By Thomas Best
Last week, I shared a story with you about getting to stay home from school in 1968 to watch what many baseball enthusiasts consider one of the most dominating starts by a pitcher in a World Series game. This was game #1 of that World Series game with 31 game-winner Denny McClain of the Tigers matched up with the Cardinals’ Bob Gibson. What I got to see that day was a pitching masterpiece with my hero “Gibby” shutting out the Tigers 4-0, combined with a World Series record of 17 strikeouts.
For the next week, Redbird fans followed the exploits of a team which hoped to win their third World Series in five seasons. I will describe what happened next.
With other stars, particularly my other hero Lou Brock (who led the National League in doubles, triples, and stolen bases and would bat .464 in this series), the Cardinals had jumped ahead with that convincing game #1 triumph. Game #2 was not what St. Louis fans expected as the Tigers thumped the Cardinals 8-1 behind three homeruns. Even starting pitcher, Micky Lolich, had one round tripper. The third game put the Cardinals up a game after beating the Tigers, 7-3. Game #4 was the highly anticipated return contest as Gibson would once again match up against McClain. Gibson was nearly equal to his game #1 triumph. He dominated in a 10-1 shellacking of the Tigers. McClain was knocked out early in the third inning. The Redbirds now had a commanding 3-1 game lead. Soon to be 11-years-old, I felt I would soon celebrate another birthday with a World Series championship like I had been able to do in 1964 and 1967.
With only two other World Series ever observing a team come back from a 3-1 deficit to win, a Redbird championship looked promising. Needing a victory to stay alive, Lolich was tabbed the Tiger’s starter. After Orlando Cepeda launched a two-run long ball to give the Cardinals an early 3-0 advantage, Lolich settled down and held the Redbirds scoreless to win 5-3. But with the Cardinals now heading back to the relatively new Busch Stadium, all the Cardinals had to do was win one more game.
As Game #6 was crucial to the Tigers, 31-game winner McClain was called upon to start. After looking bad in his game #4, McLain returned to his Cy Young form. The Tigers pummeled the Cardinals with a ten run third inning and won decisively, 13-1. This Tiger victory meant a game #7 must be played. But with Gibson once again was heading to the mound where he had held the Tigers to just one run in 18 innings, most Cardinal fans were optimistic. In their last six World Series, the Cardinals had yet to lose at crucial game #7.
Sadly, they lost before 54,000 fans. Lolich, on just two-days rest, returned to try and match up against Gibson. The two hurlers, both with two series’ victories thus far, showed early how skillful they could be. Neither team pushed across a run during the first six innings. Gibson had allowed but one hit. Lefty-throwing Lolich surrendered a few hits and walks, but no runs. Finally, in the top of the 7th inning, with just one more out to retire the Tigers, the Detroit hitters managed two singles. Up next came Jim Northrup, who in game #4 had managed to hit a homerun off Gibson—his only surrendered run thus far. Northrup hit a deep fly ball to center field. The sure-footed and talented outfielder Curt Flood misjudged the ball, lost his balance, and was unable to come up with the catch. Two runners dashed across the plate. Catcher Bill Freehan followed with a double and the Tigers had a 3-0 lead. A tiring Gibson gave up another run in the top of the 9th inning. The Redbirds tried to come back, but managed only a solo home run off the bat of Mike Shannon with two outs in the closing 9th frame. After just 2 hours and seven minutes, the great Bob Gibson was collared with a 4-1 defeat.
Some days you never forget. I was in tears. This hurt bad. Thank goodness there were more World Series victories for the Cardinals in the years to come.
Thank you for listening.
