Cardinals Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson dies at age 84

Bob Gibson (Google Images)

Bob Gibson, one of the very best pitchers in Major League Baseball history, died at age 84 on Friday, according to Baseball Reference. An eight-time all-star, Gibson pitched 17 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1959 to 1975.

Gibson posted an overall record during that time of 251 wins and 174 losses, with an earned run average of 2.91 and a WHIP of 1.19. He pitched a remarkable total of 3884 1/3 innings for St. Louis in 528 games. Known for his endurance, Gibson had 255 complete games and 56 shutouts. He also had 3117 strikeouts, and 1336 walks.

A two-time Cy Young Award winner (1968 and 1970), Gibson also was the National League Most Valuable Player in 1968. That season he had a record of 22 wins and nine losses, with an amazing earned run average of 1.12. Gibson also led Major League Baseball with 268 strikeouts and 13 shutouts. In 1970, Gibson led the National League with 23 wins, and had an earned run average of 3.12 with a career high 274 strikeouts.

An all-star in 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1972, Gibson was also a two-time World Series Most Valuable Player. In 1964, he beat the New York Yankees twice, and had an earned run average of three in 27 innings, as the Cardinals won in seven games. Then in 1967, Gibson beat the Boston Red Sox thrice, and had an earned run average of one as the Cardinals won in seven games.

On October 2, 1968, Gibson set the Major League record for most strikeouts in a World Series game with 17. The Cardinals defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-0, but lost the series four games to three.

Gibson had his number 45 retired by the Cardinals in 1975, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1981. He died of pancreatic cancer.

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