FILE - In this May 17, 2017, file photo, Bob Gibson, a member of the St. Louis Cardinals' 1967 World Series championship team, takes part in a ceremony honoring the 50th anniversary of the victory, before a baseball game between the Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox in St. Louis. Gibson, the dominating pitcher who won a record seven consecutive World Series starts and set a modern standard for excellence when he finished the 1968 season with a 1.12 ERA, died Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. He was 84. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
The Associated Press (AP) is a U.S.-based not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City.
FILE - In this May 17, 2017, file photo, Bob Gibson, a member of the St. Louis Cardinals' 1967 World Series championship team, takes part in a ceremony honoring the 50th anniversary of the victory, before a baseball game between the Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox in St. Louis. Gibson, the dominating pitcher who won a record seven consecutive World Series starts and set a modern standard for excellence when he finished the 1968 season with a 1.12 ERA, died Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. He was 84. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
(Undated) — Bob Gibson was one of the most menacing pitchers in the 1960s and ’70s. He was also one of the very best of any generation.
The St. Louis Cardinals announced that the Hall of Famer died Friday at age 84.
Gibson’s death came on the 52nd anniversary of perhaps his most overpowering performance, when he struck out a World Series record 17 batters in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series against Detroit.
He set a modern standard for excellence when he finished the 1968 season with a 1.12 ERA.
Following the season, Major League Baseball decided to lower the mounds after offense dried up.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner spent his entire 17-year career with St. Louis and was named the World Series MVP in their 1964 and ’67 championship seasons.
The Cards came up just short in 1968, but Gibson was voted the National League’s MVP in what is known as the Year of the Pitcher.
