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LA Sports: Ranking The Best Years in Los Angeles Sports History

By Jamaal Artis

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 22: Alex Caruso #4 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate their win over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Three of the first round of the playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers at the AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 22, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 22: Alex Caruso #4 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate their win over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Three of the first round of the playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers at the AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 22, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /
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1988: Miracles, Back-to-Back, and the Great One

It’s hard not to think 1988 might be the greatest year for sports in Southern California, it included what is still considered the greatest moment in LA Sports, a trade that changed the landscape of an entire league, and a team capping off their decade of dominance.

In 1988 the Los Angeles Lakers became the first team in 19 years to go back-to-back winning the NBA title after three state game seven wins. The win gave the Lakers their fifth title of the decade and cemented their “Showtime” years as one of the NBA’s great dynasties.

That August, the Los Angeles Kings stunned the sports world pulling the trigger on a trade that brought Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles. The trade instantly made the Kings a “must watch” team after years of toiling in mediocrity. Gretzky’s impact not only improved the Kings but went beyond the ice as his popularity in the United States touched off an expansion era that brought the NHL to the “Sun Belt.”

In October the underdog Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series after defeating the New York Mets and Oakland Athletics. The Dodgers were led by NL MVP Kirk Gibson and NL CY Young winner Orel Hershiser in upsetting both teams.

The moment of the season was Gibson’s Game One walk-off home run off Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley. Gibson’s home run was his final at-bat of the series as he was too injured to continue, no matter Hershiser took care of the Athletics winning both starts including the Game Five clincher.

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