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Pitch by Pitch: My View of One Unforgettable Game
Pitch by Pitch gets inside the head of Bob Gibson on October 2, 1968, when he took the mound for game one of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers and struck out a record seventeen batters.
With the tension rising in the stadium, an uproarious crowd behind him, and the record for the most strikeouts thrown in a World Series game on the line, Gibson, known as one of the most intimidating pitchers in baseball history, relives every inning and each pitch of this iconic game. Facing down batter after batter, he breaks down his though process and recounts in vivid and candid detail his analysis of the players who stepped into the batter's box against him, his control of both the ball and the elements of the day, and his moments of synchronicity with teammate Tim McCarver, all the while capturing the fascinating relationship and unspoken dialogue that carries on between pitcher and catcher over the course of nine critical innings.
From the dugout to the locker room, Gibson offers a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the players, the team's chemistry, and clubhouse culture. He recounts the story of Curt Flood, Gibson's best friend and the Cardinal center fielder, who would go on to become one of the pioneers of free agency; shares colorful anecdotes of his interactions with some of baseball's most unforgettable names, from Denny McLain and Roger Maris to Sandy Koufax and Harry Caray; and relives the confluence of events, both on and off the field, that led to one of his---and baseball's---most memorable games ever.
This deep, unfiltered insider look at one particular afternoon of baseball allows for a better understanding of how pros play the game and all the variables that a pitcher contends with as he navigates his way through a formidable lineup. Gibson's extraordinary and engrossing tale is retold from the unique viewpoint of an extremely perceptive pitcher who happens to be one of baseball's all-time greats.
With the tension rising in the stadium, an uproarious crowd behind him, and the record for the most strikeouts thrown in a World Series game on the line, Gibson, known as one of the most intimidating pitchers in baseball history, relives every inning and each pitch of this iconic game. Facing down batter after batter, he breaks down his though process and recounts in vivid and candid detail his analysis of the players who stepped into the batter's box against him, his control of both the ball and the elements of the day, and his moments of synchronicity with teammate Tim McCarver, all the while capturing the fascinating relationship and unspoken dialogue that carries on between pitcher and catcher over the course of nine critical innings.
From the dugout to the locker room, Gibson offers a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the players, the team's chemistry, and clubhouse culture. He recounts the story of Curt Flood, Gibson's best friend and the Cardinal center fielder, who would go on to become one of the pioneers of free agency; shares colorful anecdotes of his interactions with some of baseball's most unforgettable names, from Denny McLain and Roger Maris to Sandy Koufax and Harry Caray; and relives the confluence of events, both on and off the field, that led to one of his---and baseball's---most memorable games ever.
This deep, unfiltered insider look at one particular afternoon of baseball allows for a better understanding of how pros play the game and all the variables that a pitcher contends with as he navigates his way through a formidable lineup. Gibson's extraordinary and engrossing tale is retold from the unique viewpoint of an extremely perceptive pitcher who happens to be one of baseball's all-time greats.
237 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2015
26 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
About the author
Bob Gibson
32 books9 followersBOB GIBSON is a baseball Hall of Famer who played 17 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals. During that time he was a two-time Cy Young Award and World Series winner. He is also the author of Stranger to the Game: The Autobiography of Bob Gibson and Sixty Feet, Six Inches, which was written with Reggie Jackson and coauthor Lonnie Wheeler and Pitch by Pitch : My View of One Unforgettable Game, also written with Wheeler.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
March 13, 2016
My one baseball book of the year. Solid, but not great (not quite as good as I was expecting). It's a pitch-by-pitch account of game 1 of the 1968 World Series between Gibson's St. Louis Cardinals and the AL's champion Detroit Tigers. The game featured the author pitching for the Cards against the last 30-game winner Denny McLain, both of whom won their respective league's Cy Young award for best pitcher of the year and the Most Valuable Player award. It is interesting at times, especially with good hitters batting, but it also gets quite tedious (and repetitive) after a while.
The pitch-by-pitch account is interspersed with stories and anecdotes about the other players in the game - Lou Brock, Curt Flood, Orlando Cepeda, Mike Shannon, Dal Maxvill, Al Kaline, Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, Jim Northrup, etc. It also included some other stars from other teams that Gibson played against over his career, which, while interesting, disrupted the flow of the main storyline. The book also had numerous gratuitous comments reminding us about the records Gibson holds.
