Bob Gibson 80 today. Any memories???

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by timn1

You can say then they shouldn't do public shows, and I already agreed that is reasonable. In an ideal world only the sweethearts would do them, and everybody would love it. But I also suggested an explanation for why it doesn't always work out ideally that I think helps to make sense of their behavior.

Explanation, perhaps. Excuse, no way. No one who acts like a jerk at a show should do any more of them. If an athlete finds it distasteful to deal with the general public, he can always reject the offer to do a show. A HOFer is not going to lack for signing work. He can do private signings through an agent or web site and never interact with the people he obviously disdains. What irks me is when an athlete shows up, repeatedly, at the National or at a show, and then is surly or churlish with the customers. I don't buy any excuse for not bringing a professional attitude to the performance. They're getting paid thousands of dollars to sign their names and smile at the people who want nothing more than a polite 'hello' from someone they probably grew up admiring. It may not be fun but it ain't exactly coal mining...

[CurtisFlood]

I saw Gibson pitch a game against the Padres in the early seventies and he pitched a complete game 9-4 win. He struck out 10, gave up ten hits, but hit a three run homer himself.

To cap it off a fast Padre hit a high hopper between the mound and second base. Gibson leaped in the air and with his back to first fired backhanded to first and beat the runner by a half step. Very Globetrotter like play.

[pclpads]

Originally Posted by CurtisFlood

I saw Gibson pitch a game against the Padres in the early seventies and he pitched a complete game 9-4 win. He struck out 10, gave up ten hits, but hit a three run homer himself.

To cap it off a fast Padre hit a high hopper between the mound and second base. Gibson leaped in the air and with his back to first fired backhanded to first and beat the runner by a half step. Very Globetrotter like play.

The single A Pudres? Who'd a thunk? The more they change, the more they remain the same. Today, Kimbrel for four magic beans from Bean Town. Call it what is: a salary dump a la Tom Werner's fire sale. Sorry, didn't mean to hi-jack the thread. Outrage overcame me.

[KCRfan1]

Fun Fact: Gibson has more complete games than he does wins!

255 complete games and 251 wins

[Edward]

He walked me intentionally.
What a chicken.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by Edward

He walked me intentionally.
What a chicken.

Can you blame him?

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by Edward

He walked me intentionally.
What a chicken.

He should have thrown at your head!

[CurtisFlood]

Originally Posted by pclpads

The single A Pudres? Who'd a thunk? The more they change, the more they remain the same. Today, Kimbrel for four magic beans from Bean Town. Call it what is: a salary dump a la Tom Werner's fire sale. Sorry, didn't mean to hi-jack the thread. Outrage overcame me.

Sorry man, I remember watching Tony Gwynn get his 2000th hit back in about 1993. Longest standing ovation I have ever witnessed in person at a ballpark. He was one of my favorite non Cardinals.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Well, yes and no.

Yes, Gibson and many others went through some unfair BS, and yes they were all financially exploited, but this is decades later and they are very well paid to be public personalities at events and shows. They don't have to be buddy-buddy with fans on the street if that's not in their natures, but in the context of an event where the players are providing a fee for service, they need to be professionals about it. If not being rude to kids and being polite to the customers and reasonable about their requests as to how you perform that service for which they are paying is just too taxing a way to earn several thousand dollars a day, stay home. Don't deign to work at something that most people would love to work at.

Well said.

My current boss has an amazing ability to not only be friendly to the public no matter the situation, but his "photo face" is exactly the same whether it's 5 am or 5 pm and believe me, at 5 am, there is considerable effort involved, but as he has said to me "it's part of the gig I signed up for".

I have worked for a lot of people who would disagree with that last part, and to be honest, I have mixed emotions as to if being nice all the time is part of the gig, but it certainly makes for happy fans.

Doug

[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!