Bob Gibson averaged a complete game in a World Series. In 9 starts, he pitched 81 innings. Only once did he pitch less than 9. But even there, it was a pretty good, 8 inning effort.
Gibson, perhaps a little nervous facing the Yankees, had an interesting effort in game 2 of the 1964 World Series. Gibby was removed for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th inning. He gave up 8 hits, and fanned 9 (By comparison, winner Mel Stottlemyre gave up 7 hits and only fanned 4 in 9 innings pitched), but the problem was hit wildness. There were 3 walks, there was a hit batter. And there was a wild pitch. New York would always take advantage of this, and game two was not exception.
In game five of the 1964 World Series, it was Gibson against Stottlemyre. The Fall Classic was tied at 2, making it a crucial game with the World Series lead at stake. Gibson started off strong, and it looked like he'd win this one easily.
The Cardinals took advantage of some weak fielding in the top of the 5th. Gibson himself started things off with a single that both shortstop Phil Linz and leftfielder Tom Tresh could not get to. Tresh made a desperate try for it, but came up short. St. Louis scored twice in the inning, and it looked like it would be enough.
But in the bottom of the 9th, Dick Groat made an error on a Mickey Mantle ground ball. Gibson then made a great play on a Joe Pepitone smasher, that hit Bob and went towards third base. A nice fallaway throw got Pepitone at first, but the the call may have been wrong. Pepitone appeared to arrive at first at the same time as the ball.
The play was extremely crucial, because Tresh then atoned for failing on Gibby short fly, with a game-tying two-run home run. If not for Hoot's play, St. Louis would have lost the game.
And a dramatic 3-run homerun by Tim McCarver in the top of the 10th, gave the Cardinals a 5-2 lead. Gibson made it stand up, as he only allowed a Bobby Richardson single in the bottom of the frame. Gibson had fanned 13 and given up just 6 hits. A big improvement over game 2. Stottlemyre, though, also improved his game 1 performance, giving up just 1 earned run and fanning 6. Pete Mikkelsen, who came in to relieve Hal Reniff (who himself came in to replace Stottlemyre) fanned 3 to give New York a total of 9 themselves. K's a plenty in game 5. Gibson would take that, as long as he won.
In game 7, the Cardinals charged ahead 6-0 after 5 innings. But the Yankees cut the lead in half in the top of the 6th inning as Mantle belted his 18th career Fall Classic dinger. Gibson seemed to be tiring, pitching with just two days' rest.
And New York kept coming at him in the 7th. Gibson got through it, but not very easily. Hector Lopez, pinch-hitting, fanned. But Linz got a hold of one and was out on a fly to right. Richardson stroked a hit, his 13th of the 1964 World Series. Roger Maris hammered one to right, but right to rightfielder Mike Shannon.
Bobby got some better news in the frame as Ken Boyer hit another home run. Now, a grand slam here would have helped, but this was a solo job. In any event, it was now 7-3 for St. Louis and Gibson could breath a little easier.
Mantle hit the ball hard to lead off the 8th, but this one stayed in the park and Curt Flood made the catch. Elston Howard fanned and Pepitone popped out.
The Cardinals put runners on second and third with just one out in the bottom of the 8th. But Mikkelsen came in, fielded Gibson comebacker, trapping McCarver in a rundown between 3rd and home. Flood was out on a liner to Clete Boyer at third.
Gibson was really feeling the heat and fatigue as the 9th inning began. But he started it out on the right foot by fanning Tresh, who had hit him well all series long. Boyer, though, got a pitch right where he wanted it on the inside, and blasted it over Lou Brock's head in left. The ball made it to the seats. That cut the Cards' lead to 7-4. Johnny Blanchard, one of the finest pinch hitters in recent World Series, batted for Mikkelsen. Gibson had to get him out. He did better than that! He K'd him. One out to go and St. Louis were World Series winners for 1964.
But Linz, with two hits off Gibson in game 2 and another in game 7, blasted the ball to left. Brock, with his back to the wall, went as high as he could go. But it wasn't high enough, as this one also found the seats. It was New York's third home run off Gibson in game seven and fourth dinger of him this Fall Classic. Gibson managed to get Richardson to pop up and end the game.
It had been a tough go-round for Gibson in his first World Series. Three years later, Bob Gibson would face a pretty good Red Sox team. The BoSox might not have been as good as New York, but Gibson had missed some time in the season with a broken leg.
In game 1, it was Gibson against young Jose Santiago. Santiago kept getting in trouble and kept getting out of it. The Cardinals should have had a rout in this game. They settled for a run in the top of the third inning on a Maris (now playing for St. Louis) groundout. But the lead was short-lived, as Santiago himself hit a home run to left center in the bottom of the frame. From there, he hung right with Gibson.
But St. Louis kept having their chances. Julian Javier was thrown out at home by Carl Yastrzemski on Brock's single in the top of the 4th. A single and a passed ball moved Mike Shannon to second with no one out in the 6th. The Cards again failed to score. Gibson kept the Red Sox at bay, but it was still tied after 6 innings.