The pitch-by-pitch account is interspersed with stories and anecdotes about the other players in the game - Lou Brock, Curt Flood, Orlando Cepeda, Mike Shannon, Dal Maxvill, Al Kaline, Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, Jim Northrup, etc. It also included some other stars from other teams that Gibson played against over his career, which, while interesting, disrupted the flow of the main storyline. The book also had numerous gratuitous comments reminding us about the records Gibson holds.
March 30, 2021
This was a decent account of Game One of the 1968 World Series by St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson, but it lacks in depth outside of that one game.
Gibson recounts pitch by pitch of the game against the Detroit Tigers and he does include some anecdotes about certain players. But he also comes across somewhat bitter about him being compared that year with Denny McLain and shows a created humbleness that isn't all that believable.
It was interesting getting into the mind of Gibson during moments of the game; he focused a lot on how many balls and strikes were called on a batter and he shared some "conversations" between him and Tim McCarver when the catcher visited Gibson on the mound. Those conversations were more allotted to give Gibson a moment of rest and consisted mostly of Gibson telling McCarver to go back to his catcher's position.
Still, it's a baseball book at a time when baseball is needed. Opening Day is two days away and this does help get fans in the mood. I realize I flip-flopped on the review, going from meh to thinking it's not bad. Hence the 3-star rating.
Gibson recounts pitch by pitch of the game against the Detroit Tigers and he does include some anecdotes about certain players. But he also comes across somewhat bitter about him being compared that year with Denny McLain and shows a created humbleness that isn't all that believable.
It was interesting getting into the mind of Gibson during moments of the game; he focused a lot on how many balls and strikes were called on a batter and he shared some "conversations" between him and Tim McCarver when the catcher visited Gibson on the mound. Those conversations were more allotted to give Gibson a moment of rest and consisted mostly of Gibson telling McCarver to go back to his catcher's position.
Still, it's a baseball book at a time when baseball is needed. Opening Day is two days away and this does help get fans in the mood. I realize I flip-flopped on the review, going from meh to thinking it's not bad. Hence the 3-star rating.
November 9, 2020
Bob Gibson died on October 2, 2020. That happens to be 52 years to the day after the game which is the centerpiece of this book, October 2, 1968! To make matters more coincidental - to me that is - I am writing this review on November 9, 2020, 85 years to the day after his birth in 1935. Baseball is a game of numbers so they say. But this is more than a book about a single World Series game. It is that and much more. It is a treat for someone like me who loves this game, and the stories which make it a life force in our culture.
December 25, 2015
This is a fascinating work. And one that resonates with me, since I watched the 1968 World Series on TV. This book is a pitch by pitch analysis by the winning pitcher in that game--the great and formidable Bob Gibson. I can still see in my mind his wrenching and powerful pitching style. The pitch by pitch analysis comes from Gibson's memory of events and a video of the game between his St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers. And that is what makes this such a good read. Such detail!
And one is reminded of quirky players (Dick McAuliffe's batting stance made me think that he could not hit at all--but he was a good hitter and a scrappy player), role players (Dal Maxvill or the Cardinals), great players (Al Kaline of the Tigers and Orlando Cepeda of the Cardnals), and winners (such as catcher for the Cards Tim McCarver). Other players of repute: Norm Cash, Bill Freehan, Mickey Stanley, Lou Brock, Curt Flood, and Roger Maris (closing out his major league career).
The pitch by pitch analysis is a nice conceit in this book. One feels a certain degree of suspense as the game is described (Yeah, I already knew that the Cards won, but the book is written such as one doesn't really know how a specific at bat goes).
Anther thing that makes this book such a good read is the writing style. Lonnie Wheeler is listed (in small print) as a co-author. I would guess that he did a good job in compiling, organizing, and editing Gibson's recollections. But the writing style seems to me to be in Bob Gibson's words. And the narrative is witty and also suggestive of a very smart person with a good command of English. It is quite literate (in that, reminiscent of much earlier works by ex-players such as Jim Brosnan and Jim Bouton--although Gibson may be even better).
Anyhow, a terrific book, bringing back to my mind the baseball played in the 1960s. And this being one of the better World Series of that period, with a great cast of players involved.
Well worth reading. . . .
