Bob Gibson 1981 Hall of Fame Induction Speech

Over 17 seasons with the Cardinals, Bob Gibson won 20 games five times and established himself as the very definition of intimidation, competitiveness and dignity. One of the best athletes to ever play the game, the ex-Harlem Globetrotter posted a 1.12 ERA in 1968, the lowest figure since 1914, and was named the National League Cy Young Award winner and Most Valuable Player. Known as a premier big-game pitcher, Gibson posted World Series records of seven consecutive wins and 17 strikeouts in a game, and was named World Series MVP in 1964 and '67.
Watch more Baseball Hall of Fame videos: / thebaseballhall
Visit the official Baseball Hall of Fame website: www.baseballhall.org
Follow the Baseball Hall of Fame on Twitter: / baseballhall
Like the Baseball Hall of Fame on Facebook: / baseballhall
Follow the Baseball Hall of Fame on Google+: plus.google.com/+baseballhall...
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is home to the greatest stars and the history of the game. Located in scenic Cooperstown, New York, the Hall of Fame is dedicated to preserving the sport's history, honoring excellence within the game, and connecting generations through baseball.

[@michaelsemchyshyn9505]

In 1968, Cardinals management should have given Gibson a portion of the hitters salaries for sticking him with those 9 losses that season.

[@vote4pedro7]

Hmmm. No gold chains. No earrings. No tattoos. No self indulgence. No fanfare, Just a humble, heartfelt speech showing his appreciation for those who helped him along the way of his spectacular career. A true American hero. RIP Mr. Gibson.

[@johnschuh8616]

Midwesterners are the quintessential Americans. Gibson is evidence

[@tonyreynolds5112]

Mr. Gibson is the best I've ever seen pitch. 🥎🥎🥎🇺🇸

[@edgergalindo9637]

Bob Gibson will forever be my pitching idol

[@michaelsemchyshyn9505]

22 wins is one stat, but a 1.12 era ?! Don't gimme that high mound shit . That probably is the most INCREDIBLE stat in modern day history. If Mr. Gibson ever read this comment, I would just like to ask him one question. How the hell did you lose 1 game, much less 9 ? OMG.

[@ericselvig5808]

Michael Semchyshyn he said about his 68' season "I lost nine games that year, because if it wasn't a one to nothing game, I didn't win".

[@robinrodriguez480]

True thats an absolutely amazing accomplishment !!

[@waynejohanson1083]

With any kind of offense should have won 30

[@chrisweidner4768]

He also had 13 shutouts and 28 complete games in one season. Unmatched ever.

[@hlcepeda]

Not to mention, he was also a very good hitting pitcher. He wasn't a 'give me' at the plate. Yep -- there's his pitching -- but I always got even more frustrated whenever he got up to the plate against my Mets, thinking, _Man! We can't win for losing!_ Incredibly intimidating and competitive. I was in awe of him.

[@depaola63]

The word " STUD " is this man !! ....I am now 55 and remember this ALL~TIME GREAT !! Pound 4 Pound THE BEST EVER !! He could hit too !!

[@mwilliams1330]

Pirate fan growing up, but was in 3 Rivers when he threw his no hitter. What a thrill for this kid to see his control. Great memory, great game, greater man.

[@robinrodriguez480]

@@mwilliams1330 - WOW!! yea that must of been a memorable day!!

[@scattau41]

No doubt Nicky!!

[@lynnmoore2664]

I was able to enjoy Bob Gibson's entire career & as Cardinals fan you always felt you were going to win when Gibby took the mound! He is the greatest Cardinal pitcher of my lifetime hands down.

[@AU88]

RIP to one of the greatest ever.

[@ticnatz]

2 Cardinal legends in a month! That hurts !!

[@thomasodetto4670]

One of the greatest pitchers of all time. You were awesome and a gentleman. Rest In Peace Bob and Thank You.

[@funzo1159]

Jacoby Ellsbury: Breaks rib. Misses 144 games (or 8/9 of season). Bob Gibson: Breaks leg. Comes back 6 weeks later. Wins World Series. This is a real MAN!

[@depaola63]

Roberto Clemente did that to him ! GREAT ERA !!

