Pitcher Bob Gibson had a stellar career, taking the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals for 17 years. But on the night of October 2, 1968, Gibson made history. He pitched the first game of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers and struck out a record 17 hitters--at least one batter in each inning--and concluded the game in the ninth by striking out three consecutive Tiger sluggers: Al Kaline, Norm Cash and Willie Horton. In Pitch by Pitch, Gibson gives readers and baseball fans a rare and intimate account of this momentous World Series game by reliving all nine innings and the 144 pitches he threw.
Gibson candidly reveals his thoughts and mental strategies, on the mound and off, and details the pitching repertoire he employed--most notably, four stitch fastballs and backdoor sliders--to earn his shutout victory. He offers stories and anecdotes about batters he faced that night, as well as other opponents, coaches and teammates, especially his close relationship with catcher Tim McCarver. Gibson (Stranger to the Game) and his co-writer, Lonnie Wheeler (Intangiball), also tie in significant events from 1968, including escalating racial tension and the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy, and how they affected and influenced Gibson during an extraordinary season. The well-drawn, atmospheric narrative the authors present is so rich and compelling, readers can practically feel the sweat rolling off Gibson's face, chin and wrists during the high-stakes grind of this landmark game. --Kathleen Gerard, blogger at Reading Between the Lines