On
September 11, 1968, Bob Gibson locked down his 21st win of the
season with a 5-4 victory over the Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The
victory was not an easy one for Gibson, as all four runs were charged to the
hurler, raising his ERA from 1.03 to 1.13. Despite that fact, Gibson went the
distance in the contest, which earned him his 25th complete game of
the season.
The
Cardinals were facing an uphill battle just minutes after Gibson took the mound,
when Los Angeles’ leadoff hitter Willie Crawford belted a home run. Gibby
surrendered a two out double to Ron Fairly in the first as well, but he was
able to get out of that frame down just 1-0.
His
counterpart Mike Kekich took the mound for the Dodgers and he was not sharp. The
Redbirds were able to get the lead back right after Kekich gave a one out
single to Julian Javier which was followed by a walk to Curt Flood. Javier
scored when the next man up, Orlando Cepeda, singled to make it 1-1.
Kekich
was able to get out of that first inning with the game tied, but the same could
not be said for the second inning. He gave up a one out double to Ron Davis and
walked Dal Maxvill before getting Gibby out on a flyball that moved Davis over
to third. Lou Brock ripped a double into left that brought both runners in. The
score was 3-1 and Kekich was headed to the showers, after skipper Walter Alston
called on Mudcat Grant to take over the mound.
Grant
was able to get out of the second when Javier grounded out. However, the
pitcher had a rough go in the third when Flood opened with a single, Cepeda
doubled him to third, and Mike Shannon hit a sac fly to bring Flood home to score.
Tim McCarver doubled to bring Cepeda in, which brought the game to 5-1.
Most
days, you give Bob Gibson a lead like that and the game would be over. Not on this day in Cardinal history. He still had his work cut out for him.
The Dodgers began to mount a comeback in the fifth. Gibson began the inning by
plunking Willie Crawford, the same man who hit the leadoff home run in the
first. Willie Davis followed him with a single. Just like that, the Dodgers had
runners on first and third with no outs, and they were back in business. Tom
Haller singled in Crawford to make it 5-2. Gibson’s pitch escaped McCarver
which brought Davis in to score. The score was 5-3 with no outs and a man on
second. Gibson regrouped and sat the next three men down in order.
Mudcat
Grant had gotten things figured out since allowing the runs in the third. He
was able to hold the Cardinals in check thereafter. Gibson did the same against
his foes until the ninth. He began that frame by getting back-to-back outs. He
needed just one more out for the win. As they say, that last out of a ballgame
can prove to be the hardest one to get, and it certainly was a tough one that
day. The club from L.A. found life as Willie Davis, Tom Haller, and Ron Fairly
each singled, respectively, ultimately bringing Davis in to score. Gibson
stared at the next batter, Len Gabrielson, coming up to home plate. With men on
first and second and two outs, he knew it was time to put this one down in the
books. The story wrote itself when, moments later, Gabrielson hit a fly ball to
Curt Flood in center field. 21 wins for Gibson.
The
countdown was on. The Cardinals’ magic number was down to four. There was talk
of champagne, of another pennant, and of an upcoming World Series that could
feature the likes of Denny McLain and Bob Gibson. That “Year of the Pitcher” is
an astounding thing to look at, but I do believe that you can look at this game,
along with many others, and realize that these games were not easy. In this
instance, Gibson gave up 11 hits on the day, struck out six, and gave up one
home run. Some of the wins Gibson earned that season almost seemed easy when we
look back on them. This win is almost more impressive because he fought so hard
for it. He reached down with the game on the line after a rough day at the
office and found a way to win. After all, Bob Gibson was a warrior on the mound.
Check out the box score here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196809110.shtml
Sources included: The
St. Joseph Gazette, The Schenectady Gazette, The Victoria Advocate, and
Baseballreference.com
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