In 1968, Bob Gibson pitched the Cardinals into the Series again but lost to Detroit. Nevertheless, it was also a magical season for Gibson:
1) 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 over 304 innings.
I did not make a typing mistake.
It was indeed 1.12 over over 304 innings.
2) In game 1 of the Series, Gibson struck out 17 Tigers.
I remember running home from school to catch the last few pitches of this game. I missed the game but caught the last few K’s on the radio.
It was the greatest pitching performance of the 20th century because he was facing a lineup of Al Kaline, Norm Cash, Willie Horton, Bill Freehan and Jim Northrup. The ’68 Tigers were a great team. It’s hard to believe that anyone could strike out 17 against a lineup like that.
The Tigers beat the Cards in ’68 in 7 games. Detroit came back from a 3-1 deficit and beat Gibson in game 7.
Gibson went on to win 251 games in his career with a 2.91 ERA. He also threw 56 shutouts! Add 255 complete games plus winning game 7 in 1964 vs New York and 1967 vs Boston!
Bob Gibson was arguably the greatest right handed pitcher of the 1960’s or at least tied with Juan Marichal for that distinction. Marichal did not pitch in 3 World Series and that helps Gibson in this debate.
Gibson was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1981. He is one of all my time favorites because he threw strikes and wasn’t afraid to throw inside once in a while. In 1968, he was almost perfect.
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