Bob Gibson 80 today. Any memories???

[marvymelvin]

Just wanted to shout out to Bob Gibson on his 80th birthday. Any memories to share??

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Went to the National in Chicago a few years ago (2013 I believe) and bought some mid-grade raw rookies beforehand and got them signed in person. Heard he was a dick at shows etc but he was very nice when he signed for me, especially the inscriptions.

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[HRBAKER]

1967 - leg broken by a line drive off the bat of Roberto Clemente.



1964 WS MVP



1967 WS MVP

[Hankphenom]

Met him at the All-Century Team gala in Atlanta in 1999. While he was signing my baseball, I said, "At one time you and my grandfather were the only two pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts." He continued to sign the ball, handed it back to me, and walked away.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Met him at the All-Century Team gala in Atlanta in 1999. While he was signing my baseball, I said, "At one time you and my grandfather were the only two pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts." He continued to sign the ball, handed it back to me, and walked away.

who your grandfather

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

who your grandfather

It doesn't take long to find out


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[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

who your grandfather

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

who your grandfather

Since nobody has told you yet, Hank's grandfather is the legendary Walter Johnson. Hank himself is the author of a tremendous biography of Johnson.

[PM770]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Since nobody has told you yet, Hank's grandfather is the legendary Walter Johnson. Hank himself is the author of a tremendous biography of Johnson.

I didn't realize that! I read the book several years ago and enjoyed it very much. Thanks for the great read Hank!

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by PM770

I didn't realize that! I read the book several years ago and enjoyed it very much. Thanks for the great read Hank!

Wow!!! Didn't know that either--thanks for the info! Johnson and Grove--the two best of all time IMHO.

Larry

[tjb1952tjb]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Met him at the All-Century Team gala in Atlanta in 1999. While he was signing my baseball, I said, "At one time you and my grandfather were the only two pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts." He continued to sign the ball, handed it back to me, and walked away.

Really nice.......................

[pclpads]

If you read Gibby's autobio - "Stranger to the Game" - you would have a better appreciation for the indignities he encountered while playing and post career. Those likely go a long way to explaining any brusqueness at signing events. He signed an 8 x 10 for me many years ago at the Labor Day Show in SF. Couldn't have been nicer.

[h2oya311]

I purchased this card raw on eBay in 2013. The seller stated: "I wanted to let you know, this very card was on display earlier this summer when Bob Gibson's statue at Omaha's Werner Park was presented. Bob commented that he only remembered seeing one other and that was many years ago!"

Happy birthday Bob!

[ALR-bishop]

Originally Posted by pclpads

If you read Gibby's autobio - "Stranger to the Game" - you would have a better appreciation for the indignities he encountered while playing and post career. Those likely go a long way to explaining any brusqueness at signing events. He signed an 8 x 10 for me many years ago at the Labor Day Show in SF. Couldn't have been nicer.

Agree with this. He once told a reporter that after he retired he would just be another N (his word) from Omaha. His competitive attitude overcame a lot, but isolated him some. He could be brusque with teammates as well..."McCarver, get back behind the plate, because the only thing you know about pitching is that you can not hit it"....per MCCarver, with respect

He was a pretty good basketball player too

[Jay Wolt]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

He was a pretty good basketball player too

Damn straight! Didn't he play w/ the Harlem Globetrotters during baseball's off season in the late 50's?

[slipk1068]

Originally Posted by pclpads

If you read Gibby's autobio - "Stranger to the Game" - you would have a better appreciation for the indignities he encountered while playing and post career. Those likely go a long way to explaining any brusqueness at signing events. He signed an 8 x 10 for me many years ago at the Labor Day Show in SF. Couldn't have been nicer.

It appears he lashes out at the fans who allow him to earn a decent living. I will not add to his bankroll by paying for his autograph or his book. There's no excuse or justification for bad behavior. It''s sad the way he was treated but even sadder that he is angry at the fans who admire him

[Exhibitman]

Just goes to show who he is, David. He was relentless and often brutal even to his teammates when he played. Many thought he had to be like that to focus on the game, when really, he was and is just a mean man. Age apparently hasn't mellowed him much. The one time I got his autograph, at a show around 1988 in SF, he was cordial but not engaging and accommodated my request to use the red sharpie I brought for the signature. That card [1968 Topps] got burgled, unfortunately, around 25 years ago. A few years ago I got this vintage signed team issue that had been used as a PC back in 1969:



Derek, that pre-rookie is fantastic.

[ALR-bishop]

I was 9 and living in St. Louis in 1959 when I opened a pack with Gibson. I was glad to get a Cardinal, but it was a pink card of a guy I was not familiar with who had lousy stats. His 60 card was better looking, but he still had bad stats. He did get a little better though.

[dealme]

Originally Posted by marvymelvin

Just wanted to shout out to Bob Gibson on his 80th birthday. Any memories to share??

Got his autograph at the grand opening of Sherwin Williams Paint in Terre Haute, IN in February, 2001. He seemed very personable and signed a ball as well as a 3x5 picture. He pitched well before my time, but he seemed like a bad dude on the mound.

[scooter729]

At an old-timers game at Fenway in 1988, I had early access into the park through a family connection. I was 14 at the time and politely asked Gibson to sign a ball outside of the locker room as he was standing by himself. He yelled at me to leave him alone.

I stood there looking about to cry. Warren Spahn walked over, said to me to forget about that, and asked if he could sign the ball for me.

HOF or not, it's stuff like that which sticks for me. I have ZERO Gibson cards in my collection. There are many Spahn items in my collection.

[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by scooter729

At an old-timers game at Fenway in 1988, I had early access into the park through a family connection. I was 14 at the time and politely asked Gibson to sign a ball outside of the locker room as he was standing by himself. He yelled at me to leave him alone.

I stood there looking about to cry. Warren Spahn walked over, said to me to forget about that, and asked if he could sign the ball for me.

HOF or not, it's stuff like that which sticks for me. I have ZERO Gibson cards in my collection. There are many Spahn items in my collection.

Yeah, leaves a forever bad taste in your mouth. That's why i have zero Mays cards in my collection

[Head928]

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[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by Head928

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Try to see if Gibson would sign it, would he so sweet and it's already awesome.


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[Beatles Guy]

Just had him sign for me a couple of weeks ago. Nice guy.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Head928

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That is pretty awesome. I'd be proud of that, too, if I were Pete.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Head928

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Hate to spoil the fun, but Gibson's last pitch was a ground out to Don Kessinger after that grand slam.

[HRBAKER]

Hate to spoil the fun, but Gibson's last pitch was a ground out to Don Kessinger after that grand slam

If you can't trust a guy named "LaCock" who can you trust.

[timn1]

it seems only yesterday that I watched him in the 1967-68 World Series, which were my intro to a life of baseball fandom when I was 8-9. He seemed like a god-

how do you go from dominating the world at 32 to 80? (I know, 48 years pass... but how can that be? I still feel like I'm 8 or 9 most of the time!)

[triwak]

Saw Gibby throw a shut-out in 1968. Lou Brock doubled up a guy off first base, on a line drive hit to left field. I was 7 years old. Hooked!! Later in the mid-70s, saw Gibson get his 2999th strike out. Think he needed ~6 that night for 3000, and came up one shy. In that same game, Hank Aaron got a pinch-hit single during his farewell tour. Great memories.