Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3711: Vin Scully calls Kirk Gibson's legendary walk-off homer during Game 1 of the 1988 World Series - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Today Vin Scully called his last game. "His 67 seasons with the Dodgers (1950–2016) is the longest time any broadcaster has been with a single team in professional sports history". Scully announced many an amazing baseball moment - and the Dodgers fans voted one in particular (included in the video above) as their collective favorite.

There were two outs in the bottom of the ninth in the first game of the 1988 World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers were one run down against the Oakland A's. After Oakland pitcher Dennis Eckersley walked Mike Davis, the Dodgers' manager - Tommy Lasorda, put the injured Kirk Gibson (who had not been in the game or even been introduced at it's start) for Dave Anderson. Gibson took the count to 3-2 before knocking Ekersley's backdoor slider over the right field fence to win the game.

As with any scenario with high emotional content, there's many nonverbal moments worthy of dissection. One of the most striking in this video however, is seen at 9:24 in the above video, when Dennis Eckersley looks to the stands where Gibson blasted his pitch, with what in body language terminology is referred to as a "Thousand Yard Stare". Simultaneously, his mouth takes on a "Slack Jawed" configuration (Jaw is hanging with not tension, partially opened, with no teeth showing). These two nonverbal signals - especially when clustered together are indicative of Emotional Processing - a clear sign although his intellectual brain knows what's just happened - Eckersley's emotional brain has yet to come to terms with the consequences.

A moment later, during 9:27 - 9:28, Eckersley then rolls his eyes in a very conscious (and deliberate) display of self-disgust/self-contempt.

Thank you Vin Scully (and Kirk Gibson) - for this making this moment, and many, many more, so very memorable.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3710: Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte Compares Himself With Hitler

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3708: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump - Presidential Debates - Part IV - Hillary's Email Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3706: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump Presidential Debates - Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3697: NYC Bombing Suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami in Custody

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3676: Colin Kaepernick Says He Be Sitting Down During the National Anthem

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3540: Johnny Manziel's Ego

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3632: Hillary Clinton formally introduces Tim Kaine as her VP Choice

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3625: Donald Trump Introduces Mike Pence as his "1st Choice" VP Pick (Not!)



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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2133: Dan Quayle and Lloyd Bentsen Debate in 1988 - "Senator, You're no Jack Kennedy"

In this classic video segment from the 1988 Presidential campaign season, Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) and Senator Dan Quayle (R-IN) gave us one of the most memorable moments in American political debate history, when Quayle said he had as much experience as then Senator John "Jack" Kennedy did when he ran for President in 1960. Bentsen displays a brief eyebrow flash - a quick upward-and-back-down movement of the eyebrows with a similar contraction across the entire width of his forehead - at the 0:07 mark. In this context it is a nonverbal signal of incredulity. He was either in disbelief that Dan Quayle was claiming he was as qualified as Kennedy - or more likely he couldn't believe Quayle just tossed him a slow pitch the size of a grapefruit.

"I served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator you're no Jack Kennedy." and Quayle retorts, "That was really uncalled for Senator", Quayle displays a mouth nonverbal highly indicative of anger. His lips become very thinned and are stretched horizontally in a straight line (seen during 0:24 - 0:26 and more pronounced from 0:26 - 0:28).

Dan Quayle's body language of anger in this context is expected - with the benefit hindsight and video - with the ability to pause and replay - we can see this nonverbal tell. However many times in our day-to-day lives - it is missed. There will be pleasant words spoken and yet a classic body language configuration which is contradictory - and few see it or pay it any heed. Whenever the verbal and the nonverbal are in disparity - always believe the body language.

See also:

Analysis # 2125: Presidential Debate Body Language - George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Ross Perot 1992

Analysis # 346: Rick Perry Forgets: 8 Republican Presidential Hopefuls Debate in Detroit - 60 seconds of Oops, Body Language and Empathy

A Watershed Body Language Moment: Nixon - Kennedy Debates 1960

Analysis # 2131: Presidential Debate Highlights - Bush vs. Gore 2000 - Gore's Invasion of Bush's Personal Space

Analysis # 2104: Mitt Romney's Convention Speech - Part II

Analysis # 1149: Who was More Nervous in Last Night's Debate? Santorum, Romney, Gingrich or Paul?

Analysis # 915: Interpersonal Space of Candidates

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