European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 17, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday november 17, t988 the stars  stripes Page 17 dodgers Gibson wins map award by brn Walker new York Ai though other players swung bigger Bals. Kirk Gibson made the biggest swing of All. Gibson turned a losing team into world series champions inspiring the los Angela dodgers in the clubhouse  carrying them at inc plate. For that he was named most valuable player of he National league on tuesday. Gibson drove in Only 76 runs the fewest by an map since Pete Rose in 1973, but finished comfortably ahead of Darryl Strawberry of inc new York mels. Teammate Orel Here scr inc it aloft  world so Ries map was a Distant sixth. I m not a numbers person. I never set goats to hit this number or get so Many Bis Gibson said from his Home in Michigan. The intangibles obviously were taken into consideration  that makes me feel Good winning the map was never my goal. Bui i Happy thai so Many people had the opinion that i had that much Impact an our winning. My goal was Tor us to become world champs. That s what makes this that much sweeter Gibson got 1 first place votes  finished with 272 Points. Strawberry had seven first a Lack Voles  136, followed by Kevin Mcreynolds or the mils Wilh the other four first place votes a Ltd 162. Straw Harry led the league with 39 Home runs was St conic with 101 Lqis  balled .269. Mcreynold Shil .288 with 17 homers  99 Rols. Eventually one Day i m going to be appreciated Strawberry said. I have no reason to feel Down about anything. I was important 1o my team. I la always be Lieve in that. Kirk Gibson meant a lot to the dodgers  me  Mcreynolds meant a lot to the  Strawberry added. At a time when the new York melt were struggling  no one was hitting was the Only one Hilling for two  1 ills Hugh s Andy Van so pc was fourth with 160 Points san Francsico s will Clark Gol 135  harsh scr who received just one third place vote had 111. Two members of the baseball writers association of America in each no City did the voting prior to postseason play. The american league map was to be announced wednesday. Gibson hit .290 with 25 Home runs  stole 31 bases in delivering what he promised a championship to the dodgers he left the Detroit tigers  signed with los Angeles on feb. I after becoming Afree agent in the cull usion i Case. All Bur hitters who finished behind Gibson had better statistics. Van Slyke hit .288 with 25 homers  100 Bis  Clark led the no with 109 Bis  hit 29 borne runs. There Are always going to be critics people who Don t feel i m worthy of this award Gibson said. Too bad it has to be Only one person. I can make a argument for Orel for Darryl. For Kevin. Things were just on the dodgers  my  Gibson gave the dodgers the drive they needed to rebound from their first consecutive sub-,500 finishes since 1967-68. They had gone 73-89 for two straight years before rebounding to 94-67 this season. The left fielder was the Symbol of their determination never More evident than in inc world  to Start because of hamstring  knee injuries he hobbled to the plate  hit a two run Pinch Honier off Oakland s Dennis Eck Creley with two outs in in Bottom of the ninth inning that won game 1. That was Gibson s Only Al bal of the series but he said tuesday Lutat he is now Able to walk without a i i  also hit two key Home runs in the playoffs although he balled Only .154 against the  set the Lone for inc dodgers Early when he stormed out of Camp before the team s first exhibition game his reaction loan intended practical joke. Teammate Jesse Orosco had put Eye Black inside Gib son s Cap  Gibson did t think in was  rest of inc dodgers got the message  As Hershiser said after the world series Gibson made it right  he made in Cool la work hard  be a  Gibson often plagued by injuries in the past played so games during the regular season inc second High est in his nine Lull years in the majors. Gibson hit 28 doubles  was fourth in the no with a ,377 on base percentage  n into with a .48 3 Slu Ging percentage. Gibson inc map of the 1984 world series was thei8lh outfielder to win the map award which was first Given in 1931. In was the Iyih time a member of the dodgers had won , Strawberry  Van Slyck were the Only players to be named on every ballot. Strawberry was the Only top player to receive a Bonus for his my finish getting s 50,000 for being runner up. Dodrer Kirk Gibson. Inspiration for comeback Laimbeer lifts pistons to celts1 Robert Parish is double teamed by heat s Rony Seikaly 4  Rory Sparrow by the associated press Dallas the Detroit pistons keep finding new heroes  new ways to win. The pistons inc Only unbeaten team in the Aba. Won their sixth game tuesday night As bit Laimbeer had 23 Points 21 rebounds  five blocked shots in a 108-99 decision Over the Dallas Mavericks. Each night it seems a different Guy s been doing Pic scoring for us pistons guard Isiah Thomas said. Sometimes it s Joe do Mars sometimes it s Bill or Adrian Danl Ley. We re a really balanced  Daley Detroit s leading scorer at 21.6 Points per game was Ion before the game was three minutes old when he could Odwith Dallas Mark Aguirre. Dantley was taken by ambulance to a local Hospital with a Cut Ligand three loosened front Teeth once . Got Hurt somebody else had to step up limb car sat we re a learn that makes sacrifices. Tonight got the Chance to pop some 3-Pointcrs he made rec. Someone always seems id do what necessary  that a tribute tour dub the Mavericks lost starting Forward Sam Perkins in the third Quarter after Perkins hit his head on the court while scrambling for a Loose Ball Perkins spent the rest of the game in the locker room but was t seriously in no Roundup  scored 37 Points forthe Mav Ericks. .-.-.-. The Mavericks left impressed with inc pistons considered by Many to be the learn to beat in the Eastern conference they have a better focus than last year said Mavericks coach John Mac Leod. They re belter than they were. Of course it s not easy to play them Alwn Youdon t have your whole  Dallas rallied in the fourth Quarter to Cut a 15-Poinl deficit to 101-96 on Aguirre l Ihrck Point play with 2 36 to play. But Laimbeer hit a free throw the scored on a goal tending Call with 1 24 remain ing to close out the Mavericks. The pistons boosted a id Point halftime Lead Loas Many As 16 before the Mavericks behind Rolando blackmail s nine third Quarter Points worked the deficit Back lo79-72 entering the final Quarter. In other tuesday night games celtics 84, it 65 Miami Wilcis Miami missed 16. Of its first 17 shots in the fourth Quarter. the expansion i kit lost see Aba on Page 22