that iced Game 5 and clinched the Series for Detroit. Gibson, who already had gone deep in the game, hit a three-run shot into the upper deck at Tiger Stadium to complete his team’s 8-4 victory. The 84 Series was the first overseen by Peter Ueberroth, who succeeded Bowie Kuhn as commissioner on Oct. 1. And for the record, Kirk isn’t the only Gibson to have hit a significant Series homer. Cardinals fireballer Bob Gibson, while winning Game 7 in 1967 against Boston, went deep off Red Sox ace Jim Lonborg.

• Barbara Serrano, Herald-Republic managing editor: Carlton Fisk’s walkoff homer in Game 6 of the 1975 Series between Boston and Cincinnati. “I had to wake my father because he’d fallen asleep on the couch, and tell him what happened,” she said. A Reds fan who was especially fond of Pete Rose, Serrano can fondly recall the Fisk moment because while his 12th-inning homer won that game, 7-6, Cincinnati won Game 7 and the Series, 4-3.

• Jerrel Swenning: sports editor, Herald-Republic: Gibson’s Dodger Stadium homer, which he saw live on TV. Though Gibson’s heroics won Game 1 and sent the heavily-favored A’s reeling, the Dodgers did not sweep. Oakland won game 3, 2-1, but lost Game 4, 4-3, and Game 5, 5-2.

• K.L. Wombacher, Bears general manager: Arizona’s 2001 Game 7 win over the Yankees. “It was my first year working for the Bears,” he said, “and I was mainly happy just because I don’t like the Yankees and couldn’t wait to see them get beat.”