And one is reminded of quirky players (Dick McAuliffe's batting stance made me think that he could not hit at all--but he was a good hitter and a scrappy player), role players (Dal Maxvill or the Cardinals), great players (Al Kaline of the Tigers and Orlando Cepeda of the Cardnals), and winners (such as catcher for the Cards Tim McCarver). Other players of repute: Norm Cash, Bill Freehan, Mickey Stanley, Lou Brock, Curt Flood, and Roger Maris (closing out his major league career).
The pitch by pitch analysis is a nice conceit in this book. One feels a certain degree of suspense as the game is described (Yeah, I already knew that the Cards won, but the book is written such as one doesn't really know how a specific at bat goes).
Anther thing that makes this book such a good read is the writing style. Lonnie Wheeler is listed (in small print) as a co-author. I would guess that he did a good job in compiling, organizing, and editing Gibson's recollections. But the writing style seems to me to be in Bob Gibson's words. And the narrative is witty and also suggestive of a very smart person with a good command of English. It is quite literate (in that, reminiscent of much earlier works by ex-players such as Jim Brosnan and Jim Bouton--although Gibson may be even better).
Anyhow, a terrific book, bringing back to my mind the baseball played in the 1960s. And this being one of the better World Series of that period, with a great cast of players involved.
Well worth reading. . . .
March 2, 2018
This is the book I hoped Daniel Okrent’s Nine Innings would be when I read it years ago. Okrent’s book was good, but I think this is better.
Bob Gibson was incredible in 1968. Denny McLain was, too. Gibson’s 1.12 ERA and McLain’s 31 wins are mind-boggling, even given that it was the “year of the pitcher.” And they were the opposing pitchers in the opening game of the World Series that year. Gibson’s done us a huge favor by putting himself back on that day and telling us everything that went through his mind, batter by batter, pitch by pitch.
Casual baseball fans complain that the game is too slow, that, for most of the game, nothing is really happening. But most of what happens in baseball happens when nothing is happening. It’s the strategizing, and it’s the pitcher vs. batter mental matchup — if you watch a game for action, I think you’re missing the best part.
And that’s what Gibson tells us. It’s all about what pitch to throw and where to throw it when. What did I throw this guy before? How was his swing on that fastball? What is he expecting now? Am I getting too tired to rely on my slider?
Several things impressed me about Gibson in particular. One was his confidence in how he could dictate where a batter would hit a ball — not just in the obvious cases where he wanted a double play groundball, but where he just wanted to get a quick out (he seems to think some guys aren’t even worth the pitches it would take to strike them out).
Another is his lack of concern, or even attention, for the positioning of the fielders behind him. I remember how Jim Palmer would move outfielders around. So far as you can tell from this, Gibson hardly pays any attention. And it’s not because he intended to strike everyone out — in fact, he says, as a rule, he didn’t even think about strikeouts until he got two strikes on a batter.
Gibson had a reputation as an intimidator. But, judging from what he says here (yes, it could be cleaned up), that wasn’t a big thing. He shows a lot of respect for hitters like Norm Cash, Willie Horton, Al Kaline, and Jim Northrup. He does move the ball in and out, setting up sliders away by first throwing fastballs in and off the plate. But I would expect any pitcher to do that.
And he does watch body language. He notices when batters step out of the box, to reset themselves, and he thinks about what he can conclude from it. He notices Northrup move up a step in the batter’s box, and he thinks Northrup must be moving up to hit a breaking pitch before it breaks. So Northrup gets a fastball.
It’s all pretty good stuff. And even if you know that this is how a pitcher thinks, it’s different hearing it, pitch by pitch, from the pitcher himself. I'm giving the book four stars instead of five, just because, like a pitching duel itself, I suspect it doesn't appeal to everyone. The action is in Gibson's head, not on the field.
Honestly, it’d be interesting to hear the same kind of account from a pitcher who is very different from Gibson. Maybe somebody without Gibson’s overpowering fastball. I’d love to hear Luis Tiant’s thoughts pitch by pitch. Or maybe a pitcher who just wasn’t as good, to understand the struggles he’s going through.
Bob Gibson was incredible in 1968. Denny McLain was, too. Gibson’s 1.12 ERA and McLain’s 31 wins are mind-boggling, even given that it was the “year of the pitcher.” And they were the opposing pitchers in the opening game of the World Series that year. Gibson’s done us a huge favor by putting himself back on that day and telling us everything that went through his mind, batter by batter, pitch by pitch.
