Bob Gibson 80 today. Any memories???

[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.

[slipk1068]

One of the first games I ever went to. I was probably 6 or 7 years old. He beat Tom Seaver I believe the score was 1-0. Boring game for a kid who liked high scoring games.

[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.

[bbcard1]

My son has a 11 x 17 hanging in his room. He's not mean, he's just unusual and very deep. My son is a big Cardinal fan and wanted to have his picture taken with him, but he declined. It's all good.

I recently saw Gibson on a McCarver cable show. He was fascinating. I'll probably get my son his new book for Christmas.

[Head928]

Originally Posted by 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.

Bob may not be the most pleasant guy but he did put on some great charity golf tournaments in Omaha in the late 90's. I got about 10 Sandy Koufax autographs two of those years. Bob did yell at my dad at the dinner reception because he didn't like the way he asked Al Roker a question...But I respect what he did on the mound and still wouldn't want to step in the box against him ...even at 80.

[Delray Vintage]

I grew up watching Gibson pitch games going all the way in less than two hours. Those were the great days of watching baseball. Gibson was not a nice guy and he showed it on the mound in his demeanor towards batters. I had the pleasure of working closely with several greats of that era after they retired, and they were not particularly nice people to fans. I think there is some bitterness of missing out on the financial free agent bonanza. These guys were not treated too well by the owners and struggled to negotiate every dollar. They were blue collar guys trying to make a decent living.

To me Gibson, Koufax, Mays, Mantle, Aaron, etc. were of an era that rewarded fans with stability of rosters, where baseball cards were just for fun, and we could watch world series games played in the daytime. Baseball is still a fun sport but it will never be the same for me as the Gibson era.

[TheBig6]

During the 1972 Season, I was heading out to Gilley's for a night of drinking and dancing . Gibson was pitching against the Astros so I decided to record the game on my Teac Reel to reel. Gibson beat the Astros that night 1-0, Like always.

I loved his tenacity, not scared to bring some high heat. The way he fell off the mound. He was just a great great pitcher.

[Mozzie22]

Got this 11x14 signed in person last year. Bob was very nice to me and especially my 11 year old daughter.

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by Mozzie22

Got this 11x14 signed in person last year. Bob was very nice to me and especially my 11 year old daughter.

Beautiful picture and signature!

[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.