Celebrate '68: Perry and Gibson Go Head-To-Head at Busch

     On May 28, 1968, Bob Gibson and the Birds fell 3-1 to Gaylord Perry and the San Francisco Giants in a rain abbreviated contest at Busch. Despite being handed his fourth loss in a row, Gibson was credited with his sixth complete game of the season. What did him in on that day in May were home runs off the bats of Dick Dietz and the great Willie Mays.

     Early on, the Cardinals looked to set the tone with a run in the second on an RBI by Roger Maris. Lou Brock set the table for Maris by turning a little blooper that fell into shallow left-center into a double. He dashed to third on a fly out by Curt Flood, then came into score on a fielder’s choice. A little small ball and great base running skills pushed him around the base paths. However, that would be all the offense could muster for Gibson who held the Giants in check, holding them hitless through five, before Dietz led off the sixth with a solo shot to knot it at 1-1. The tie was broken in the seventh after Ty Cline singled, then came into score when Mays got hold of one to put the Giants in front 3-1. It was the 572nd home run of Mays’ career.

      The contest had been delayed by rain from the start, as it took nearly an hour and a half just to get it going. There was also a delay in the seventh that lasted just 25 minutes before the skies opened up in the eighth that led to the umpires calling the game. Gibson’s ERA rose from 1.36 to 1.52 after the ballgame. The two pitchers' final lines for this game were as follows: Perry allowed just two hits, walked three, and struck out four, while giving up one earned run. Gibson allowed just four hits, walked one, struck out five, and was charged with three runs. It would have been a joy to see these two go toe-to-toe.

     The Cardinals were mired in a skid that had seen them drop 10 of their last 12. They were in fourth place, and some may have been questioning if the team could truly defend the title they had earned one season before. The tide would turn for the club in the days to come. Gibson would go on a tear. The team would catch fire around him as well. History would be made. The Redbirds were on the way to a pennant.

Check out the box score here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196805280.shtml

Sources included: The Pittsburgh Press, The Alton Evening Telegraph, The Edwardsville Intelligencer, and BaseballReference.com

This Entry is Dedicated to the Memory of my Nephew

Joseph Allan Forrester

10/13/94 ~ 5/22/2018

I love you, kid.

                                 

     I would also like to thank all of the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for our country. As we celebrate our freedoms today be sure to remember who fought for it. God Bless.