St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher Bob Gibson Dies At 84 – NPR

National Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson shows up for an induction ceremony at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, N.Y., in 2017. Gibson died Friday at 84.

Hans Pennink/AP

toggle caption

hide caption

Hans Pennink/AP

National Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson gets here for an induction event at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, N.Y., in 2017. Gibson died Friday at 84.

Hans Pennink/AP

” Bob Gibson was perhaps one of the very best professional athletes and among the fiercest rivals to ever play the video game of baseball,” said Cardinals owner William DeWitt Jr. in a declaration. “Even during the time of his recent illness, Bob stayed a strong fan of the group and remained in contact with members of the organization and numerous of our players. He will be sorely missed.”

Gibson played with the Cardinals from 1959 through 1975. Gibson passed away on the 52nd anniversary of his record-setting 17 strikeout World Series game against the Detroit Tigers in 1968.

YouTube

Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, who spent 17 years pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals, died Friday after a 1 year battle with pancreatic cancer. The 84-year-old Gibson was thought about the best pitcher in Cardinals history.

” I pitched in a period of civil discontent, of black power and clenched fists and burning structures and assassinations and riots in the street,” Gibson composed in his narrative, as reported by The New York Times.

” Bob Gibson was arguably one of the best athletes and amongst the fiercest competitors to ever play the game of baseball,” said Cardinals owner William DeWitt Jr. in a declaration. “Even throughout the time of his current illness, Bob stayed a strong supporter of the team and remained in contact with members of the company and numerous of our gamers.” There was a country full of mad black individuals in those days, and by extension– and by my behavior on the mound– I was viewed as one of them,” Gibson composed.

Gibsons baseball profession corresponded with the height of the civil liberties motion.

As for Gibsons storied intimidating nature, he didnt believe he was more fearsome than any other pitcher.

” Every pitcher tried to daunt batters when I played,” Gibson told the Chicago Tribune in 1987. “Maybe I was simply a bit more successful.”

” There was a nation full of upset black individuals in those days, and by extension– and by my disposition on the mound– I was perceived as one of them,” Gibson composed. I saw his position, his strike zone, his bat speed, his power and his weaknesses.”

Before his significant league baseball career, Gibson was the first Black player to shoot hoops for the Creighton University Blue Jays, and he likewise spent a short time with the Harlem Globetrotters.

After retiring from baseball, Gibson opened a restaurant in his hometown of Omaha, Neb., and was chairman of the board of a bank catering to Black locals.

Gibson played with the Cardinals from 1959 through 1975. While there, he won 2 Cy Young awards and played in 3 World Series, winning 2. He also established a credibility for being an especially challenging adversary. Gibson passed away on the 52nd anniversary of his record-setting 17 strikeout World Series video game versus the Detroit Tigers in 1968.