Bob Gibson was one of the most intimidating pitchers in baseball history. His glare from the mound was menacing. He unapologetically pitched inside.
Sunday is Gibson’s birthday. The Hall of Fame pitcher, who died Oct. 2, 2020, would have turned 90 years old.
Gibson’s competitiveness playing with the St. Louis Cardinals is often celebrated. But he always had a sense of humor that rarely gets deserved publicity. There is a legendary story that showed his silly side, a story that line-stepped a few controversial topics more than 60 years ago.
Gibson and teammate Bob Uecker decided to pull a prank during the 1964 Cardinals team photo. The two are seated in the front row of the picture, holding hands with huge smiles on their faces. Uecker was the backup catcher that year with the Cardinals. Uecker, who died in January, is better known to most for his lengthy career in broadcasting, his appearances in films and commercials and his gift for making people laugh than his career on the field.
Many of Uecker’s memorable moments are tied to his sense of humor, and his Hall of Fame induction speech for winning the Ford C. Frick Award in 2003 served as proof. But getting a fiery Gibson involved in a joke made the moment even more hilarious — and eventually iconic.
The prank was discussed in 1971 on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” Uecker said it cost him and Gibson “a couple hundred dollars.” Carson then jokingly said, “Guess who’s coming to pitch?” a reference to the classic 1967 Sidney Poitier film “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” that featured Poitier in a role where interracial dating was viewed in a positive light during a time when interracial marriage was still illegal in some states.
The photo was a lighthearted moment that reminded people that while Gibson was an intimidating force on the mound, he also was human. And he enjoyed a good joke, too.
The Cardinals ultimately caught Gibson’s and Uecker’s antics and made the team retake the official photo — without the two holding hands. Still, it’s one of the funniest things Gibson is known for. Give credit to Uecker: Who knew Gibson, the terrifying right-hander, could be so goofy?
Gibson’s mound presence is enough to honor. He struck out 3,117 batters and posted a 2.91 ERA throughout a career spanning from 1959 to 1975. We won 251 games for the Cardinals and earned nine Major League Baseball All-Star appearances. He won World Series titles in 1964 and 1967, both times he was the MVP, and he was named the National League MVP, won a Gold Glove and earned the NL Cy Young Award in 1968.
He’s one of the 15 members of the Black Aces, the distinguished group of Black pitchers from either the United States or Canada to win 20 games in an MLB season. He recorded 20 wins five times in his career. Only Ferguson Jenkins (seven times) achieved that feat more among the Aces.
One of those Aces, Dave Stewart, often speaks of how influential Gibson was on his career.
“Bob Gibson told me that the best chance to win a game is you finish the game, and eliminate the relievers if you can,” Stewart told The Athletic last year. “I pitched with that mentality.”
Gibson, right, greets fellow Baseball Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter before the St. Louis Cardinals’ home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016. (Jeff Curry / Getty Images)
Gibson is a beloved figure in baseball history. Much of his success was attributed to his reputation for not yucking it up with the opposition. Gibson was known to be surly with teammates, too.
But as we celebrate Gibson’s 90th birthday, we cannot forget the lighter side that Uecker was able to tap into. Uecker recalled making an impromptu mound visit where Gibson asked what he was doing.
Uecker said he told Gibson he was on his way to talk to Curt Flood in center field.
And that made Gibson laugh.
If you’re thinking about Gibson on Sunday, remember all of his accomplishments throughout his Hall of Fame career. Remember him for his competitiveness. But remember, he liked to laugh, too.