Brock singled, stole second and moved to third on a groundout in the 7th. Maris also grounded out, and it scored him. St. Louis was up, 2-1. Gibson sailed through most of the innings. George Scott hit a 2-out double in the 4th and was stranded. Dalton Jones singled with one out in the bottom of the 6th and the Red Sox were unable to score him. With two outs in the bottom of the 7th, Reggie Smith singled, but was caught trying to steal second.
John Wyatt took over for Santiago in the 8th and had a 1-2-3 inning. Gibby had a bit of a scare in the bottom of the frame. Norm Siebern singled and Boston sent in Jose Tartabull to run for him. Elston Howard, another Yankee from 1964 but now playing for Boston, was up at the dish. His bunt moved Tartabull to second with one out. Gibson got Jerry Adair on a fly to center and Dalton Jones on a pop fly to short.
St. Louis got runners to second and third in the top of the 9th and failed to score. So it was still only 2-1 for St. Louis in the bottom of the 9th. Hoot got the first two batters out, but then walked George Scott. Mike Andrews ended the game by flying out to Maris in right. A fine game by Gibson! 9IP, 6H, 1R, 10K and 1BB! Bob had proven he could win the close ones on willpower alone!
In game 4 of the 1967 World Series, Gibson put the Cardinals up 3-1. St. Louis put this one away early.
Leading 2 games to 1, Gibson started strong. Carl Yasztremski hit a 2-out single, but Gibby fanned George Scott to end that. And then the Cards offence went to work in the bottom of the frame.
Maris drove in two with an opposite-field double. The Cardinals added two more and were up, 4-0 and Santiago was out of there. Gibson would make sure it stood at that. He fanned two more in the top of the second, and then added Joe Foy to his list of K's in the third.
In the bottom of the third, a sacrifice fly and a Javier double brought home two more runs to make it 6-0 St. Louis. The game was now hopelessly lost by the Red Sox. Would Bob Gibson get the shutout.
He allowed only a George Scott single in the top of the 4th, then had a 1-2-3 5th. Gibby seemed in complete command. Stephenson, roughed up for the two runs in the third, gave up a leadoff double to Brock in the bottom of the 4th, then settled down to get the next three batters. Dave Moorehead had a 1-2-3 5th. The Red Sox had finally gotten some pitching in this game. But it was really all about Bob Gibson at this point.
No runner had made it past 1st, and it stayed that way as Gibby allowed just a single by Tartabull in the 6th and just a Reggie Smith walk in the 7th. The Cards got a runner on in the 6th. And it was none other than Gibson. Brock forced him. You could have guess it that he stole second. But that was all St. Louis got. Moorehead retired the side in order in the top of the 7th. Gibson had to duck to avoid a Tatabull comebacker, but that was all the Red Sox got in the top of the 8th.
After Ken Brett (Yes, the younger brother of George) held the Cardinals at bay in the bottom of the frame, Gibson went on to nail down his first shutout in the top of the 9th.
But Yaz led off and stroked a booming double between Flood and Roger Maris. Gibby would have to earn this shutout. Scott flied out to Maris in right, but Carl made it to third. A sacrifice fly or ground ball would score Yastrzemiski. But Gibson got Smith to fan. Jerry Adair grounded out and Bob Gibson finally had a World Series shutout. Finally a win with some breathing room throughout the game!
Game 7 of the 1967 World Series was a battle between Gibson and Boston's two-game winner, Jim Lonborg. But it turned out to be no contest.
In the top of the third, with the game scoreless, St. Louis opened the floodgates. Dal Maxville led off with a triple to center. Two outs later, Flood scored him with a single. Maris singled Flood to third. A wild pitch by Lonborg to Orlando Cepeda scored Flood. 2-0, Cardinals.
Gibson was cruising. He allowed a walk in the first, but also got a strikeout. The Red Sox failed to score. In the bottom of the second, Gibson got two more strikeouts. Two more strikeouts were recorded by Bob in a 1-2-3 third. He was up to five, already.
After Lonborg had a 1-2-3 inning of his own in the top of the 4th, Gibson came back with two more strikeouts in the bottom of the frame. Again, the Sox (for the third straight inning) failed to get a baserunner. And again, there were a pair of K's for Gibson. Now, it was time for Bob to take out a mean bat!
With one out in the top of the 5th, Gibson went yard on a solo blast to center to make it 3-0, St. Louis. A single by Brock kept the rally going. Brock stole second and third. His steal of third was on a walk to Flood. Maris flied out to score Brock. It was 4-0, St. Louis.
A George Scott triple in the bottom of the frame was the Red Sox's first hit. Julian Javier's throw to third was wild, and Scott trotted on home for the first run for Boston. Gibson settled down and got the next three batters out. In the top of the 6th, St. Louis put this game away.
Tim McCarver got things started with a leadoff double. Mike Shannon reached on an error. And Javier really atoned for his throwing error. He belted a Lonborg offering over the Green Monster. It was 7-1, Cardinals. With Gibby throwing some serious heat, both the game and the Fall Classic were effectively over!
Gibson had a 1-2-3 6th, and got through the 7th by allowing the Red Sox just a walk (Yastrzemski). Jose Santiago managed to hold St. Louis as bay in the 7th and 8 innings, getting them 1-2-3 both times.
