Bob Gibson and Reggie Jackson Discuss "Who Owns the Plate?"

[022171]

gibson built a HOF career on owning the plate, largely through intimidation. so sad that a guy like him would struggle to have success in today's game. the lower mound, the smaller strike zone, and hitters loading up with body armor all tilt the balance of power in the hitters' favor. offense sells tickets, and for a pure baseball fan like me, that's somewhat sad. i'd much rather watch a 2-1 pitchers' duel than a 10-8 slugfest any day.

[mgwilliams1000]

Gibson, Drysdale, Jenkins, Maloney, and of course Koufax. If I'm correct, only a small number of hitters reached 300 batting average in the mid to late 60s. Even Mays got out of the box and changed his stance against Drysdale... and still got put on his butt.

[epgrove1961]

I heard from a reliable source that back in the day Gibson made a comment for every Cardinal that gets hit, I'll hit two of their guys. And is it true, that during a game years ago after A Cardinal player got hit, Gibson threw at the first player up next inning while the guy was in the on deck circle?

[KneeToTheDome]

"He hits himself."

[sternumagnum]

I thought I knew something about baseball but when I read Keith Hernandez' book I realized I might as well be thinking about another sport.

These guys' insights are similar eye openers.

Of course, Roger Angell's 1980 piece on Bob Gibson is what brought me here in the first place - so I'm already late innings. :-)

[pooky1959]

Gibby was looking at Jackson as he was talking about getting the pitcher out of sync like he wanted to drill him in the ribs right now!

[gmf20002]

when people say gibsons not a top 3 pitcher i say, how many other pitchers made the league CHANGE THE REGULATIONS to HELP hitters from gibsons heaters?????

[Roggiedodgie]

They should put that damn plate up another 15 inches to make up for the roids them batters been using. I wanna see a 1.12 era in a season again. I think the closest anyone has ever gotten is Greg Maddux, and that was one amazing system. Thanks steroid boys for ruining baseball, and especially for the 94 strike. You bunch of overpaid jackasses.

[BlankFracksmokesdix]

Reggie Jackson used to suck Bob Gibsons cock before All Star games from 1969 to 1974 and also at baseball card shows.

[avalsonline2]

@BlankFracksmokesdix you are a fucking idiot.

[JoydivisionFTW]

my dad was just telling me the other day that hank arron told a rookie that was on a 17 game hitting streak, not to smile, look at him the wrong way, hell don't even make a face, this guy threw at his own mother!! haha great

[paulsixpak]

@JoydivisionFTW - Hank Aaron told that to Dusty Baker, Cincy Red's manager. His streak ended.

[GuitarMan027]

Two REAL athletes! I could listen to these guys talk like this all day. I barely remember watching Mr. Gibson pitch, but Reggie was my favorite. Thanks for posting!

[keagleman21]

excellent to see Gibby and Reggie. Thanks for posting this!

[solly7]

Jimmy Wynn, of the Houston Astros & L.A. Dodgers, said: "He was a mean black man on the mound." Very funny.

[chicksdigmizunos98]

don sutton said about gibson "i hated him he hated me, thats okay he hated everyone he hated santa clause."

[loyaldude10]

@chicksdigmizunos98 -he was mean and intense. His teammates knew better than to try to talk to him on day he pitched. But an exceptionally bright guy. Great combo with Reggie

[dzanier]

On the days he didn't pitch he was a very approachable, good teamate, just like most guys. He just didn't let too many people get to know him well. He didn't believe in small talk. As a hitter I might not like getting brushe back but it is the pitcher's right. Too many hitters today are way too comfortable at the plate. This doesn't mean you hit them, but when a guy is leaning out and driving pitchers on the outside corner a pitcher has to move him off the plate.

[jdsoultrn]

Great stuff.  Two legends of the game

[Schrittwieser]

I spoke to Gibson and made the mistake pf saying "I loved the way you threw a brushback piych." Bob grabbed me by the shirt and said "I never threw a brushback pitch I threw inside." LOL

[victorsblock]

hahahahaha

hahahahaha

I'd pay money for a video of that!!!

Gibson, last of the real tough pricks on the mound.

[RPenta]

@Schrittwieser I hate brushback pitchers; by the way, did you have balls to correct him or did you mark out?

[tommy2chips]

loved it. They know the game

[pwrofrob]

VERY good discussion. 2 all time pros!

[Ariamaluum]

MLB tried to blackball Gibson with the mound.

[NkrumahTure]

Reggie, for all his great talent he exhibited during his career(and I'm a fan of Reggie's) in the american league has got to be relieved he never had to face Bob Gibson (NL) on a regular basis.

[wistoncap]

EVERY baseball player on the planet who hasn't had to face Bob Gibson is relieved.

[BobGibsonFan]

well put :)

[Grisostomo06]

Absolutely. Gibson had incredible stuff. He had a 1.12 E.R.A. in 1968, the year of the pitcher. That was also the year Denny McLaine won 31 games for the Detroit Tigers. Carl Yasztremski took the A.L. Batting Title with a measly .301 average and Pete Rose won the N.L. title with a not so impressive average of .335. Major League Baseball lowered the pitchers mound from 15" to 10" in 1969.

[RPenta]

@wistoncap

My opinion of Gibson: a major star and a major asshole; I am surprised that no one ever charged the mound on him but maybe his rep for being a badass prevented that: I am sure there were guys tougher than him with their fists and feet but it just was not done in those days.

These clips reminded me why years ago I went from being a huge Yankee fan to abandoning the game; it was when Gibby's fanboy Bill White became a Yankee announcer and obsesssed about the knockdown pitch.

[Dietpepsivanilla]

@RPenta Hoot was also a Golden Gloves boxer. They didn't rush the mound because they didn't want to get beat up.

[RPenta]

@Dietpepsivanilla That's why you learn some wrestling moves to take the big guy off his feet-but they did not realize that stuff in those days; hell, better to take a shot at getting beat up than let him shell you all day.

Guess you figured out I did not like Gibson or Bill White-too bad I will never get to tell them that.

[JTDutch]

@wistoncap ... If Bob Gibson played in this day and age, he wouldn't be the same pitcher. The rules have changed regarding hit batters and brushback pitches - there's no way that element of his game would be as prevalent today as it was back in the 60s and 70s.

[jeudej]

Two of the best. Excellent discussion.