Casual baseball fans complain that the game is too slow, that, for most of the game, nothing is really happening. But most of what happens in baseball happens when nothing is happening. It’s the strategizing, and it’s the pitcher vs. batter mental matchup — if you watch a game for action, I think you’re missing the best part.
And that’s what Gibson tells us. It’s all about what pitch to throw and where to throw it when. What did I throw this guy before? How was his swing on that fastball? What is he expecting now? Am I getting too tired to rely on my slider?
Several things impressed me about Gibson in particular. One was his confidence in how he could dictate where a batter would hit a ball — not just in the obvious cases where he wanted a double play groundball, but where he just wanted to get a quick out (he seems to think some guys aren’t even worth the pitches it would take to strike them out).
Another is his lack of concern, or even attention, for the positioning of the fielders behind him. I remember how Jim Palmer would move outfielders around. So far as you can tell from this, Gibson hardly pays any attention. And it’s not because he intended to strike everyone out — in fact, he says, as a rule, he didn’t even think about strikeouts until he got two strikes on a batter.
Gibson had a reputation as an intimidator. But, judging from what he says here (yes, it could be cleaned up), that wasn’t a big thing. He shows a lot of respect for hitters like Norm Cash, Willie Horton, Al Kaline, and Jim Northrup. He does move the ball in and out, setting up sliders away by first throwing fastballs in and off the plate. But I would expect any pitcher to do that.
And he does watch body language. He notices when batters step out of the box, to reset themselves, and he thinks about what he can conclude from it. He notices Northrup move up a step in the batter’s box, and he thinks Northrup must be moving up to hit a breaking pitch before it breaks. So Northrup gets a fastball.
It’s all pretty good stuff. And even if you know that this is how a pitcher thinks, it’s different hearing it, pitch by pitch, from the pitcher himself. I'm giving the book four stars instead of five, just because, like a pitching duel itself, I suspect it doesn't appeal to everyone. The action is in Gibson's head, not on the field.
Honestly, it’d be interesting to hear the same kind of account from a pitcher who is very different from Gibson. Maybe somebody without Gibson’s overpowering fastball. I’d love to hear Luis Tiant’s thoughts pitch by pitch. Or maybe a pitcher who just wasn’t as good, to understand the struggles he’s going through.
July 2, 2018
Bob Gibson, now 82 years old, is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. He played seventeen seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. During that time, he won two Cy Young Awards and pitched for two World Series champs. In this book he takes the reader through each pitch of game one of the 1968 World Series against the Detroit Tigers, 50 years ago.
Gibson was coming off of a record-setting season in which he had an earned run average of an incredible 1.12. His opponent in the October 2 game was Denny McLain, who won an unbelievable 31 games for the Tigers. So, we had two pitchers at the top of their games going in game one on a warm October afternoon in St. Louis.
I really enjoyed Gibson’s insights on each pitch. He takes the reader through his thought process on what he was planning to throw and how it turned out. In between, he tells some very interesting stories about his Cardinal teammates and the Tigers he was facing. As a baseball fan and a Cardinal fan, I loved every page of this book.
One story in particular was of personal interest. He tells of Cardinal Curt Simmons getting Hank Aaron out on change-up pitches. He writes “When Aaron finally timed one of Simmons’s slowballs and clubbed it over the fence, he was called out for stepping on the plate.” The fascinating thing about that story is that I was at that August 18, 1965 game in St. Louis at the original Busch Stadium (initially called Sportsman Park), as an 8-year-old boy with my family when that took place.
Gibson writes in a confident manner about racial issues, his pitching “The slider was next; and it was perfect, if you don’t mind my saying so,” catcher McCarver “Tim has since confessed that he can’t think of a single intelligent thing he ever pointed out to me in our little mid-inning visits,” his roommate Curt Flood’s challenge of major league baseball’s reserve clause, and much, much more.
Gibson would break Sandy Koufax’s World Series strikeout record in the game and the Cardinals would win, but ultimately lose the series.
If you are a baseball fan, and in particular a Cardinals fan, you’ll love this book.
Gibson was coming off of a record-setting season in which he had an earned run average of an incredible 1.12. His opponent in the October 2 game was Denny McLain, who won an unbelievable 31 games for the Tigers. So, we had two pitchers at the top of their games going in game one on a warm October afternoon in St. Louis.
