Bob Gibson, RIP.
- Thread starter JimInks
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I'm the middle boy of three boys, I know sibling rivalries. Growing up was a "take no prisoners" situation. Of course take on one was to take on all three.
I was greatly inspired by Gibson and Roberto Clemente when I was young. In fact, I wore Clemente's number nearly all the years I played ball, from Little League to semi-pro. Had I been good enough to be a pitcher (no curve ball worth a damn), I'd have worn Gibson's number.
Another great, Clemente. I was obsessed with baseball as a youth. Worked in a comic book/baseball card store from ages 12-16. Met quite a few greats at the card shows during that time. Willie Mays being one of my favorites.
Thought I'd share some stats...
"Gibson's overall stats are impressive: Over 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts, the 1.12 ERA in 1968.
Glaring at batters, flying off the mound, his October legacy is even more so. No way to even imagine that in this era: Nine starts in the World Series, eight complete games, including a 10-inning win over Mickey Mantle and the Yankees. The only time he didn't go the distance, he went eight innings. A 7-2 record with a 1.89 ERA and a pair of MVP trophies."
The dude hit 102 batters in 17 years.
"Gibson's overall stats are impressive: Over 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts, the 1.12 ERA in 1968.
Glaring at batters, flying off the mound, his October legacy is even more so. No way to even imagine that in this era: Nine starts in the World Series, eight complete games, including a 10-inning win over Mickey Mantle and the Yankees. The only time he didn't go the distance, he went eight innings. A 7-2 record with a 1.89 ERA and a pair of MVP trophies."
The dude hit 102 batters in 17 years.
I had a nasty curve ball, but couldn't throw any heat with fastballs (I was a high school version of Stephen Wright). I had to rely on a bag of tricks instead. But I had a lot of fun in HS.
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I wish I could have done that. I'd give durn near anything to meet Henry Aaron. I did interview Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer, separately, when I had a radio talk show in the mid-80s to early 90s. I got my picture in the paper with Buck O'Neil when I was 11 years old. Met Bowie Kuhn, Ozzie Smith, Manny Sanguillen ( a fav of mine), and spent a little time with Boog Powell at one time or another.
I got some coaching from Jack McKeon, whose kids went to my high school. When I was 15, he told me I was a faster, better base runner and bunter than a lot of major leaguers.
My favorite McKeon story: when I was in the 11th grade, he spent a week or so coaching us, and supplied equipment for our team. We got our white cleats, and the next day, Jack (a constant cigar smoker even now) was telling a few of the guys they shouldn't be chewing tobacco because it was bad for them. They didn't listen.
So, the day after that, we were sitting on the bench waiting for batting practice to begin, Jack put a wad of chewing tobacco in his mouth, stood in front of the guys chewing tobacco, and spit a wad of juice on their brand new shoes. He smiled, and said, "Nasty habit, ain't it?", and walked away.
Never met Aaron but I did meet Al Downing...crazy thing to be remembered for.
I got to meet Dwight Gooden when he played in my minor league affiliate. Even signed my rookie card. I was fortunate to meet Kevin Mitchell, Lenny Dykstra (less so now), Darryl Strawberry, Jose Bautista, Aaron Sele, and John Grabow to name a few. I even saw Billy Bean play.
But what I would give to meet any or all of the Holy Trinity: Smoltz, Maddux, Glavine. Smoltz was my fave. I thought he looked the quesentential pro pitcher.
But what I would give to meet any or all of the Holy Trinity: Smoltz, Maddux, Glavine. Smoltz was my fave. I thought he looked the quesentential pro pitcher.
Gibson was only surpassed by Sandy Koufax in that era. I was at the game in 1967 when the Sox won the pennant.
Gibson broke my heart in the 67 World Series. It wasn't fair he could go 3 games, he was unhittable for the most part and yeah I cried big time as I didn't reach 10 years old till the end of December. It wasn't fair I tell ya. He looked like a AAA player pitching against little leaguers.
Gibson broke my heart in the 67 World Series. It wasn't fair he could go 3 games, he was unhittable for the most part and yeah I cried big time as I didn't reach 10 years old till the end of December. It wasn't fair I tell ya. He looked like a AAA player pitching against little leaguers.
When I was in San Jose living with my uncle one summer we went to a Giants doubleheader on July 2nd. Gibson was pitching the second game that day and he broke the left shoulder blade of Jim Ray Hart who was playing in his second major league game. So go forward 40 years and Gibson was in KC to autograph his new autobiography. So I asked him if he remembered drilling Hart and he acted surprised and said "I hit so many guys it's hard to remember them all". Then he went on a mini-rant about how batters today don't know anything about how to get out of the way of a wayward pitch. So I go home and read the book and he has two pages on drilling Hart in it.
John Grabow is a direct descendant of the Dr. Grabow family.
In the 1990s, the Orioles had a pitcher named Daniel Boone who was a direct descendant of, yeah, you guessed it, Daniel Boone. He didn't look like Fess Parker, though.
And now Joe Morgan. I always loved listening to him do Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN.
Big Red Machine!
Big Red Machine!
Yeah, I woke up to news. Such a bummer. Joe was another fav of mine. He could beat you in so many ways. Even if he was beating your team, you still had to admire and respect him.
Damn! Two huge losses. I was more familiar with Morgan's broadcasts than his play.
Gibson emitted steam when on the mound. Zounds! What a pitcher!
Gibson emitted steam when on the mound. Zounds! What a pitcher!
Joe Morgan was the greatest second baseman I ever saw, and by the numbers, the greatest second baseman in the post-WWII era. I enjoyed his insights on the ESPN Sunday night broadcasts. He was a good human being.
Piecing it together from various posts, it sounds like Bob Gibson had an eyesight problem, perhaps nearsightedness and or astigmatism, and adapted in an incredibly effective way. Hence, that interesting gesture of glancing down then back to the plate just before he threw, like he was refocusing his eyes. He's one of the extremely talented people who overrode his handicap to amazing success. If he wanted to hit you in the head, that was what he did.
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