Topic: Bob Gibson

MLB Records

Patrick Robert "Bob" Gibson (born November 9, 1935 in Omaha, Nebraska) is a former right-handed baseball pitcher, playing for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1959 to 1975. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981. Gibson was a fierce competitor who rarely smiled and was known to throw close fast inside pitches to let batters know who was in charge (similar to his contemporary and fellow Hall of Famer Don Drysdale), although he had good control and hit only 102 batters in his career (fewer than Drysdale's 154). Considered to be the best pitcher in Cardinals history (along with Dizzy Dean), Gibson dominated with his fastball, sharp slider, and a slow, looping curveball. He now resides in the Omaha suburb of Bellevue with his wife and son and is a special instructor coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Born Pack Gibson, after his father who died 3 months before his birth (the Gibson family could not afford a camera; therefore no photographs of his father exist). Gibson changed his name to Robert when he turned 18. Despite a childhood filled with health problems, including rickets, asthma, pneumonia, and a heart murmur, he was active in sports as a youth, particularly baseball and basketball. After a standout career in baseball and basketball at Tech High in Omaha, Gibson won a basketball scholarship to Creighton University.