On the 6th of September, Lou Brock, left fielder for the 1967 World Series champion St Louis Cardinals, died. Ace starting pitcher for that team (and master of chin music) Bob Gibson died earlier today.

Gibson was 84. His record over 16 seasons was 251–174 with a career ERA of 2.91 and 3117 strike-outs. Nine time All-Star, 2x World Series champ, 2x Cy Young award winner, 2x World Series MVP, 9x Golden Glove winner.

His ERA over the 1968 season was 1.12, a record that still stands. The teams he faced collectively batted .184. In one 92-inning stretch, he allowed a whopping two earned runs. And for some odd reason, MLB lowered the mound five inches for the 1969 season.

Possibly Gibson's most memorable trait was that he fell down. A lot. When he brought the heat, he would thrown with such intensity that he often fell off the mound and landed on his face.

And he lo-o-o-o-v-e-d to play the chin music.


"(Hank Aaron told me) 'Don't dig in against Bob Gibson, he'll knock you down. 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.' I'm like, 'Damn, what about my 17-game hitting streak?' That was the night it ended."

—Dusty Baker