"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." - President Ronald Reagan
In the late 1970's Kansas City and New York met 3 times in the ALCS. The Yankees won in 1976, 1977 and 1978. The 1976 and 1977 series saw New York win in the bottom of the 9th (Chris Chambliss walk off HR) and a top of the 9th rally in Kansas City. They were crushing defeats for the Royals. The Yankees won the 1978 series in 4 games. Finally, the Royals won in 1980 sweeping the Yankees. George Brett's HR off of Goose Gossage clinched it. And KC finally beat New York!
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Back in October 1968, I ran home with my little transistor radio hoping to catch Game 1 of the World Series on TV. I knew that my mother would have the game on TV, so my objective was to get home. I ran faster and faster when I heard that Gibson was pitching a shutout and about to set a post-season record for strikeouts. Well, I did not make it home, but I did hear strikeout #17 on the radio and caught the post-game interview. It was arguably the greatest pitching performance of the 20th century because he was facing a Detroit lineup that included Al Kaline, Norm Cash, Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, and Jim Northrup. The 1968 A.L. champion Tigers were a great team. It's hard to believe that anyone could strike out 17 against a lineup like that. He was as dominating as any pitcher in one game. The amazing Bob Gibson died this week in 2020. He was 84 and fighting cancer. Over the years, Gibson won 251 games with a 2.91 ERA. He also threw 56 shutouts! Add 255 complete games plus winning Game 7 in 1964 versus New York and 1967 versus Boston!
In the aforementioned season of 1968, he won 22 games, pitched 28 complete games and 13 shutouts. His ERA was a super-human 1.12! I did not make a typing mistake. It was indeed 1.12 over 304 innings. Gibson added a no-hitter in 1971 and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1981. He was absolutely awesome and died shortly after Lou Brock, his teammate from those Cardinals who won three N.L. pennants in five years, passed away. Sad month for Cardinal nation. Never saw him in person but lots of times on TV. As I told my late father one day, I would have Bob Gibson on the mound if my life depended on one pitch. P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk). If you like our posts, click send, and drop a dime here.