In the 8th, Bob Gibson's wildness made an appearance. After a leadoff double by Rico Petrocelli, Hoot threw a wild pitch to Howard. The Red Sox them made a surprising move and brought in Dalton Jones to bat for Howard. Gibson walked him. Would the Red Sox have one final uprising?
Norm Siebern batted for Santiago and forced Jones at second. Petrocelli scored. Gibson bore down and got Joy Foy to also hit into a force at second. Mike Andrews grounded back to Bob. This was the Red Sox last real chance.
The Cardinals loaded the bases in the top of the 9th with just one out but failed to score.
Yastrzemski led off the bottom of the 9th with a single to left. But Gibson got Ken (Hawk) Harrelson to hit into a double play. And when Gibby fanned Scott with a big, sweeping inside curve, the Cardinals were the 1967 World Series Champions!
The Cardinals of the Bob Gibson era had one last World Series appearance in them. It was the very next year, 1968. And Gibson was again awesome!
In game 1 of the 1968 World Series, against Denny McLain and the Detroit Tigers, Bob Gibson was simply in the zone!
He allowed a hit in the top of the first, but fanned two in that inning. He did even better in the next inning as he struck out the side. The Cardinals got a huge triple by Tim McCarver in the bottom of the frame, but failed to score.
Gibson came right back to the mound in the top of the third to fan two more Detroit batters. Another batter, Don Wert, got Detroit's second hit of the day. But Wert never made it to second base. St. Louis again seemed destined to score against McLain in the bottom of the frame, as again they got a runner to third. But that's all she wrote.
In the top of the 4th, Gibson only managed one strikeout. But it was Hall Of Famer Al Kaline who went down on strikes. Better still, Gibson had a 2-hitter going. And now, he was up to 8 K's in only 4 innings. What a start!
And St. Louis helped Bob Gibson in the bottom of the frame. A pair of walks (to Roger Maris and McCarver), a pair of singles (by Mike Shannon and Julian Javier) and an error (by Willie Horton) made it 3-0 for the Cardinals. Could Gibby make it stand?
He fanned only Wert in the top of the 5th. But only Bill Freehan made it to first via a walk. McLain also had an easy inning, but Detroit made another error behind him. The Tigers' were being taken out of their usual element in the field. St. Louis' speed was causing Detroit to rush and hesitate on fielding plays. This continued on for all seven games of the 1968 Fall Classic.
Gibson had an interesting 6th inning. He started it with an out, but then Dick McAuliffe got a bouncing ball single to left. After fanning Mickey Stanley, it was Gibby vs. the veteran Al Kaline. But Kaline, playing in his first World Series game, doubled to left. McAuliffe held at third, but Detroit had the tying run at the plate. Not for long, as Gibson fanned Norm Cash.
McLain, having been removed for a pinch hitter in the top of the 6th, was done for the day as Pat Dobson took over. Gibson was still around, and was back in dominating form in the top of the 7th. Willie Horton lined out, but the next two Tigers fanned. Gibson was up to 13 K's in only 7 innings. Gibby was going for Sandy Koufax's record of 15 strikeouts in one World Series game, which was set in 1963.
Lou Brock gave Gibson a little more breathing room with a solo home run in the bottom of the 7th. In the top of the 8th, Eddie Mathews batted for Wert. This just had to seem so odd. Mathews, one of the finest all-around third basemen of all time, is usually associated with the Milwaukee Braves. Actually, Eddie was there in 1952 when they were still the Boston Braves. He was also with the Braves in 1966 for another move, this time to Atlanta, where they are to this day. Gibby couldn't have cared about any of the above, for he fanned Mathews. 14 strikeouts. It would be a 1-2-3 inning for him. But he failed to get another strikeout.
So it was 4-0 St. Louis going into the top of the 9th. Stanley, playing shortstop and not his normal centerfield position, singled for his second hit of the game. It was the Tigers' fifth and last hit off Gibson.
But a super fast fastball made Al Kaline the 15th strikeout of the afternoon. When Cash followed by going down swinging as well. Gibson had the World Series record. The game was not over as Horton batted.
Gibson got two strikes. Then he threw Willie a pitch that looked like was going to hit him. But in broke in on the hands and caught the inside edge of the plate. Horton never got the bat off his shoulders. Gibson had his 17th strikeout. The Cards had game 1 of the 1968 World Series, 4-0.
In game 4, it was more of Gibson. McLain had not pitched too bad in game 1 and neither had his relievers. But in this game four in Detroit, St. Louis was too much. It rained before the game, and then the Cards rained down crushing blow after crushing blow on Denny.
Brock hit another home run to lead off the game. St. Louis plated another man in the top of the 1st. Gibson had all the runs he needed.
Kaline connected for a double with two down in the bottom of the 1st, but Gibson got Cash to fan. After McLain had a 1-2-3 inning in the second, it was Gibson who put two runners on in the bottom of the frame before getting out of there.