I really enjoyed Gibson’s insights on each pitch. He takes the reader through his thought process on what he was planning to throw and how it turned out. In between, he tells some very interesting stories about his Cardinal teammates and the Tigers he was facing. As a baseball fan and a Cardinal fan, I loved every page of this book.
One story in particular was of personal interest. He tells of Cardinal Curt Simmons getting Hank Aaron out on change-up pitches. He writes “When Aaron finally timed one of Simmons’s slowballs and clubbed it over the fence, he was called out for stepping on the plate.” The fascinating thing about that story is that I was at that August 18, 1965 game in St. Louis at the original Busch Stadium (initially called Sportsman Park), as an 8-year-old boy with my family when that took place.
Gibson writes in a confident manner about racial issues, his pitching “The slider was next; and it was perfect, if you don’t mind my saying so,” catcher McCarver “Tim has since confessed that he can’t think of a single intelligent thing he ever pointed out to me in our little mid-inning visits,” his roommate Curt Flood’s challenge of major league baseball’s reserve clause, and much, much more.
Gibson would break Sandy Koufax’s World Series strikeout record in the game and the Cardinals would win, but ultimately lose the series.
If you are a baseball fan, and in particular a Cardinals fan, you’ll love this book.
November 19, 2023
October, 1968. I was in Fourth Grade. My teacher, Miss Hughes, had a cousin on the Cardinals, and she went to game one of the World Series, leaving us with a substitute who actually wheeled in a black and white TV set so we could watch the game. At the time, I had zero interest in baseball, so watching Bob Gibson strike out 17 Detroit Tigers was something I could have done, but I probably read a book or worked crossword puzzles or something.
Eventually, after I became a fan and saw Gibson pitch in the last five years of his career, I was able to watch this game on DVD. Sometime after I watched it (probably in 2007, because the DVD originally was owned by my brother, who passed away that year), Gibson and Wheeler started watching the DVD themselves, and this book is the result.
Baseball is a beautiful game no matter how much or how little you know about it, but following along with the mind of a pitcher, particularly a great pitcher, on possibly his greatest single day on the mound, is a remarkable thing to be able to do. Gibson was an adept story teller, and in addition to telling us how long it took him to get his slider to behave that day, and how he decided which pitch and what location he would throw in each situation throughout the game, he follows along with the Cardinals at bats against Denny McClain and two relief pitchers. He also provides little career tales of virtually every player on each team.
It's an absolutely wonderful baseball book, and a great way to while away a few hours on my 65th birthday, thinking about what happened when I was 9. (My big thrill that year was that my dad paid for something that sent us the Detroit newspapers for that whole World Series, which gave me access to comic strips we didn't have in the two St. Louis papers.)
Eventually, after I became a fan and saw Gibson pitch in the last five years of his career, I was able to watch this game on DVD. Sometime after I watched it (probably in 2007, because the DVD originally was owned by my brother, who passed away that year), Gibson and Wheeler started watching the DVD themselves, and this book is the result.
Baseball is a beautiful game no matter how much or how little you know about it, but following along with the mind of a pitcher, particularly a great pitcher, on possibly his greatest single day on the mound, is a remarkable thing to be able to do. Gibson was an adept story teller, and in addition to telling us how long it took him to get his slider to behave that day, and how he decided which pitch and what location he would throw in each situation throughout the game, he follows along with the Cardinals at bats against Denny McClain and two relief pitchers. He also provides little career tales of virtually every player on each team.
It's an absolutely wonderful baseball book, and a great way to while away a few hours on my 65th birthday, thinking about what happened when I was 9. (My big thrill that year was that my dad paid for something that sent us the Detroit newspapers for that whole World Series, which gave me access to comic strips we didn't have in the two St. Louis papers.)
September 8, 2020
Bob Gibson was one of the most intimidating and dominating pitchers of the Sixties, a fierce competitor who helped the St. Louis Cardinals win two championships in four years and play for a third in 1968, losing to the Detroit Tigers but still considered one of the great teams because of how well they played and how well they played together, black and white, in an era in which racial unrest was at a fever pitch over the injustices directed at African-Americans. Gibson enjoyed one of his best seasons in 1968, the "year of the pitcher," and when he took the mound on October 2 to start the World Series, he had no idea (and really, no intention) of making history. But he did, striking out seventeen batters in one WS game. This is the story of that game, through Gibson's eyes.
