When will this end?
Tom Seaver.
Jay Johnstone.
Lou Brock.
Al Kaline.
Jimmy Wynn.
And a host of others.
And now, Bob Gibson, who passed away Friday at the age of 84. A Hall of Famer, seven-time All-Star, and two-time Cy Young winner, he spent his entire 17-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Here’s the obituary by Richard Goldstein of The New York Times.
Gibson was a fearsome sight on the mound, as well as a feared competitor. There are many anecdotes from batters who talk about standing in the box against him, especially after a good hit or some other offense, even a long at-bat. And that includes Old-Timers games!
Gibson was the subject of several books as well as the author of a couple, including:
- Pitch by Pitch: My View of One Unforgettable Game
, with Lonnie Wheeler (here’s my Bookshelf Conversation with Wheeler)
- Stranger to the Game: The Autobiography of Bob Gibson
, with Wheeler
- From Ghetto to Glory: the Story of Bob Gibson
, with Phil Pepe
- Sixty Feet, Six Inches: A Hall of Fame Pitcher & a Hall of Fame Hitter Talk About How the Game Is Played
, with Reggie Jackson and Wheeler
- The Year of the Pitcher: Bob Gibson, Denny McLain, and the End of Baseball’s Golden Age
, by Sridhar Pappu (here’s my Bookshelf Conversation with the author)
, with Lonnie Wheeler (here’s my 
, with Wheeler
, with Phil Pepe
, with Reggie Jackson and Wheeler
, by Sridhar Pappu (here’s my 
. 
. 
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Gibson’s ex-wife, Charline, published a Wife’s Guide to the game with Michael Rich in 1970.
But as to when these sad news stories will end? The obvious answer is never.
is available on Amazon.com,
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