In the top of the third, the roof caved in for good on Denny. Tim McCarver hit a triple to score a run. Mike Shannon drove in McCarver with a double. Javier walked. Then, back came the rain. When that delay was over, so was Denny.
Bob Gibson wasn't about to let any distraction get in the way of his game plan. Even with a 4-0 lead, Gibson was not about to let up. That had almost cost him in game 7 of '64. But there was none of that in 1967, and none of that in game 1 here. There would also be none of that in game 4.
He fanned two more in the bottom of the third, although Kaline got another hit. In the top of the 4th, Gibson himself made it 5-0 with a home run. A Roger Maris groundout scored still another run. Jim Northrup broke up Bob's shutout bid with a home run in the bottom of the 4th. But Gibby got two more strikeouts in that inning and two more in the 5th.
Gibson fanned Horton in the bottom of the 6th and then Freehan in the bottom of the 7th. St. Louis scored four times in the top of the 8th inning to make it 10-1. Gibson had a 1-2-3 inning but failed to get a strikeout.
Norm Cash led off the bottom of the 9th with a single, but Horton popped out. When Northrup hit into a double play, St. Louis had the win, Gibson had another 5-hitter. He fanned only 10 this time, but St. Louis was up in the Series, 3 games to 1.
Alas, the Cardinals never got the 4th win. Detroit took game 5 at home, 5-3. Then McLain came through with an easy 13-1 win in game 6. Game 7 would be a matchup of the two pitchers who were 2-0, Bob Gibson and Mickey Lolich. St. Louis was at home and poised for the win.
Gibson started this thing off strong. A 1-2-3 first included a K of Kaline. When Lolich struggled to get out of the 1st, things were looking good. Gibson fanned two more in the second, but Lolich got a nice double play in the bottom of the frame to keep the game scoreless.
Bob Gibson had another 1-2-3 inning in the third. He fanned both Wert and Lolich. But Lolich himself got all three batters he faced to ground out in his half. The game had all the elements of a classic pitcher's duel at this point.
In the 4th, Bob gave up his first hit, a one out single by Stanley. But another strikeout and a groundout by Cash got him out of there. Lolich had a 1-2-3 inning, however, even fanning Shannon.
After another 1-2-3 inning by Gibson in the top of the 5th, Tim McCarver started the bottom of the frame with a single. But Lolich calmly fanned Maris, and then got the next two men out. These two pitchers had a lot of poise here.
Gibson had still another 1-2-3 inning in the 6th. Was it a bad sign that he failed to get a K here and in the 5th? Perhaps, but when Brock led off the bottom of the frame with a single, St. Louis looked like they were going to win the World Series right there. But Mickey picked him off. After Julian Javier lined out, Curt Flood singled. And then Lolich picked him off, too!
Gibson started the 7th with a K of Stanley. And then Kaline grounded out. Gibson seemed safe. But then Cash singled. Willie Horton followed suite. Jim Northrup launched a flyball that Flood seemed to misjudge. By the time he caught up to it at the wall, it was 2-0, Detroit. A Bill Freehan double made it 3-0. What?
Gibson hung on and had a 1-2-3 8th, but his teammates could do nothing with Lolich in the bottom of the 7th and 8th. In the top of the 9th with two on and two out, a single by Don Wert made it 4-0, Tigers. Mickey Lolich popped out.
Flood lined out to start the bottom of the 9th. Orlando Cepeda popped out. Mike Shannon went yard, but it was a solo shot. It did break up the shutout. But when Tim McCarver popped out to Freehan the cartcher, it was all over.
Gibson, although the loser here, finished his outstanding World Series career with a 7-2 record.
His 7 wins are the third most ever, lifetime, in a World Series.
His 3 wins in the 1967 World Series made him one out of only thirteen pitchers to win that many games in one World Series.
His 10.2 K/9IP in the World Series are third, all time.
Gibson's 11.7 K/9IP in the 1968 World Series is the 4th highest in a single series.
His 92 K's is second to Whitey Ford on the all time World Series list. But Ford's 94 were accomplished in 146.0 IP compared to Gibby's 81.0 IP.
Bob Gibson's 35 K's in the 1968 World Series is the most of one pitcher in a single World Series.
His 31 K's in the 1964 World Series is the second most of one pitcher in a single World Series.
Gibby's 26 K's in the 1967 World Series is good enough for a 5th place tie with Curt Schilling's K's in the 2001 World Series. Yes, Schilling needed just 21.1 IP to get those. So Curt sort of has an edge.
His 8 complete games ties him with Red Ruffling for 3rd on the all time list.
Gibson's 2 shutouts tie him with seven other pitchers for 4th on the all time list.
He also had put a lot of fear into many a batter!
References
Anderson, Dave. Pennant Races: Baseball At Its Best. New York: Doubleday, 1994. Print.
Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.
Gibson, perhaps a little nervous facing the Yankees, had an interesting effort in game 2 of the 1964 World Series. Gibby was removed for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th inning. He gave up 8 hits, and fanned 9 (By comparison, winner Mel Stottlemyre gave up 7 hits and only fanned 4 in 9 innings pitched), but the problem was hit wildness. There were 3 walks, there was a hit batter. And there was a wild pitch. New York would always take advantage of this, and game two was not exception.
