Bob Gibson World Series signed Baseball.

All empires must eventually come to an end, but the St. Louis Cardinals needed every ounce of effort to topple baseball's greatest dynasty.

The 1964 World Series marked a turning point in the history of the game. It was the last Fall Classic for Hall of Fame legends Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle, the leaders of a New York Yankees club that had won 15 American League pennants in 18 years and 10 world championships.

The power of those Yankees clubs was challenged by a young Cardinals squad in October 1964. St. Louis punched its ticket to the World Series after sitting 6 ½ games back of first place with 12 games left in the regular season.

The Cardinals forced their way back into the pennant race thanks to a heroic effort from their ace pitcher, Bob Gibson. Beginning on Aug. 24, Gibson started 10 games, pitched 87 2/3rds of a possible 90 innings and posted a 1.65 earned-run average.

Game action of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson - BL-6256-88 (Fred Roe/National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)
On the final day of the regular season, with his team locked in a tight contest with the last-place New York Mets, Cardinals manager Johnny Keane brought Gibson on in relief. Pitching on two days rest, Gibson muscled out four innings of two-run ball and led the Redbirds to an 11-5 victory and the NL pennant.

Gibson's effort that day was emblematic of his reputation as one of baseball's fiercest competitors.

Bob Gibson - 64 WS MVP

Donated By: Roger Archibald