As Black History Month rolls on, Major League Baseball has been chosen to honor yet another legend who helped shape the game of baseball.
His name?
Bob Gibson.
“Gibby” or “The Hoot” pitched all 17 seasons of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, winning two World Series rings, an MVP, two Cy Youngs, nine Gold Gloves, two World Series MVP Awards, and was named to nine National League All-Star squads.
On this day, February 17, MLB has honored Gibson for his impressive 17-strikeout performance in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series against the Detroit Tigers.
That day, he set a World Series record for strikeouts.
On Twitter, MLB posted a tribute video, narrated by Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene.
#BlackHistoryMonth with Hunter Greene:
Bob Gibson’s World Series dominance. pic.twitter.com/qKgkNcJerJ
—MLB (@MLB) February 17, 2023
Gibson was certainly one of a kind and may be the greatest pitcher in the history of the game.
In addition to his dominance, he was very active in the Civil Rights movement, especially in the City of St. Louis.
The Hall-of-Famer’s best season came in 1968, when he posted a microscopic 1.12 ERA.
It was the following season that a new rule was put in place, much to his displeasure.
Gibson won 251 games during his career and had an ERA of 2.91.
He was also one of the most feared pitchers in the history of the game and was never afraid to assert his dominance.
The star right-hander sadly passed away in 2020 after a battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 84, but his impact on the City of St. Louis and Cardinals baseball can still be felt today.
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