Tim Lincecum’s strikeouts have impressed observers of this postseason, but the Giants’ ace still doesn’t top the standard established by the Cardinals’ Bob Gibson.
Gibson holds the record for most strikeouts by a pitcher in his first three career postseason games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Gibson struck out 31 in three games of the 1964 World Series against the Yankees. That also was the most strikeouts in a World Series, eclipsing the mark of 28 established by Bill Dinneen of the Red Sox in the 1903 Series.
(Gibson later broke his own record, striking out 35 in the 1968 World Series. That remains the standard for most strikeouts in a World Series).
Lincecum has struck out 29 in his first three career postseason games _ all this year against the Braves in the National League Division Series and against the Phillies in the League Championship Series. Only Gibson did better.
In his first postseason start, Game 2 of the 1964 World Series, Gibson struck out nine (including Mickey Mantle twice) in eight innings of an 8-3 Yankees win. “Gibson is as fast as anybody in our league,” Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson said. Boxscore
Afterward, Gibson developed a sore throat and a touch of the flu. He had trouble sleeping the night before his Game 5 start at New York, and at 2 a.m. he woke trainer Bill Bauman and requested a sleeping pill. Bauman obliged, but Gibson still couldn’t rest.
Tired, Gibson’s approach to the game was to just try “to get the ball up there with something on it.”
It worked. Gibson struck out 13 (including Mantle twice, again) in 10 innings of a 5-2 Cardinals victory. Boxscore
On just two days rest, Gibson started Game 7 in St. Louis. The Cardinals led 6-0 in the sixth when Mantle belted a three-run home run. Manager Johnny Keane went to the mound and asked Gibson whether he still had good stuff. “I told him I did and he said, ‘I’ll let you try the next batter,’ ” Gibson told The Sporting News.
Gibson struck out Yankees catcher Elston Howard to end the inning and remained in the game. He pitched all nine innings of the Cardinals’ championship-clinching 7-5 victory, striking out nine (including Howard twice). Boxscore
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