Whitey Ford died today. It is the end of Sukkoth
Bob Gibson died on 2 October, the beginning of Sukkoth.
I’m looking forward to the end of 2020.
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Several years ago, I was at a dinner, and Tim McCarver was the guest speaker. At the end of his talk, someone asked him what it was like to catch Bob Gibson. McCarver told a story about a game when he said to the Umprise “Time Out” in the fifth inning. He walked to the mound, and Gibson was furious and demanded to know why McCarver called time out. McCarver told him that he just wanted to remind Gibson they were on the same team because he lost the feeling in his right hand from catching him.
They lowered the mound because Bob Gibson was so dominant. What does that tell you about his ability to pitch? (Not to mention he played one year with the Harlem Globetrotters.)
They lowered the mound because pitchers were becoming dominant, not just Gibson. Twenty-two pitchers had sub-2.00 earned run averages in 1968. This is not to deny Gibsons greatness, just to correct a misunderstanding.
The one thing I remember about Whitey Ford is that my dad worked with his mother at a big insurance firm in Manhattan. May all the faithful departed Rest In Peace.
After his death, a photo was posted on several websites (ex.: https://infotel.ca/newsitem/bbo-obit-whitey-ford/cp452406885) showing Whitey Ford along with some of the other baseball heroes of my youth: Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra…and with this photo a wealth of memories flooded back, with the great Mel Allen’s unmistakable voice beaming from the old Black and White television, calling the plays on those heady warm afternoons. I suspect those of a certain New York vintage will remember.
How well I remember those days, the inimitable Casey Stengel, the unsung hero Tommy Henrich, who was called old reliable for obvious reasons, and the stand out announcer Mel Allen, joined by Red Barber. Kind of bring a nostalgic tear to my eye.
So many of the baseball legends from the 50s and even the 60s are now gone…
–
Besides Whitey’s on-field talent and accomplishments, I remember my late father commenting on his off-field judgment. More than once he said to me that Whitey had grown up the son of an Astoria bar owner and had a clear understanding of the limits & dangers of alcohol that stood him in good stead, considering the role drinking (to excess) played in some of the damage to the lives of friends and teammates like Mantle and Martin.
Midwest St. Michael says:
They lowered the mound because Bob Gibson was so dominant. What does that tell you about his ability to pitch? (Not to mention he played one year with the Harlem Globetrotters.)
Does the name Sandy Koufax sound familiar?
Bob Gibson will be forever associated with one incredible number: 1.12.
I’m a Cardinal fan from way back–to the days of Musial, Schoendienst, Boyer. One reason is the Cardinals were so good, the A’s were awful, and it was easy to get the Cardinals on the radio. Another reason was a friend, who along with yours truly, comprised the pitching staff on our Little League team. His father was originally with St Louis and started the 7th game of the 1946 World Series, later a 20 game winner with a last place team, the Pirates. It was a major event to have a major league pitcher at the year end picnic of our team.
Now for the Bob Gibson story:
Some years ago a friend, a former Big 8 football player and Cardinal fan whose wife is the niece of the pitcher mentioned above, went to the Cardinal Fantasy camp. Among the ex Cardinals there were Gibson, Schoendienst, and McCarver. Also present was Bob Avellino, once a mostly back up NFL QB. It was all in fun, but Avellino started telling everyone he was going get a hit off Gibson, who heard about Avellino’s plan.
The moment arrived. Avellino stepped to the plate. McCarver knew that Gibson was going to be serious. He tightened his chest protector and got into a real catcher’s stance. Of course, Avellino didn’t touch the ball. Afterwards, McCarver told my friend it had been some time since he caught Gibson, and he had forgotten what it was like. McC said it was scary.
robt,
Both incredible, but Gibby was the workhorse.
MLB statistics for Gibson:
Win–loss record 251–174
Earned run average 2.91
Strikeouts 3,117
MLB statistics for Koufax:
Win–loss record 165–87
Earned run average 2.76
Strikeouts 2,396
Koufax is one of three pitchers in history to win the pitchers Triple Crown 3 times. The other two are Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander. The pitchers Triple Crown is to lead the league in wins, strikeouts, ERA. Of the three pitchers Koufax is the only one who led all of baseball in all three categories.
Btw, Bob Gibson attended Creighton University (Jesuit) in Omaha