The reputation of Gibson as a fierce force on the mound helped him, but behind the glare is a born storyteller, recounting his historic game and the other players who participated in it with wonderful humor and honesty. Whether recounting his life with teammates like Tim McCarver, Lou Brock, or Curt Flood, or his opponents on the Detroit bench like Al Kaline, Willie Horton, or baseball's last 30-game winner, the mercurial Denny McLain, Gibson has a way with telling a story that puts you in the moment of the game and in the warm haze of a treasured memory.
This is a wonderful, endearing book from an athlete who doesn't come to mind when you think "warm and fuzzy." But Bob Gibson doesn't have to stare down a batter anymore, and he's just as fun to read as any gifted storyteller when they've settled into a good yarn that will entrance an audience.
The reputation of Gibson as a fierce force on the mound helped him, but behind the glare is a born storyteller, recounting his historic game and the other players who participated in it with wonderful humor and honesty. Whether recounting his life with teammates like Tim McCarver, Lou Brock, or Curt Flood, or his opponents on the Detroit bench like Al Kaline, Willie Horton, or baseball's last 30-game winner, the mercurial Denny McLain, Gibson has a way with telling a story that puts you in the moment of the game and in the warm haze of a treasured memory.
This is a wonderful, endearing book from an athlete who doesn't come to mind when you think "warm and fuzzy." But Bob Gibson doesn't have to stare down a batter anymore, and he's just as fun to read as any gifted storyteller when they've settled into a good yarn that will entrance an audience.
May 26, 2018
Gibson's approach to pitching, based on the inning and situation, is the most insightful/meaningful aspect of his book. The ultra competitive ace pitched an insane number of innings during the 1960s. Pitcher used to start every fourth day instead of every fifth like today's players. Gibson intently established the inside part of the plate in order to setup fastballs on the outside corner. He details the difference between pitching inside vs. throwing inside strikes. A subtle difference that seems lost on many pitchers now.
Entertaining clubhouse stories are peppered throughout the chapters. As a diehard Cardinals fan, I enjoyed hearing about legends Brock, Cepeda, McCarver, and Shannon. This book gave me a knew appreciation for Cards' catcher Tim McCarver. Gibson credits McCarver for much of his and the team's sustained success during the decade. Ball player nicknames and pre-game rituals are also included. Mike Shannon was known as The Moon Man by his teammates. For anyone who has listened to Cardinals' radio broadcasts and wondered 'what planet is he on?' this fits well. Apparently Shannon's teammates didn't know what he was talking about half the time either. Curt Flood deserves his own biography. He stood up to Gussie Busch and challenged MLB's reserve clause. Gibson gives a brief description of Flood's life post-baseball which piqued my interest.
Recommended for knowledgeable baseball fans anywhere.
On-deck: a quality Curt Flood bio.
Entertaining clubhouse stories are peppered throughout the chapters. As a diehard Cardinals fan, I enjoyed hearing about legends Brock, Cepeda, McCarver, and Shannon. This book gave me a knew appreciation for Cards' catcher Tim McCarver. Gibson credits McCarver for much of his and the team's sustained success during the decade. Ball player nicknames and pre-game rituals are also included. Mike Shannon was known as The Moon Man by his teammates. For anyone who has listened to Cardinals' radio broadcasts and wondered 'what planet is he on?' this fits well. Apparently Shannon's teammates didn't know what he was talking about half the time either. Curt Flood deserves his own biography. He stood up to Gussie Busch and challenged MLB's reserve clause. Gibson gives a brief description of Flood's life post-baseball which piqued my interest.
Recommended for knowledgeable baseball fans anywhere.
On-deck: a quality Curt Flood bio.
September 10, 2017
An excellent baseball book. Bob Gibson talks about his great game 1 win in the 1968 World Series over the Detroit Tigers when he set a new World Series record for strikeouts in a game. He goes into the game, as the title says, pitch by pitch. That might sound boring, but Gibson makes it very entertaining. His memory of the game nearly 50 years ago is remarkable, aided by the video of the game. He also goes into the other players in the game, both teammates on the Cardinals as well as the Tigers, revealing information that greatly helps the book. He does also cover the rest of the series, in which the Tigers won in game 7, when Lolich beat Gibson. But mainly it concerns Game one, and he does so in brilliant fashion. You really get to know Bob Gibson, and he is worth knowing. Highly recommend this book to baseball fans.