[@carlosfryer3887]

I see your point but we kinda have to stop comparing then players from now compared to then, they don't make baseball players like that any more, there will never be another Bob Gibson, Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax Willie Mays, Mickie Mantle, Cal Ripken JR , Tony Gwynn , Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Mike Piazza. Baseball players just don't play/train/live like that anymore man

[@randytiefenthaler3022]

@@carlosfryer3887 It's not the players that are so different. It's the way they are managed that has really changed. I saw another interview with Gibson that was done just about 9 months ago, and he said that pitchers want to throw more innings than they do, but management will not allow it. The players are not "softer" by nature than they were in gone by era's. They are simply handled differently. In fact, the average MLB player today, is much bigger, stronger, and faster than one or two generations ago. Do they not make ballplayers like that anymore? There are more capable players now than ever. The real question is, why are the people who control the game managing and handling the labor force the way they do. Don't blame the player for the decisions of owners and executive management.

[@dmays4964]

@@carlosfryer3887 ain't that the truth

[@carlosfryer3887]

Bob Gibson still upset he lost 9 games in '68, despite 22 wins.

[@mwoldin]

The dignity of the man -- he's 10 feet tall.

[@richardpisano243]

This man was one of the most intense players to ever pick up a baseball.

[@IOUZIP]

Sorry to interrupt Mr. Gibson and his greatness, but can we pray for him as he is suffering from pancreatic cancer and I know he will beat it. Please, if you can pray for Gibby, it would be awesome as not only he was a great pitcher but a great human being as well.

[@robinrodriguez480]

Richard L - OMG!! Im so sorry to hear that!!

[@thomasodetto4670]

Hey well Bob, the world doesn’t have enough heroes.

[@thesporter4ever559]

sorry to say but he didnt beat it and i am depressed

[@davidwiliamson7251]

what a great pitcher this guy was!!! unbelievable!!!!!

[@why-why-whywhywhy]

Bob Gibson=Pure Class!!!

[@hubertterry2270]

I once met Juan Marichal on a cruise ship and told him that I wasn't a fan of his during his career since he was so tough on my Cardinals. He chuckled and said he didn't mind pitching against the Cardinals, unless Gibson was pitching............then he didn't really want to get in that batters box.

[@PabluchoViision]

For me, next to PITCHER in the dictionary is Bob Gibson's picture. Seaver, Carlton, Marichal, Palmer, Carlton, all great. Earlier, Drysdale, Koufax. Later Pedro, Randy Johnson. But there was nobody like Gibson. The focus, the bravado (completely backed up), the intimidation, the execution. I was in awe, and still am. To paraphrase and adapt a comment somebody made once about Don Mattingly: "100% major league pitcher, 0% bullshit."

[@ericgrove7755]

Bob Gibson had an amazing MLB career. He once said fans pay good money to see aquality performance. Every time I took the mound, I gave 110%. I owed the fans that much. Arguably the greatest pitcher who ever played that position. Congratulations on an awesome MLB Hall of Fame career. .

[@7otto666]

Back when America's athletes had humility, dignity, and class.

[@chrispaul7849]

my favorite athlete of all time, RIP, Gibby, in so many ways you shaped my own competitive nature. thanks for everything!

[@teeupnow]

The only World Series game I saw in person was Bob Gibson's 17 strikeout win over the Detroit Tigers. I was a 12 year old kid sitting with my Dad's best friend. We sat in the upper deck of Busch Stadium II above right-center field. Many of the Tiger's hitters would swing and miss pitches in the strike zone by what looked like 12-inches or more. It was truly the most dominating athletic performance I ever saw and will probably ever see in person.

[@chrispaul7849]

i was 13 and the world's biggest gibby fan ... my parents would not let me stay home from school and watch the WS opener vs McClain. my mom did rush to school and fetched me for the final inning as I was walking home.... I saw Gibby whiff the side, ending with WillIe Horton. I still get the chills seeing those last 3 out here on YT!

[@mmmattf6968]

I'm a N. Y. Yankees fan, but enjoyed watching Gibson in the series! Still can't beliéve he lost 9 games with a 1.12 ERA.!!

[@mandoist]

A lifetime Red Sox fan (since 1961) Bob Gibson single-handedly ruined my year in 1967. I believe he threw 3 complete games in the World series against the Sox, and ruined us in the 7th game. He scarred me for life! Throughout that '67 series Gibson scared the shit out of me. I kept waiting for his bubble to burst and have the Sox take the Series. Turned out, Bob Gibson had no "bubble"; he had The Gift. I was in awe the whole time he was trouncing our hitters. Wow.

[@thomasodetto4670]

One heck of a pitcher. I am a life long Dodger fan but Bob Gibson, you have my respect.

[@InsidiousSwede]

Great person, great player, and the best pitcher in the HISTORY of Baseball.

[@depaola63]

YES !!! The man is still a STUD AT 83 !!

[@aa697]

1.12 in 1968. Enough said.