In game five of the 1964 World Series, it was Gibson against Stottlemyre. The Fall Classic was tied at 2, making it a crucial game with the World Series lead at stake. Gibson started off strong, and it looked like he'd win this one easily.
The Cardinals took advantage of some weak fielding in the top of the 5th. Gibson himself started things off with a single that both shortstop Phil Linz and leftfielder Tom Tresh could not get to. Tresh made a desperate try for it, but came up short. St. Louis scored twice in the inning, and it looked like it would be enough.
But in the bottom of the 9th, Dick Groat made an error on a Mickey Mantle ground ball. Gibson then made a great play on a Joe Pepitone smasher, that hit Bob and went towards third base. A nice fallaway throw got Pepitone at first, but the the call may have been wrong. Pepitone appeared to arrive at first at the same time as the ball.
The play was extremely crucial, because Tresh then atoned for failing on Gibby short fly, with a game-tying two-run home run. If not for Hoot's play, St. Louis would have lost the game.
And a dramatic 3-run homerun by Tim McCarver in the top of the 10th, gave the Cardinals a 5-2 lead. Gibson made it stand up, as he only allowed a Bobby Richardson single in the bottom of the frame. Gibson had fanned 13 and given up just 6 hits. A big improvement over game 2. Stottlemyre, though, also improved his game 1 performance, giving up just 1 earned run and fanning 6. Pete Mikkelsen, who came in to relieve Hal Reniff (who himself came in to replace Stottlemyre) fanned 3 to give New York a total of 9 themselves. K's a plenty in game 5. Gibson would take that, as long as he won.
In game 7, the Cardinals charged ahead 6-0 after 5 innings. But the Yankees cut the lead in half in the top of the 6th inning as Mantle belted his 18th career Fall Classic dinger. Gibson seemed to be tiring, pitching with just two days' rest.
And New York kept coming at him in the 7th. Gibson got through it, but not very easily. Hector Lopez, pinch-hitting, fanned. But Linz got a hold of one and was out on a fly to right. Richardson stroked a hit, his 13th of the 1964 World Series. Roger Maris hammered one to right, but right to rightfielder Mike Shannon.
Bobby got some better news in the frame as Ken Boyer hit another home run. Now, a grand slam here would have helped, but this was a solo job. In any event, it was now 7-3 for St. Louis and Gibson could breath a little easier.
Mantle hit the ball hard to lead off the 8th, but this one stayed in the park and Curt Flood made the catch. Elston Howard fanned and Pepitone popped out.
The Cardinals put runners on second and third with just one out in the bottom of the 8th. But Mikkelsen came in, fielded Gibson comebacker, trapping McCarver in a rundown between 3rd and home. Flood was out on a liner to Clete Boyer at third.
Gibson was really feeling the heat and fatigue as the 9th inning began. But he started it out on the right foot by fanning Tresh, who had hit him well all series long. Boyer, though, got a pitch right where he wanted it on the inside, and blasted it over Lou Brock's head in left. The ball made it to the seats. That cut the Cards' lead to 7-4. Johnny Blanchard, one of the finest pinch hitters in recent World Series, batted for Mikkelsen. Gibson had to get him out. He did better than that! He K'd him. One out to go and St. Louis were World Series winners for 1964.
But Linz, with two hits off Gibson in game 2 and another in game 7, blasted the ball to left. Brock, with his back to the wall, went as high as he could go. But it wasn't high enough, as this one also found the seats. It was New York's third home run off Gibson in game seven and fourth dinger of him this Fall Classic. Gibson managed to get Richardson to pop up and end the game.
It had been a tough go-round for Gibson in his first World Series. Three years later, Bob Gibson would face a pretty good Red Sox team. The BoSox might not have been as good as New York, but Gibson had missed some time in the season with a broken leg.
In game 1, it was Gibson against young Jose Santiago. Santiago kept getting in trouble and kept getting out of it. The Cardinals should have had a rout in this game. They settled for a run in the top of the third inning on a Maris (now playing for St. Louis) groundout. But the lead was short-lived, as Santiago himself hit a home run to left center in the bottom of the frame. From there, he hung right with Gibson.
But St. Louis kept having their chances. Julian Javier was thrown out at home by Carl Yastrzemski on Brock's single in the top of the 4th. A single and a passed ball moved Mike Shannon to second with no one out in the 6th. The Cards again failed to score. Gibson kept the Red Sox at bay, but it was still tied after 6 innings.
Brock singled, stole second and moved to third on a groundout in the 7th. Maris also grounded out, and it scored him. St. Louis was up, 2-1. Gibson sailed through most of the innings. George Scott hit a 2-out double in the 4th and was stranded. Dalton Jones singled with one out in the bottom of the 6th and the Red Sox were unable to score him. With two outs in the bottom of the 7th, Reggie Smith singled, but was caught trying to steal second.
John Wyatt took over for Santiago in the 8th and had a 1-2-3 inning. Gibby had a bit of a scare in the bottom of the frame. Norm Siebern singled and Boston sent in Jose Tartabull to run for him. Elston Howard, another Yankee from 1964 but now playing for Boston, was up at the dish. His bunt moved Tartabull to second with one out. Gibson got Jerry Adair on a fly to center and Dalton Jones on a pop fly to short.
