Bob Gibson
| Birthdate | 11/9/1935 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1959 |
| Year of Induction | 1981 |
| Teams | Cardinals |
| Position | Pitcher |
A member of MLB’s All-Century team, Bob Gibson is a two-time Cy Young Award winner and a former National League Most Valuable Player.
In the collection:
Bob Gibson agrees to be a guest on ABC
Bob Gibson agrees to be a guest on ABC
Bob Gibson started 9 World Series games, pitched 8 completed games with 7 wins. His lifetime ERA in the Fall Classic was 1.89. Predictably he also won the two World Series MVPs. Shown here is an agreement signed by Gibson on 12/3/1970 to appear as a guest on the American Broadcasting Company.
Closeup of signature portion of ABC contract
Closeup of signature portion of ABC contract
Bob Gibson won the second of his two Cy Young Awards after securing a career-high 23 wins in 1970. A month after receiving the award, Gibson signed this contract, seen in its entirety above. An All Star and Gold Glover that season, Gibson also received MVP consideration, finishing fourth in National League balloting. Shown here is a closeup of the signature portion of his contract with the American Broadcasting Company.
Gibson files a dispute from his time in the Dominican in 1958
Gibson files a dispute from his time in the Dominican in 1958
Before making his Major League debut Bob Gibson pitched in the Dominican Republic. During his time there there was a mixup between the Licey team and the club from Puerto Rico. In this letter Gibson writes to recover his expenses from the mixup. Though not signed, the letter reveals what sometimes happens to players when they compete in Winter Ball.
Details of dispute according to Gibson
Details of dispute according to Gibson
After completing the winter in the Dominican in 1958, Gibson broke in with the Cardinals the following season. By 1961 he would start a streak of 14 consecutive double-digit win totals highlighted by five 20-win seasons. An eight-time All Star, Gibson was voted the league’s Cy Young Award twice and the MVP once. Shown here is a blow-by-blow account of the dispute before he threw his first big league pitch.
Second and final page detailing the dispute
Second and final page detailing the dispute
After reading this page and the first page of the dispute is seems Gibson was treated unfairly. For an inexperienced player who just turned 23 years old these letters seem quite gutsy. Gibson would go on to be known as one of the fiercest competitors in the history of the game.
Walter Shannon pleads Gibson's case to George Trautman
Walter Shannon pleads Gibson's case to George Trautman
Walter Shannon writes this letter as Supervisor of Player Personnel for the Cardinals. In it he advises the President of the National Association George Trautman about Gibson’s plight. “…the purpose of my letter is to see that this boy is not the loser in this case. I might say that in our estimation Bob Gibson is one of the most outstanding baseball prospects in our organization.” Though he had yet to suit up in a big league game, Gibson did become one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the St. Louis Cardinals.