[@chrispaul7849]

started 34 finished 28, 8 shutouts in a 10 game span too! He was actually under 1 era into september, I was praying my hero would do it!

[@I80SportsBlog]

So much class. So measured and sincere. But you also KNOW who the boss is.

[@PabluchoViision]

He's giving this speech like he pitched! Total seriousness and focus! I am just loving this.

[@robinrodriguez480]

Just a bad bad man when it comes to pitching!! I bet most of the players facing him where scared to death of him!! BOB GIBSON PITCHER!!👍👍

[@medicmikerelf3309]

R.I.P Bob Gibson

[@davidvietri7248]

My favorite pitcher of all time.I watched him pitch and win against the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium in 1967

[@edwardanthony7283]

This was a great pitcher. Started following the game when his World Series antics were in full bloom in 1967 and watched his brilliant 1968 with that 1.12 era. Tough as nails and a fierce competitor. Well deserved honor.

[@chrisweidner4768]

Won 3 World Series games against the Yankees. He pitched games 2,5, and 7. 13 shutouts and 28 complete games in one season. Unparalleled. Moreover, Bob was an uncompromising man who always stuck to his principles. Follow his lead. Think for yourselves and stick to your beliefs. Take care of one another.

[@mikenadel4749]

an inspiration to all has left the mound

Man alive Normie, Gibson was tough!

[@rbjanitorialprod]

The best

[@paulschwarz5927]

Gibby was near the end when I started following baseball, but the stories about his uncompromising competitiveness are legendary. And as great as his 1968 was, the stat that defined him was his 28 complete games in 34 starts, and in the other six he was lifted for a pinch hitter. So he never gave the ball to his manager all season.

[@52barney]

R-I-P

[@reidfarrill3917]

The best pitcher ever? A very special player.

[@user-rx8jk9js5g]

few athletes are the reason that the game changes its rules Bob Gibson was one of them lowered the mound after his impressive 112 ERa

[@jpsned]

Class all the way.

[@hurvinstewart6546]

They don’t make them like that anymore, class act.

[@billmalec]

Class

[@heyboo4764]

He can pitch for my team anytime!

[@mmaranta785]

He was also a Harlem Globetrotter I think

[@ricthornton2958]

I loved watching this man pitch . . except against my Reds!

[@paulcrepeau7488]

Bob as a rule would never speak to players on opposing teams because he felt it took away his competitive edge. Joe Torre recalled that, after catching him in the final half-inning of the 1965 All-Star Game (in a 6-5 National League victory), he approached Bob in the locker room and said, “Nice game.” But Bob refused to respond because Joe was wearing an Atlanta Braves uniform. Of course, six years later Torre was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals and he and Bob became friends.

[@cards1985]

1.12

[@levin448]

If I had to choose one pitcher in the history of baseball to pitch a deciding game, it would be Gibby.

[@jackhays1194]

👏🏼👏🏼

[@soundking4]

Check out his hitting stats. He may have been the best hitting pitcher on baseball.

[@berean77]

Dominant.

[@skuttsupreme8351]

Real Deal. I'm 29, and from my day, the only pitcher that I've seen in a cardinal uniform that could be in the same class is Maybe Chris Carpenter. But he wasn't Gibby.

[@MrDeterioration]

He wasn't even close.

[@stevemcqueen1916]

Scott Helm lol the only thing Carpenter is good for around Gibson is carrying his towel

[@brandonthigpen6924]

Scott Helm Not even close! That’s blasphemy! That’s like saying your house cat, is almost as dangerous as a Tiger. Shame, shame on you. Matt Carpenter, couldn’t hold Bob Gibson’s jock strap. Absolute disrespect to mention them in the same breath. They changed the rules because of this man! Bob Gibson is class, personified. Bob Gibson, IS pitching.

[@robinrodriguez480]

@@brandonthigpen6924 - WELL SAID!!👍👍

[@medicmikerelf3309]

Chris Carpenter was a very good pitcher, But Bob Gibson was in a Class By himself

[@AmericasChoice]

"Don't dig in against Gibson..." Hank Aaron.

[@andygossard4293]

Keith Hernandez said he was a real hard-ass. It because understood why, later -Book- I'm Keith Hernandez

[@earldeanpowell]

OldeR Kids ONLY! Only way you get better

[@rockinyouallnight]

Scott Rolen = Bob Gibson

[@angelfan16]

Poor Constance.

[@barrygrant2907]

Denny McClain versus Gibson. McClain never stood a chance.

[@TheDizzleHawke]

Why he so dry mouth?