St. Louis got runners to second and third in the top of the 9th and failed to score. So it was still only 2-1 for St. Louis in the bottom of the 9th. Hoot got the first two batters out, but then walked George Scott. Mike Andrews ended the game by flying out to Maris in right. A fine game by Gibson! 9IP, 6H, 1R, 10K and 1BB! Bob had proven he could win the close ones on willpower alone!
In game 4 of the 1967 World Series, Gibson put the Cardinals up 3-1. St. Louis put this one away early.
Leading 2 games to 1, Gibson started strong. Carl Yasztremski hit a 2-out single, but Gibby fanned George Scott to end that. And then the Cards offence went to work in the bottom of the frame.
Maris drove in two with an opposite-field double. The Cardinals added two more and were up, 4-0 and Santiago was out of there. Gibson would make sure it stood at that. He fanned two more in the top of the second, and then added Joe Foy to his list of K's in the third.
In the bottom of the third, a sacrifice fly and a Javier double brought home two more runs to make it 6-0 St. Louis. The game was now hopelessly lost by the Red Sox. Would Bob Gibson get the shutout.
He allowed only a George Scott single in the top of the 4th, then had a 1-2-3 5th. Gibby seemed in complete command. Stephenson, roughed up for the two runs in the third, gave up a leadoff double to Brock in the bottom of the 4th, then settled down to get the next three batters. Dave Moorehead had a 1-2-3 5th. The Red Sox had finally gotten some pitching in this game. But it was really all about Bob Gibson at this point.
No runner had made it past 1st, and it stayed that way as Gibby allowed just a single by Tartabull in the 6th and just a Reggie Smith walk in the 7th. The Cards got a runner on in the 6th. And it was none other than Gibson. Brock forced him. You could have guess it that he stole second. But that was all St. Louis got. Moorehead retired the side in order in the top of the 7th. Gibson had to duck to avoid a Tatabull comebacker, but that was all the Red Sox got in the top of the 8th.
After Ken Brett (Yes, the younger brother of George) held the Cardinals at bay in the bottom of the frame, Gibson went on to nail down his first shutout in the top of the 9th.
But Yaz led off and stroked a booming double between Flood and Roger Maris. Gibby would have to earn this shutout. Scott flied out to Maris in right, but Carl made it to third. A sacrifice fly or ground ball would score Yastrzemiski. But Gibson got Smith to fan. Jerry Adair grounded out and Bob Gibson finally had a World Series shutout. Finally a win with some breathing room throughout the game!
Game 7 of the 1967 World Series was a battle between Gibson and Boston's two-game winner, Jim Lonborg. But it turned out to be no contest.
In the top of the third, with the game scoreless, St. Louis opened the floodgates. Dal Maxville led off with a triple to center. Two outs later, Flood scored him with a single. Maris singled Flood to third. A wild pitch by Lonborg to Orlando Cepeda scored Flood. 2-0, Cardinals.
Gibson was cruising. He allowed a walk in the first, but also got a strikeout. The Red Sox failed to score. In the bottom of the second, Gibson got two more strikeouts. Two more strikeouts were recorded by Bob in a 1-2-3 third. He was up to five, already.
After Lonborg had a 1-2-3 inning of his own in the top of the 4th, Gibson came back with two more strikeouts in the bottom of the frame. Again, the Sox (for the third straight inning) failed to get a baserunner. And again, there were a pair of K's for Gibson. Now, it was time for Bob to take out a mean bat!
With one out in the top of the 5th, Gibson went yard on a solo blast to center to make it 3-0, St. Louis. A single by Brock kept the rally going. Brock stole second and third. His steal of third was on a walk to Flood. Maris flied out to score Brock. It was 4-0, St. Louis.
A George Scott triple in the bottom of the frame was the Red Sox's first hit. Julian Javier's throw to third was wild, and Scott trotted on home for the first run for Boston. Gibson settled down and got the next three batters out. In the top of the 6th, St. Louis put this game away.
Tim McCarver got things started with a leadoff double. Mike Shannon reached on an error. And Javier really atoned for his throwing error. He belted a Lonborg offering over the Green Monster. It was 7-1, Cardinals. With Gibby throwing some serious heat, both the game and the Fall Classic were effectively over!
Gibson had a 1-2-3 6th, and got through the 7th by allowing the Red Sox just a walk (Yastrzemski). Jose Santiago managed to hold St. Louis as bay in the 7th and 8 innings, getting them 1-2-3 both times.
In the 8th, Bob Gibson's wildness made an appearance. After a leadoff double by Rico Petrocelli, Hoot threw a wild pitch to Howard. The Red Sox them made a surprising move and brought in Dalton Jones to bat for Howard. Gibson walked him. Would the Red Sox have one final uprising?
Norm Siebern batted for Santiago and forced Jones at second. Petrocelli scored. Gibson bore down and got Joy Foy to also hit into a force at second. Mike Andrews grounded back to Bob. This was the Red Sox last real chance.
