Keep Gibby in Your Thoughts

[clydepepper]

Hall of Fame right-hander Bob Gibson, who won the Cy Young and National League MVP awards in 1968, sent a letter to living Hall of Famers informing them he is battling pancreatic cancer.

He was the only future Hall-of-Famer to play any of his minor league home games here in Columbus...and that wasn't easy for a black man back then.

[Bigdaddy]

Wow, that is a tough one. Hoping he still has that high, hard fastball to back that terrible disease off the plate.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Tim McCarver tells some great stories about him. Several had nothing to do with baseball really, but rather how he educated McCarver about race.

One was this. In the clubhouse after a game, McCarver tells Gibson, there's a colored gentleman here to see you. Oh? says Gibson. What color is he?

I thought it was priceless.

Maybe the greatest stare from the mound in the history of the game.

[darwinbulldog]

True. I'd sooner go up to bat against Carl Mays.

[Kenny Cole]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Wow, that is a tough one. Hoping he still has that high, hard fastball to back that terrible disease off the plate.

Yeah. It is basically a death sentence. I hate that. Hope he beats it but the statistics aren't good, particularly at his age.

[CurtisFlood]

I have some great memories of him from my teen age years. He was an awesome pitcher, great competitor, and one tough dude. I'm hoping he can knock this one down and hang around a few more years.

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by CurtisFlood

I have some great memories of him from my teen age years. He was an awesome pitcher, great competitor, and one tough dude. I'm hoping he can knock this one down and hang around a few more years.

I agree with you Bob. I grew up watching Gibson and he was one of the most dominate pitchers of his era. Hang in there Gibby and beat this thing!

[pclpads]

This news totally sucks . . . He signed a Perez-Steele and an 8x10 for me about 20+ years ago at the SF Labor Day show. Among my treasures. Nice man. His book, "Stranger to the Game" is a great read and gives a great accounting of what BS he had to endure.

[the 'stache]

This is terrible news. I have tremendous respect for Gibson, and hope he beats this. But Pancreatic cancer is about as nasty as it comes.

He's emblematic of just how the game has changed. Back in the day, if you crowded the plate, and Gibson was on the mound, you were a dead man.

I was very little when he retired, but I've watched full games of the man in his prime. He's the most intimidating player I've seen in the game.



I can't hear the name Bob Gibson, and not think of his follow through. He ended up halfway between first and home when he was done.

[ClementeFanOh]

My thoughts are with him as he battles this dread disease.

[GasHouseGang]

Bill, someone created this fantasy Gibson In Action 1972 card using a similar photo. It might have been you, I don't remember. But I know someone will recognize their work.

[triwak]

Such sad news, but hoping for the best. Saw him pitch in 1968 (1.12 ERA, pennant-winning season), and also saw him rack up his 2999 strike out. Best pitcher I ever saw or followed!! Positive vibes...

[jbsports33]

My Dad ended up seeing him pitch during the 1967 WS and got his auto, what a player - very sad, God Bless his family

Jimmy

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

Bill, someone created this fantasy Gibson In Action 1972 card using a similar photo. It might have been you, I don't remember. But I know someone will recognize their work.

That was me, in this thread...
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=219771

[wondo]

Growing up in Detroit, Bob Gibson was the devil - 1968 World Series against the Tigers. I was only seven years old, but I quickly, begrudgingly learned to appreciate his greatness. Hated his guts though, which is the ultimate compliment. Nobody hated Ron Willis. In 74/75 when his decline accelerated, I felt as though I had lost part of my childhood - this man is invincible!

My thoughts and prayers are with Bob Gibson and his family; he will fight as only Bob Gibson can. One of the fiercest competitors to ever don a baseball uniform.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Before the 9th inning of game 7 of the 64 World Series, Gibson went to Johnny Keane and told him he had nothing left. Keane said, you have a four run lead, it's not like you're going to give up four home runs. Gibson proceeds to give up two home runs. Keane leaves him in. He eventually wraps up the game. When asked why on earth he had left Gibson in, Keane said, I had a commitment to his heart.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Before the 9th inning of game 7 of the 64 World Series, Gibson went to Johnny Keane and told him he had nothing left. Keane said, you have a four run lead, it's not like you're going to give up four home runs. Gibson proceeds to give up two home runs. Keane leaves him in. He eventually wraps up the game. When asked why on earth he had left Gibson in, Keane said, I had a commitment to his heart.

Thank, Peter. That was awesome!

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

That was me, in this thread...
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=219771

See I knew someone would let us know who created it! Sorry Darren, I didn't remember who made them, but I saved all the Cardinals!

[doug.goodman]

He graciously signed this for me before a Giants / Braves game at Candlestick in the early 80s.

