St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-08-17
Claim Tan Bob
Gibson Best Pitcher
In US. Baseball

best pitcher in baseball? Well, the
Los Angeles Dodgers might put in
a bid for Don Drysdale or Sandy
Koufax. The Philadelphia Phils
might boast about Art Mahaffey.
The Minnesota Twins probably
have serious nomination in Cam
lilo Pascual and Jim Kaat.
But the st. Louis Cardinals say
that If Bob Gibson isn't right now,
he will be-soon.
Gibson is the hard throwing
highlander - whose fast ball is
said by some to be faster than the
one thrown by Koufax before he
became injured.
Gibson is well on his way to
becoming the outstanding pitcher
in the league. We feel - as he
should feel - that he's the best
pitcher in the league"
This is the testimony of Howie
Pollet, pitching coach for the
Cardinals. In his active playing
days in the 194O's and early 195Os
Howie was one of the games
premier lefthanders.
He said Gibson, a former Har-
lem Globetrotter, has overcome
two of his greatest obstacles to
reaching stardom - lack Of con-
troll and lack of confidence. With
the Cardinals last year - in win
ming IS and losing IL - Gibson
walked 119 to lead the MI, but he
struck out 1855.
Before this season started, Har-
ry Caray, baseball broadcaster for
the Cardinals, said Gibson should
win 20 games this season. With
two months of the season remain
ing, Hoot - his teammates nick
name for Gibson - had a good
shot at a 20-Victory season. His
record at the brief break for the
second all-star game was 10 VIC
tories and seven defeats.
Several of his losses were heart
breakers. One recent discouraging
setback Il to o. was suffered at
the hands of the New York Nets,
the run being scored on an error
Earlier, he won a 1-to-0 pitching
duel from the San Francisco
Giants. On another occasion, he
had a no-hitter going against the
Houston Colts until the seventh
inning when Roman Majias rap
ped the first pitch for a home
run. Gibson was the eventual 3-to-
2 winner.
Gibson was sporting an earned
run average of below 800. Last
season his ERA was 3.24.
Pollet isn't the only one on the
Cardinals who rate Gibson as an
outstanding star. The manager,
Johnny Keane, who had Hoot in
the minors at Omaha, is one of
his biggest boosters. He says Glib
son has the best arm in the game.
Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst,
a pair of veterans who have been
around for 20 years, give or take
a few years, insist that Gibson
throws harder for nine innings
than any pitcher since they came
up.
Gibson was attending Creighton
University in Omaha when he was
spotted by Cardinals scouts. From
1857 through 1860, Gibson had
stints of varying periods in the
minors, He was called up to the
Cardinals in both 1859 and 1860
but was shuttled back to the min
ors. Last season was his first full
major league campaign.
II feel that the need for long
experience in the minors is over,
rated" Gibson says.
TITS mostly a matter of getting
to pitch often. A guy could be il
the minors 10 years and he would
MT get up here if he pitched only
now and then. And pitching in the
bull pen is far from enough"
Gibson believes that a pitcher
has to get into the game to sue
coed.
The 20 year old Highlander
lacked eight hours for his degree
when he quit Creighton to play
basketball for the Globetrotters
He only spent one season with the
basketball travelling troubadours
In high school Gibson was g
catcher for Technical High ir
Omaha and later in semi-pro ball
he teamed with his brothers, Josh
and Fred to form an outfield COM
bination.
He signed for a $4,000 bonus
with the Cardinals. This has prov.
ed to be one of basebalPs biggest
bargains.