May 28, 2019
The book contains interesting vignettes about all in the starting lineup on the Cardinals — and the Tigers — in 1968. There is too much minutia about the pitch-by-pitch selection of the game in question, the first game of the 1968 World Series when Gibson set the record for strikeouts, 17. His feelings for his teammates is on display. He loved catcher Tim McCarver like a brother. He got irritated with light-hitting shortstop Dal Maxvill, who refused to work harder at becoming a better hitter. There are insightful comments about the tumultuous events of 1968. This marked Gibson's best season, at age 32, and his 1.12 ERA is the best by a starter in the past century. The book contains much baseball history woven into the narrative, including Gibson's best friend and roommate Curt Flood, who later challenged baseball's reserve clause and opened the path to free agency.
January 15, 2023
A fast read and 4 stars if you’re a Bob Gibson, Cardinal, or Tiger fan.
As I recall the game, Gibson’s performance seemed flawless and easy. So it was interesting to hear his thought process and all the struggles he went through on each pitch; selection, location, speed, previous at bat, his energy level, etc etc etc and how those myriad of factors dynamically change as the game progresses. Made me appreciate the difficulty of pitching a complete game, and how easily the outcome of even a dominant pitching performance like this one could’ve been different!
Wheeler does a nice research job adding historical facts and providing context. However, his ghost writing was a little heavy handed and at times the narrator’s voice feels more like Wheeler’s than Gibson’s; using the phrase “your humble narrator” as one of the more glaring examples.
As I recall the game, Gibson’s performance seemed flawless and easy. So it was interesting to hear his thought process and all the struggles he went through on each pitch; selection, location, speed, previous at bat, his energy level, etc etc etc and how those myriad of factors dynamically change as the game progresses. Made me appreciate the difficulty of pitching a complete game, and how easily the outcome of even a dominant pitching performance like this one could’ve been different!
Wheeler does a nice research job adding historical facts and providing context. However, his ghost writing was a little heavy handed and at times the narrator’s voice feels more like Wheeler’s than Gibson’s; using the phrase “your humble narrator” as one of the more glaring examples.
October 22, 2017
On October 2, 1968, Bob Gibson struck out 17 Detroit Tigers in the World Series, a record that still stands. He also set the "live-ball" era (since 1920) record for the lowest earned run average (1.12) during a season in which he got surprisingly little offensive support from his team. Gibson's fierce demeanor, intelligence, and willingness to remind batters that he too had a claim to the inside of the plate, made him an intimidating presence on the mound. If you think baseball is boring, as many people do, this pitch-by-pitch account, accompanied by entertaining anecdotes and insights, demonstrates the strategic storm that lies beneath the plodding calm of the game.
July 26, 2017
Surprisingly boring. Was hoping for pitching insights and what Gibson offered was 200 pages of “I throw what I want, when I want, because I’m Bob Gibson.” I did learn a lot about Cardinals’ history – and realized how little I do know about the Cardinals pre-1980s. Gibson comes off as arrogant and a real jerk to be teammates with. Not really my opinion so much as Gibson more/less admits this throughout the book. Only recommended if you want backstory on the late 60s Cardinals like Flood, Javier and Mike Shannon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2022
A book I could re-read every summer! The only thing that takes away from it is knowing that Gibson is recreating his on the mound thoughts from a game 40-plus years ago, so I'm sure there's some guesswork here. But it's still fun to journey with Gibson through a game (he watches the tv broadcast to refresh his memories) and his thought processes on the mound -- which pitch? Where? Why? Plenty of good stories also included about his relationships with teammates. A must read for Cardinals fans, and a fun read for all baseball fans.
October 14, 2017
While reading pitch by pitch by Bob Gibson and Lonnie Wheeler I truly enjoyed the way the authors accelerated the story inning by inning, pitch by pitch, and batter by batter, analyzing each batter for the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals going through how they batted and his personal relationships with them, as well as giving his own thoughts on the game of baseball and what he thought of breaking the Sandy Koufax one game strikeout record, which truly makes this an excellent read.
