Kirk Gibson's walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series is the stuff of legends.
Injured and called upon on the sport's biggest stage, Gibson hobbled up to the plate and smashed a homer off Oakland Athletics ace Dennis Eckersley.
The play is enshrined as one of the greatest moments in baseball history.
Ole Miss senior Tim Elko channeled his inner Gibson in a game against the Texas A&M Aggies.
Tim Elko's HR With a Torn ACL
I don't believe what I just saw!@TimElko, ladies and gentlemen:
? April 5: Tore his ACL
? May 8: First hit since then, a three-run home run to right field!? https://t.co/ILMTEaW7E7 pic.twitter.com/lGCbLV7q6d
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 8, 2021
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Elko suffered a torn ACL in a 20-6 win over North Alabama on April 6. The first baseman's injury meant the loss of Mississippi's biggest power hitter. At the time of his injury, he was leading the SEC in RBIs with 36 and the Rebels in home runs with nine.
Make that 10.
Thirty three days later, in his first at-bat since he went down, Elko was sent in to pinch hit with a 9-2 lead and two men on in the top of the seventh inning. On an 0-1 count, the captain drove an outside fastball over the right field fence for a three-run home run.
Torn ACL and all, Elko limped around the bases in excitement. His teammates greeted him to celebrate his first hit since the injury. Ole Miss baseball head coach Mike Bianco had to be proud.
The 2021 MLB prospect reflected on the moment to The Rebel Walk:
"I was obviously pretty upset," Elko said. "Tough news to get. I can't thank God for all the healing he's done on me and all my teammates. It's awesome. ... When I hit it, I knew it had a chance. Got a good swing on it. It was awesome to have the embrace from all my teammates and staff when I got back to the dugout. Really special moment for me."
Junior pitcher Doug Nikhazy chimed in:
"What a moment. It's magical. It's cool to be a part of something like that. Nobody else deserves it more than Tim. A lot of guys wouldn't do what Tim is doing."
Ole Miss went on to win 12-7 in their only victory of the weekend series.
Elko's home run was a thing of beauty. Next time, he needs to add a fist pump as he rounds second.