The Cardinals loaded the bases in the top of the 9th with just one out but failed to score.
Yastrzemski led off the bottom of the 9th with a single to left. But Gibson got Ken (Hawk) Harrelson to hit into a double play. And when Gibby fanned Scott with a big, sweeping inside curve, the Cardinals were the 1967 World Series Champions!
The Cardinals of the Bob Gibson era had one last World Series appearance in them. It was the very next year, 1968. And Gibson was again awesome!
In game 1 of the 1968 World Series, against Denny McLain and the Detroit Tigers, Bob Gibson was simply in the zone!
He allowed a hit in the top of the first, but fanned two in that inning. He did even better in the next inning as he struck out the side. The Cardinals got a huge triple by Tim McCarver in the bottom of the frame, but failed to score.
Gibson came right back to the mound in the top of the third to fan two more Detroit batters. Another batter, Don Wert, got Detroit's second hit of the day. But Wert never made it to second base. St. Louis again seemed destined to score against McLain in the bottom of the frame, as again they got a runner to third. But that's all she wrote.
In the top of the 4th, Gibson only managed one strikeout. But it was Hall Of Famer Al Kaline who went down on strikes. Better still, Gibson had a 2-hitter going. And now, he was up to 8 K's in only 4 innings. What a start!
And St. Louis helped Bob Gibson in the bottom of the frame. A pair of walks (to Roger Maris and McCarver), a pair of singles (by Mike Shannon and Julian Javier) and an error (by Willie Horton) made it 3-0 for the Cardinals. Could Gibby make it stand?
He fanned only Wert in the top of the 5th. But only Bill Freehan made it to first via a walk. McLain also had an easy inning, but Detroit made another error behind him. The Tigers' were being taken out of their usual element in the field. St. Louis' speed was causing Detroit to rush and hesitate on fielding plays. This continued on for all seven games of the 1968 Fall Classic.
Gibson had an interesting 6th inning. He started it with an out, but then Dick McAuliffe got a bouncing ball single to left. After fanning Mickey Stanley, it was Gibby vs. the veteran Al Kaline. But Kaline, playing in his first World Series game, doubled to left. McAuliffe held at third, but Detroit had the tying run at the plate. Not for long, as Gibson fanned Norm Cash.
McLain, having been removed for a pinch hitter in the top of the 6th, was done for the day as Pat Dobson took over. Gibson was still around, and was back in dominating form in the top of the 7th. Willie Horton lined out, but the next two Tigers fanned. Gibson was up to 13 K's in only 7 innings. Gibby was going for Sandy Koufax's record of 15 strikeouts in one World Series game, which was set in 1963.
Lou Brock gave Gibson a little more breathing room with a solo home run in the bottom of the 7th. In the top of the 8th, Eddie Mathews batted for Wert. This just had to seem so odd. Mathews, one of the finest all-around third basemen of all time, is usually associated with the Milwaukee Braves. Actually, Eddie was there in 1952 when they were still the Boston Braves. He was also with the Braves in 1966 for another move, this time to Atlanta, where they are to this day. Gibby couldn't have cared about any of the above, for he fanned Mathews. 14 strikeouts. It would be a 1-2-3 inning for him. But he failed to get another strikeout.
So it was 4-0 St. Louis going into the top of the 9th. Stanley, playing shortstop and not his normal centerfield position, singled for his second hit of the game. It was the Tigers' fifth and last hit off Gibson.
But a super fast fastball made Al Kaline the 15th strikeout of the afternoon. When Cash followed by going down swinging as well. Gibson had the World Series record. The game was not over as Horton batted.
Gibson got two strikes. Then he threw Willie a pitch that looked like was going to hit him. But in broke in on the hands and caught the inside edge of the plate. Horton never got the bat off his shoulders. Gibson had his 17th strikeout. The Cards had game 1 of the 1968 World Series, 4-0.
In game 4, it was more of Gibson. McLain had not pitched too bad in game 1 and neither had his relievers. But in this game four in Detroit, St. Louis was too much. It rained before the game, and then the Cards rained down crushing blow after crushing blow on Denny.
Brock hit another home run to lead off the game. St. Louis plated another man in the top of the 1st. Gibson had all the runs he needed.
Kaline connected for a double with two down in the bottom of the 1st, but Gibson got Cash to fan. After McLain had a 1-2-3 inning in the second, it was Gibson who put two runners on in the bottom of the frame before getting out of there.
In the top of the third, the roof caved in for good on Denny. Tim McCarver hit a triple to score a run. Mike Shannon drove in McCarver with a double. Javier walked. Then, back came the rain. When that delay was over, so was Denny.
Bob Gibson wasn't about to let any distraction get in the way of his game plan. Even with a 4-0 lead, Gibson was not about to let up. That had almost cost him in game 7 of '64. But there was none of that in 1967, and none of that in game 1 here. There would also be none of that in game 4.
He fanned two more in the bottom of the third, although Kaline got another hit. In the top of the 4th, Gibson himself made it 5-0 with a home run. A Roger Maris groundout scored still another run. Jim Northrup broke up Bob's shutout bid with a home run in the bottom of the 4th. But Gibby got two more strikeouts in that inning and two more in the 5th.