April 17, 2018
This has been on my TBR pile for a while, so am glad it finally made it to the top. Told in a conversational style, as the title states it is a review of one game in October, 1968. And very interesting it is too to get the insight into a pitcher's mind of how and why he pitches the way he does. Also, enjoyed the insights and stories on the people he played with or against. Free e-book from the library.
September 5, 2018
This will, for as long as I live, be considered one of the better baseball books I've ever read. Truly. Get one of the single greatest pitchers take you pitch by pitch of a game he hadn't even realized he K'd 17 in a WS game and shared so much tremendous information about other players. Here is the thing: if you love baseball, pitching and reading this will be as good as anything you'll ever read.
October 11, 2019
This is a great book about a great game. Any fan of baseball will love getting inside the head of one of the greatest pitcher’s in baseball. But the book is more than that, as Gibson discusses the entire season, which included the deaths of MLK and RFK. He discussed the Cardinals demand for inclusion and how that impacted his relationship with Tim McCarver. The only downside was the result of the series overall. But a great read for any fan of the game.
May 26, 2020
If you came of age as a baseball fan in the early’70s or before (being a baseball fan is a must for this book) you’ll love the back stories to players whose baseball cards you’ll remember.
The writing is terrific for a baseball book - I’ve read many a terrible one - the insight into this game and Bob Gibson is fun. But again, it’s the back stories about Maris and Lolich and McClain and Horton and Brock and Flood that make this a gem.
The writing is terrific for a baseball book - I’ve read many a terrible one - the insight into this game and Bob Gibson is fun. But again, it’s the back stories about Maris and Lolich and McClain and Horton and Brock and Flood that make this a gem.
April 4, 2023
A great read by Bob Gibson, a great pitcher. Besides telling about each inning of the first game of the ‘68 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers. Bob adds very interesting side stories about the baseball players of the past and of the ‘68 players. He also included some historical baseball events during that period. I was amazed at the technical strategy that went into each of Bob Gibson’s pitches. It was like each pitch was similar to a chess game move.
December 10, 2023
One of the best baseball books I have read. A lot of my enjoyment has to do with Gibson's personality, during the game in the 60s that he dissects here, and his changed personality as the reflective, older writer. Gibson the pitcher was a mean fellow back in the day. Gibson the writer is willing to tell you why -- how he used his meanness to his advantage on the mound and in life. And you get the impression he has mellowed with age. Not completely, but enough to learn from. Great read.
August 13, 2025
I enjoyed this a lot! I always had heard that Bob Gibson was a bit of a psycho out there on the mound but to read how a game plays out through his point of view was very interesting. The combination of him believing nobody could beat him while also complaining about his own pitches made for a fun back and forth throughout the innings of the game.
The side story tangents were somewhat interesting but most of the time I was just wanting him to get back to the game.
The side story tangents were somewhat interesting but most of the time I was just wanting him to get back to the game.
September 18, 2017
What impressed me about this book is not just the thought process behind Gibson's pitching, but the obvious respect he holds for the game and the other players. Knowing his reputation as an ultra-intense, almost mean competitor, I expected the text to be full of anger. It wasn't. Gibson writes with kindness toward his fellow players, even as he is striking them out.
February 25, 2023
More than just narration of one game (though there’s plenty of that) Gibson gives his insights and stories about many of the greats of the ‘60s. You get a feel for how the game has changed since that era while at the same time understanding the makeup of one of the fiercest competitors to ever take the mound. This probably isn’t the book for a casual baseball fan.
January 8, 2022
Great read for any baseball fan, you get to read what a pitcher is thinking throughout a game. Many interesting stories and facts about the players also thrown in. Game is on YouTube and I can't wait to watch it. Note: It would be fun to read about each inning and then watch it. Hope you enjoy!
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July 15, 2022If you're into baseball, it's hard to imagine a better look into the mind of one of the truly great players. Bob Gibson is an incredible person and his story is amazing. But the structure of the book lends itself to repetition, and the third time around the order it feels pretty sluggish.
December 13, 2025
Review of one of the greatest performances by a pitcher
Bob Gibson is one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. His view of his 17 strikeout game was absolutely fascinating. It was great insight of the pitcher catcher relationship
Bob Gibson is one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. His view of his 17 strikeout game was absolutely fascinating. It was great insight of the pitcher catcher relationship
September 12, 2018
Nuts and bolts baseball!
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October 26, 2020Very in depth and full of statistics and details.
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