Bob Gibson passes at 84

E5 Yaz

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Kind of figured this was coming when he was quoted about Brock, but damn he was great.

Toughest son of a gun I ever saw pitch. Between the second half of 67 and all of 68, he was amazing
 

bankshot1

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Damn

One of the all-time greats.

I was lucky enough to see him pitch G7 in '67 from the Fenway CF cheap seats.

His '68 season was unbelievable.

RIP Mr Gibson
 

E5 Yaz

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And he threw Tim McCarver off the mound, so bonus points
 

pedro1918

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I have a good friend who had two sports heroes, Gale Sayers and Bob Gibson. It has been a tough 10 days.

For my friends sake, I hope Bob Dylan is safe somewhere.
 

h8mfy

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His best years were just before I was old enough to follow closely so I never saw the really great pitching, but I remember him being the only pitcher who’d bat 7th.
 

Ale Xander

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Same day the Cardinals are eliminated?

2020 is ruthless

He was one of the best ever, with the best season ever.
 

amRadio

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RIP

I remember hunting for footage of him when I was younger. One of the greatest.
 

terrynever

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He did some time with the Harlem Globetrotters.

RIP
Gibson might have been the most athletic pitcher ever. In the 1964 World Series, Joe Pepitone hit a line drive off one of Gibson’s ankles. The ball caromed over near the third base line. Gibby pursued it with long strides, picked the ball up barehanded, spun in the air and gunned the ball to first base to retire Pepitone, who was not a slow runner.
 

terrynever

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He was ahead of his time in not wanting to hear anything Tim McCarver had to say.
McCarver then went on to become Steve Carlton’s personal catcher in Philadelphia. Say what you want about McCarver but he had a distinguished playing career.
 

MFYankees

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As a boy in the '60s I admired Bob Gibson as a ballplayer and competitor. As I grew and read more about his pride and his efforts combatting racism, I admired him as a man
 

E5 Yaz

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Hank Aaron once counseled Atlanta Braves teammate Dusty Baker about Gibson.

"Don't dig in against Bob Gibson; he'll knock you down," Aaron said, according to The Boston Globe. "He'd knock down his own grandmother if she dared to challenge him. Don't stare at him, don't smile at him, don't talk to him. He doesn't like it. If you happen to hit a home run, don't run too slow, don't run too fast. If you happen to want to celebrate, get in the tunnel first. And if he hits you, don't charge the mound, because he's a Gold Glove boxer."

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30026719/hall-famer-bob-gibson-st-louis-cardinals-ace-dies-84
 

InstaFace

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Hank Aaron vs Bob Gibson: 35 for 163, 8 HR, 15 BB, 32 K, .215 / .278 / .423 / .701

Hank Aaron, career: .305 / .374 / .555 / .928

(also, holy shit, Hank Aaron was an all-star and got MVP votes for TWENTY STRAIGHT YEARS, most of them top-10 finishes. Sure, more than half of those were in the 8 teams / league era, but still)
 

SemperFidelisSox

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Watching some of the tribute specials on MLB Network, I didn’t know Gibson actually fractured his leg in July of the ‘67 season, but came back in September and went on to dominate the Sox in the World Series. The pre-2004:Red Sox had such terrible luck.
 

grimshaw

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I did a fantasy camp with my older brother and father when Gibson was in his '50's. I got to bat against him and was like 10 at the time. He probably threw in the 70's to me and other kids and over the plate and just fastballs (not so against the adults. I don't recall anyone doing much of anything against him).

Anyhow I got a dribbler through the infield and managed to get on first base. The dude then picked me off. Cepeda was the first baseman and I could tell he wanted to tell Gibson to let me stay on the bag, but Gibson wasn't having it. My dad was just like "Don't argue with him."

I have a picture with him just sitting in the dugout not smiling with me. Not that I cared. Bob freaking Gibson.
 

E5 Yaz

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jaytftwofive

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McCarver wouldn't give Gibson the ball back after he broke the strikeout record in game1WS until he looked at the screen to read the announcement. He kept yelling " Give me the bleeping ball!!!" But Tim wouldn't budge until he looked. Gibson looked and seemed unimpressed. That was the series where Mickey Lolich was 3-0 and won game 7 on 2 days rest. That was the year Denny McClain won 31. Red Schoendienst was afraid to take him out of some games. He would come out and Gibson would say "Get back in the bleeeping dugout". I meant to put 68 WS when he broke the record.
 

bankshot1

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They lowered the mound in 69 after they had raised it for the 68 season I believe.
I don't know, nor recall if they raised the mound in '68, but it was lowered in '69. (I think by 5 inches)
Tiant led the AL in '68 with a 1.60 ERA with the Tribe, and our boy Yaz led the AL in BA with a .301. which I think remains the lowest winning league batting average.
 

Bergs

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I did a fantasy camp with my older brother and father when Gibson was in his '50's. I got to bat against him and was like 10 at the time. He probably threw in the 70's to me and other kids and over the plate and just fastballs (not so against the adults. I don't recall anyone doing much of anything against him).

Anyhow I got a dribbler through the infield and managed to get on first base. The dude then picked me off. Cepeda was the first baseman and I could tell he wanted to tell Gibson to let me stay on the bag, but Gibson wasn't having it. My dad was just like "Don't argue with him."

I have a picture with him just sitting in the dugout not smiling with me. Not that I cared. Bob freaking Gibson.
This is fucking awesome.

R.I.P. to one of the greats.
 

reggiecleveland

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I know I am late to this, but Gibson may be the best athlete of all time. He played with Globe Trotters when they were very close to the nba, and certainly contained guys that would have been nba stars. Observers at the time think he was an NBA level talent, and this wasn't George Mikan set shot nba, this was Russell, Wilt, Sam Jones, Baylor, etc. He was considered more athletic than most nba guys, and would have certainly been able to defend at the nba level. Seemed a Red type of guy. Few teams wanted a black guy as a role player, and many of the banners are due to Red's lack of racism. If the legends are half true that he was throwing a slider, not a curve, and was shown the difference in the bullpen at Cards sprint-training, then went out that day and buckled knees with a curve, his hands were such he would have learned to score at the nba level. His noted toughness and competitiveness would have played well in hoops too. At the time money, prestige was better in baseball. But, any guy that could be considered one of the most athletic guards around is something to behold.