Off-Topic Forum

Well, whether I did or not, I'll start this one. From the time I first got into baseball circa 1970, to the mid-eighties, I had two favorite baseball players: Lou Brock and Bob Gibson. No matter that I was a Cubs fan. I loved players who really brought their A-game to the playoffs and World Series (ahem, Bryant, Baez, Rizzo....). Brock's stolen bases, Gibson's ridiculous e.r.a., really caught my imagination. And I'm not a violent guy, but I loved Gibson's intimidating personality. And a whole career on one team always meant something to me.  

I can't say I know much about them other than their baseball exploits. And I'm not really into hero worship, but for the early years of my life those two were as close as I came. To lose both in the period of a month has me as close to being in mourning for a stranger as I'm likely to get. 

Rest in peace, Mr. Gibson. Thanks for all you gave me, unbeknownst to you. 

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Never a Cards fan, but truly respected Gibson's intimidating presence on the mound. Makes me wonder how successful these young hitters of today would be or how often they'd stand at the plate admiring their homers with Gibson on the mound. 

RIP Gibson. 

As a Tigers fan, liking Bob Gibson would've been a bad thing., but it was the 1968 WS that was my first taste of baseball in 1970 when my brother returned from the States with an 8mm copy of Tigers vs Cards WS. I just admired how he was able to SO so many of the great hitters of our time. I never got to see him at Tiger Stadium but when they showed games on TV he was a thrill to young kid to watch and wish I could pitch in same manner. 

Thanks for the memories RIP Bob Gibson 

The news broke right after the Cardinals game ended last night. I have to wonder if the players knew.  Truly a sad day for us Cardinals fans, and for baseball in general.  And right after Lou too.  Sure, I don't remember him as a player, but he was the winning pitcher on the day I was born. Beat the Cubs that day.  That I know from researching the only User List I didn't delete when I left the site last year.

I think the year was 1994 or 1995, July 20 (my birthday) or within a day or two of that day.  I went to a Cardinals game for my birthday, and there was a 3 inning old timers exhibition game played before the real game between Cardinals greats and Royals greats.  Jack Buck was 'calling' the game from the field piped into the PA system.  After the scheduled three innings, the score was tied, I believe 4-4 or somthing like that.  Buck asked over the PA if the fans wanted to end in a tie or go one more inning; of course we all cheered for 'extras'.  Gibson had pitched the third, and stayed out for the fourth, holding the Royals scoreless, then he came up to bat in the bottom of the fourth, score still tied.

You guessed it, he hit a walk off game winning home run to win the game for the Cardinals legends.  Regular fences for old Busch stadium, too; not a shortened field.  It traveled far.  I can't even guess how loud the decibal level was after that swing.

RIP Mr. Gibson.

Love that story, Brimose. I'd almost forgotten how good a hitter he was. 
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Nice memory!

To answer the original question; Yes, here.

-Tom