Known for pitching inside and a fierce competiveness, Bob Gibson was his generation's premier power pitcher.

Upon his retirement in 1975, Gibson had struck out more batters than anyone in Major League history, with the exception of the great Walter Johnson.

Gibson was born on Nov. 9, 1935 in Omaha, Neb. and, despite several childhood medical ailments such as rickets, asthma, pneumonia and a heart murmur, he developed into a star athlete.

After high school, Gibson accepted a basketball scholarship to Creighton University, and even played a year for the Harlem Globetrotters, before beginning his legendary career with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Gibson made an immediate impact as the Cardinals rolled to World Series championships in 1964 and 1967.

Then, in 1968, he made history.

Gibson had one of the best seasons ever by a Major League hurler. He won the National League MVP and Cy Young awards (as did Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain in the American League) and finished the season with a record 1.12 ERA. He completed the season with a 22-9 mark and a league-leading 268 strikeouts. His 13 shutouts that year were the most in the Major Leagues since 1916.

In the World Series that year, Gibson set another Major League record by striking out 17 in the Series' first game. But the Tigers went on to defeat the Cardinals in seven games in what would be Gibson's last taste of postseason baseball. In 1970, he earned his second Cy Young award.

Gibson was renowned for his serious demeanor both on and off the field. Hank Aaron once said of Gibson: "He'd knock down his own grandmother if she dared to challenge him."

His aggressive style paid off. When Gibson retired in 1975, he owed a 251-174 career record and a 2.91 ERA. His 3,117 strikeouts were second only to Johnson's 3,508. Presently, Gibson is fourteenth on the all-time strikeout list.

In 1981, in his first year of eligibility, Gibson was elected into the Hall of Fame.

Photo by pvsbond

By John Schneider