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This one is hard to take. I didn’t know Tim was in ill health, although I knew he was getting up there.
I learned baseball with the 1967 Cardinals, living in Memphis and listening to all the Cardinals games on the radio with Harry Caray and Jack Buck. Still remember their starters: Cepeda, Javier, Maxville, Shannon, McCarver, Brock, Flood, Maris. And of course Gibson.
I loved watching McCarver as a catcher. He could run pretty well and hit for a high average, which was (and is) rare for a catcher. And he had great rapport with Bob Gibson when he caught him.
1967 was a great Cardinal year, I used to have a record album celebrating that Cardinals team.
1968 was great too, though the first six games of the WS anyway.I recall Gibson had just struck out 17 Tigers in game 1 of the WS and they put it up on the scoreboard that he broke the WS strikeout record. The crowd in Busch was giving Gibson an ovation on the mound and he had no idea why, McCarver stood up and pointed over Gibson’s shoulder at the scoreboard.
Then Gibson finally turned around, saw the scoreboard signage that he had set the record, and he acknowledged the crowd. A great moment in Cardinals history.
I suppose I shouldn’t complain too much about the playoff system at least it gives the smaller market teams a better chance.
I grew up with the great Cardinals teams of the 1960’s: Brock, Flood, Gibson. Back then up through 1968 the best team in the AL met the best team in the NL in the World Series, no playoffs.Unfortunately if they had that system nowadays with just the two best teams advancing it would be the Dodgers vs the Yankees most years, as they can afford the highest payroll.
This year losing to the Phillies was not what I expected. Perhaps next year the Cards big guns will come through in the playoffs.
Cards and Mets eliminated, they were 6 and 12 games ahead of Phillies and San Diego. 101 win season wasted for the Mets.
MLB needs to take another look at their playoff system, letting so many teams in the playoffs. The nature of MLB is different than the NFL and NBA. It is more likely in MLB that an inferior team will win a single game or a short series, than in NBA or NFL.
Two games, anything can happen in baseball.
I have a problem with there being so many teams in the playoffs and the Cardinals having to play in this round even after winning their division. Six games better than the Phillies too.
At least Molina and Pujols went out with hits.
Shildt doesn’t have that much of a resume and was not at his best in the biggest games. (Reyes in the 9th). I’m surprised though after the winning streak and making the playoffs hopefully this will not come back to bite the Cardinals.
I don’t think the Cardinals win streak was a fluke, or lucky. Their pitching staff got healthy and they tuned it on when they had to, in September, when they basically had to win every game to get back into the playoff picture. The streak would not have meant as much in April.
1985 was a devastating WS for the Cardinals to lose but nothing was as bad as 1968 for me. Gibson 1.12 ERA season then losing game 7 due to a misjudged fly ball. McCarver said it still bothers him and in a way it still bothers me too. You guys are lucky most of you were not around to see that.
All it took was one hit with RISP, and the Cardinals would have won. Perhaps a little offensive help next year would be good. I was proud of Wainwright, he is such a clutch pitcher, reminds me a little of Bob Gibson in the big games.
I had a bad feeling going into the bottom of the 9th. Losing a deciding game is always difficult to accept. This isn’t as bad as losing to Detroit in 1968 game 7 but it reminds me of that.
Still it was a good year, I so enjoyed the winning streak!
As one who saw Gibson pitch many times I’d guess his fastball was upper 90’s occasionally 100MPH.
Part of the reason he was feared, and he was so successful, is that he threw faster than just about anyone else in MLB.The 1960’s Cardinals were such a joy to watch. Or to listen to (Harry Carey and Jack Buck). Two Championships and a near miss in 1968. Someone asked McCarver a few years ago how long it took him to get over losing the 1968 WS and McCarver said he still hadn’t.
I recall in 1967 Roberto Clemente broke Gibson’s leg with a line drive but he kept pitching until he collapsed. He had such a drive to succeed and you had to drag him off the mound. His innings pitched put todays pitchers to shame.
I hurried home from school to watch game seven of the 1968 World Series, only to see the Cardinals lose. I’ll always wonder what would have happened, that long ago fall afternoon, if Flood had caught Northrup’s fly ball with the score 0-0 in the late innings. I think Gibson would have eventually outlasted Lolich and the Cardinals would have won.
Such a great pitcher and a great Cardinal. It’s hard to believe he’s gone.
RIP Gibby and thanks for the memories.
Especially 1968 and how you thrilled a certain 12 year old boy (me) that year with your greatest year ever in The Year of the Pitcher (1.12 ERA). If only Curt Flood hadn’t misjudged the fly ball in game 7, you’d have won 1968 WS game 7, having already done in in ’64 and ’67.
You were a joy to watch and the kingpin of those great 1960’s Cardinals teams.First base is useless,” he said in 1974. “And most of the time it is useless to stay there.”
“On the other hand, second base is really the safest place on the field. When I steal second, I practically eliminate the double play. And I can score on any ball hit past the infield.”
One of the kingpins of those great late 60’s Cardinals teams of my childhood. Lou made the games so exciting with his speed and steals, and was usually a .300 hitter too. And Lou was at his best in the World Series. It was a joy to watch you play, Lou, RIP.
And he was a gold gloves boxer so that would be appropriate. Aaron warned players not to charge the mound against Gibson as it would not end well for them.
Thanks for the welcome Brian. And I’ll check out the book too.
Many moons ago I read “From Ghetto to Glory” by Bob Gibson, I could use a refresher.
He’s left his mark that’s for sure, 1968 he was something special to watch.I grew in 1960’s Memphis, loved those great Cardinals teams of the late 60’s. Brock, Maris,
Cepeda, Javier, Flood, McCarver, Carlton, but the best of them all was Bob Gibson. Pulling and praying for you Gibby. You’ve always been a great Cardinal, always been a fighter and a winner, I hope you can win this one too.
