Good day everyone!
Excited
to introduce you all to a new thread, and new custom set today, that my
"1960's In-Action" series, which will have special in-action cards
throughout the Topps sets of the 1960's, imagining if Topps began using
action shots before their 1971 set.
So today we will start it off with a 1965 In-Action card of the great Bob Gibson:
This
will be a multi-release series of cards, with 10 cards per series (one
for each year of the 1960's), along with a random "bonus" card of a
non-Topps, or non-1960s card.
I have been wanting to do this for quite some time now, and finally had the chance to release the first series this month.
Today's
card shows Gibson in classic form, coming off a wonderful 1964 season
that saw him lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a championship, defeating
the New York Yankees in the World Series, with "Gibby" going 2-1 in his
three starts, with two complete games and 31 strikeouts over 27 innings.
Bob Gibson has always been one of my favorite all-time players and
competitors. Besides the obvious things to love about the guy as far as
his stats go, it was the over-the-top drive and no-nonsense play that
had me hooked.
Ever hear Tim McCarver tell the story of the first time he saw Gibson after Tim was traded to the Phillies in October of 1969? If not here goes:
Before a game between the Cardinals and the Phillies in 1970, both teams were on the field loosening up and getting ready. Tim, who was a teammate of Gibson for about ten years before being traded, figured he'd go say hello to him. Not only were they teammates for so long, but they came up in the Cardinals system together in the late-50's.
Well as Tim says it, he went up to Gibson near the batter's box, stuck out his hand and went to say "hi", and knew immediately he was done for. Gibson just stared him down and walked away.
First time McCarver was up at the plate, Gibson delivered his first pitch and brushed him back.
Message delivered: they weren't teammates anymore, and while ON the field, they were enemies.
How can you NOT love that!?
The man was a force on the mound, and of course his 1968 season is the stuff of legend. I STILL wonder how on earth he managed to have 9 losses with a season E.R.A. of 1.12!!! Just incredible.
Ever hear Tim McCarver tell the story of the first time he saw Gibson after Tim was traded to the Phillies in October of 1969? If not here goes:
Before a game between the Cardinals and the Phillies in 1970, both teams were on the field loosening up and getting ready. Tim, who was a teammate of Gibson for about ten years before being traded, figured he'd go say hello to him. Not only were they teammates for so long, but they came up in the Cardinals system together in the late-50's.
Well as Tim says it, he went up to Gibson near the batter's box, stuck out his hand and went to say "hi", and knew immediately he was done for. Gibson just stared him down and walked away.
First time McCarver was up at the plate, Gibson delivered his first pitch and brushed him back.
Message delivered: they weren't teammates anymore, and while ON the field, they were enemies.
How can you NOT love that!?
The man was a force on the mound, and of course his 1968 season is the stuff of legend. I STILL wonder how on earth he managed to have 9 losses with a season E.R.A. of 1.12!!! Just incredible.
He'd play through the 1975 season, eventually settling for 251 wins as a Big League ace, along with 3117
strikeouts (only the second pitcher ever to reach that mark at the time), 56
shutouts and a brilliant 2.91 E.R.A.
Needless to say, the Hall of Fame was sure to call in 1981 and an obvious choice for induction was granted.