Gibson fanned Horton in the bottom of the 6th and then Freehan in the bottom of the 7th. St. Louis scored four times in the top of the 8th inning to make it 10-1. Gibson had a 1-2-3 inning but failed to get a strikeout.
Norm Cash led off the bottom of the 9th with a single, but Horton popped out. When Northrup hit into a double play, St. Louis had the win, Gibson had another 5-hitter. He fanned only 10 this time, but St. Louis was up in the Series, 3 games to 1.
Alas, the Cardinals never got the 4th win. Detroit took game 5 at home, 5-3. Then McLain came through with an easy 13-1 win in game 6. Game 7 would be a matchup of the two pitchers who were 2-0, Bob Gibson and Mickey Lolich. St. Louis was at home and poised for the win.
Gibson started this thing off strong. A 1-2-3 first included a K of Kaline. When Lolich struggled to get out of the 1st, things were looking good. Gibson fanned two more in the second, but Lolich got a nice double play in the bottom of the frame to keep the game scoreless.
Bob Gibson had another 1-2-3 inning in the third. He fanned both Wert and Lolich. But Lolich himself got all three batters he faced to ground out in his half. The game had all the elements of a classic pitcher's duel at this point.
In the 4th, Bob gave up his first hit, a one out single by Stanley. But another strikeout and a groundout by Cash got him out of there. Lolich had a 1-2-3 inning, however, even fanning Shannon.
After another 1-2-3 inning by Gibson in the top of the 5th, Tim McCarver started the bottom of the frame with a single. But Lolich calmly fanned Maris, and then got the next two men out. These two pitchers had a lot of poise here.
Gibson had still another 1-2-3 inning in the 6th. Was it a bad sign that he failed to get a K here and in the 5th? Perhaps, but when Brock led off the bottom of the frame with a single, St. Louis looked like they were going to win the World Series right there. But Mickey picked him off. After Julian Javier lined out, Curt Flood singled. And then Lolich picked him off, too!
Gibson started the 7th with a K of Stanley. And then Kaline grounded out. Gibson seemed safe. But then Cash singled. Willie Horton followed suite. Jim Northrup launched a flyball that Flood seemed to misjudge. By the time he caught up to it at the wall, it was 2-0, Detroit. A Bill Freehan double made it 3-0. What?
Gibson hung on and had a 1-2-3 8th, but his teammates could do nothing with Lolich in the bottom of the 7th and 8th. In the top of the 9th with two on and two out, a single by Don Wert made it 4-0, Tigers. Mickey Lolich popped out.
Flood lined out to start the bottom of the 9th. Orlando Cepeda popped out. Mike Shannon went yard, but it was a solo shot. It did break up the shutout. But when Tim McCarver popped out to Freehan the cartcher, it was all over.
Gibson, although the loser here, finished his outstanding World Series career with a 7-2 record.
His 7 wins are the third most ever, lifetime, in a World Series.
His 3 wins in the 1967 World Series made him one out of only thirteen pitchers to win that many games in one World Series.
His 10.2 K/9IP in the World Series are third, all time.
Gibson's 11.7 K/9IP in the 1968 World Series is the 4th highest in a single series.
His 92 K's is second to Whitey Ford on the all time World Series list. But Ford's 94 were accomplished in 146.0 IP compared to Gibby's 81.0 IP.
Bob Gibson's 35 K's in the 1968 World Series is the most of one pitcher in a single World Series.
His 31 K's in the 1964 World Series is the second most of one pitcher in a single World Series.
Gibby's 26 K's in the 1967 World Series is good enough for a 5th place tie with Curt Schilling's K's in the 2001 World Series. Yes, Schilling needed just 21.1 IP to get those. So Curt sort of has an edge.
His 8 complete games ties him with Red Ruffling for 3rd on the all time list.
Gibson's 2 shutouts tie him with seven other pitchers for 4th on the all time list.
He also had put a lot of fear into many a batter!
References
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Baseball: A Film By Ken Burns. Prod.
Ken Burns. PBS. 1994. Television.
Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
2005. Print.
Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.
Golenbock,
Peter. Fenway: An Unexpurgated History of the Boston Red Sox. Chicago, IL:
Triumph Books, 2005. Print.
Halberstam, David. October 1964. New York: Villard, 1994. Print.
Major League Baseball. World Series Of 1964. Major League Baseball Productions, 1964. DVD.
Retrosheet. Web. 19 Aug. 2014. <www.retrosheet.org>.
Retrosheet. Web. 19 Aug. 2014. <www.retrosheet.org>.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 19 Aug 2014.
World Series Of 1967. Performance by Harry Caray, American and National Leagues of Professional Baseball Club, 1967.
Youtube. Web. 19 Aug. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com>.World Series Of 1967. Performance by Harry Caray, American and National Leagues of Professional Baseball Club, 1967.
World Series Of 1968.
Dir. Dick Winik. Perf. Curty Gowdy. Major League Baseball Productions., 1968.
DVD. Narrated by Curt Gowdy.
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