[ALR-bishop]

I heard McCarver tell a story about going to the mound to steady Gibson down after a couple of walks and Gibson telling him to get his ass back behind the plate because all Tim knew about good pitching was that he could not hit it

[Nunzio11]

There would certainly be less bat flipping and grandstanding if Gibson were pitching today. He’d probably be suspended half the season if he was. The game really has changed. Hopefully he still has some of that fiercely competitive spirit left.

[Cooptown]

his is incredibly sad news. My Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 10 years ago in May 2009. At the time we thought he was considered "lucky", because the spot on his pancreas was in an operable location, which afforded him the opportunity to have what is called the Whipple procedure. Many pancreatic cancer patients are not so lucky.

They opened him up for surgery, and realized the cancer had already spread to his liver. They closed him back up, and there wasn't much else they could do. They tried chemo, but he was so weak already having recovered from a failed surgery, he couldn't handle it. He passed away in December of 2009. I miss him every day.

Pancreatic cancer is a nasty, nasty disease. I wouldn't wish it on my own worst enemy.

Prayers to Bob Gibson and everyone else fighting it.

[Cooptown]

his is incredibly sad news. My Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 10 years ago in May 2009. At the time we thought he was considered "lucky", because the spot on his pancreas was in an operable location, which afforded him the opportunity to have what is called the Whipple procedure. Many pancreatic cancer patients are not so lucky.

They opened him up for surgery, and realized the cancer had already spread to his liver. They closed him back up, and there wasn't much else they could do. They tried chemo, but he was so weak already having recovered from a failed surgery, he couldn't handle it. He passed away in December of 2009. I miss him every day.

Pancreatic cancer is a nasty, nasty disease. I wouldn't wish it on my own worst enemy.

Prayers to Bob Gibson and everyone else fighting it.

[Eggoman]

Originally Posted by Cooptown

This is incredibly sad news. My Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 10 years ago in May 2009. At the time we thought he was considered "lucky", because the spot on his pancreas was in an operable location, which afforded him the opportunity to have what is called the Whipple procedure. Many pancreatic cancer patients are not so lucky.

They opened him up for surgery, and realized the cancer had already spread to his liver. They closed him back up, and there wasn't much else they could do. They tried chemo, but he was so weak already having recovered from a failed surgery, he couldn't handle it. He passed away in December of 2009. I miss him every day.

Pancreatic cancer is a nasty, nasty disease. I wouldn't wish it on my own worst enemy.

Prayers to Bob Gibson and everyone else fighting it.

I have a similar story regarding to my Father-In-Law, but will spare you all the details. If you get to choose your cancer, you would not pick this one - IT SUCKS!!

All the best to Mr. Gibson & his Family.

[kateighty]

Originally Posted by Eggoman

I have a similar story regarding to my Father-In-Law, but will spare you all the details. If you get to choose your cancer, you would not pick this one - IT SUCKS!!

All the best to Mr. Gibson & his Family.

Similar story here - my mom lost her two best friends to pancreatic cancer in a matter of months. As a pre-war fan I've always considered Gibson as one of my favorite "modern" players. Thanks to those who have shared stories and pictures. Prayers to Gibby as well as his family.

[Robbie]

Cancer has never been up against Bob Gibson... and I would love to see Gibby knock it flat on its ass.

Thoughts and prayers for strength to Bob Gibson and his family.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by Cooptown

his is incredibly sad news. My Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 10 years ago in May 2009. At the time we thought he was considered "lucky", because the spot on his pancreas was in an operable location, which afforded him the opportunity to have what is called the Whipple procedure. Many pancreatic cancer patients are not so lucky.

They opened him up for surgery, and realized the cancer had already spread to his liver. They closed him back up, and there wasn't much else they could do. They tried chemo, but he was so weak already having recovered from a failed surgery, he couldn't handle it. He passed away in December of 2009. I miss him every day.

Pancreatic cancer is a nasty, nasty disease. I wouldn't wish it on my own worst enemy.

Prayers to Bob Gibson and everyone else fighting it.

yes it is, very sorry for what you and especially your dad went through.
Both my parents were taken from Pancreatic Cancer in their 60's and there was no whipple attempt for either of them.

As for Bob Gibson, He was always one of my favorites. He would not sign my friends ball when he was 10 and snubbed him. The life long cardinal fan hates him to this day for it.

My other story is that a friend of mine pitched for the Mets as a rookie when Bob Gibson was his pitching coach and Joe Torre was the manager.

he asked gibson for advice and he said "Son, just throw the f***en ball as hard as you f***en can. He heeded the advice and on the first pitch of his first game on a cold night in Chicago, he hurt his arm.

He said he was never the same, though he finally made it back to the bigs a few years later to win a world series and comeback player of the year.