RetroSimba

From 1964 through 1966, Bob Gibson compiled a 12-1 record against the Mets. His only loss in that period was by the score of 1-0.

Gibson posted records against the Mets of 4-1 in 1964, 5-0 in 1965 and 3-0 in 1966.

Here is a look at Gibson’s wins in that stretch:

1964

Cardinals 5, Mets 1, May 9, at New York: Gibson had a shutout until catcher Jesse Gonder hit a home run in the eighth. Gibson, who improved to 3-0, also singled, walked and scored a run. Boxscore

Cardinals 3, Mets 1, July 10, at New York: After a RBI-single by Joe Christopher gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the first, Gibson outdueled Jack Fisher. The Mets had one extra-base hit (a double by Ed Kranepool) and five singles. Boxscore

Cardinals 7, Mets 6, July 19, at St. Louis: The Cardinals erased a 6-3 Mets lead by scoring four runs in the ninth and salvaging a split of a Sunday doubleheader. Dick Groat’s RBI-single off Mets reliever Darrell Sutherland broke a 6-6 tie. Gibson struck out 11, including Gonder three times after the catcher belted a two-run homer in the first. Boxscore

Cardinals 11, Mets 5, Oct. 4, at St. Louis: Two days after Gibson had pitched eight innings in a 1-0 loss to Al Jackson and the Mets, the Cardinals entered the last day of the regular season in a first-place tie with the Reds. With St. Louis trailing 3-2 in the fifth, Gibson relieved Curt Simmons, pitched four innings, held New York to two hits and two runs, and earned the win. With the Reds losing 10-0 that day to the Phillies, St. Louis clinched its first pennant since 1946. Boxscore

1965

Cardinals 4, Mets 3, May 11, at New York: Warren Spahn, 44, was matched against Gibson, and the Mets staked the left-hander to a 3-0 lead through six innings. Sparked by Lou Brock’s two-run homer off Spahn, the Cardinals rallied, enabling Gibson to boost his record to 6-0 despite allowing 10 hits and six walks. Boxscore

Cardinals 6, Mets 3, July 2, at New York: Gibson struck out 13, matching what was then his career high. Twice, he struck out the side in order (in the second and in the fourth). Boxscore

Cardinals 8, Mets 5, July 16, at St. Louis: The Cardinals erased a 4-2 Mets lead with a six-run sixth. Gibson went seven innings and allowed four home runs. Charlie Smith, Jesse Gonder, Johnny Lewis and Jim Hickman all went deep for New York. Boxscore

Cardinals 8, Mets 1, Aug. 20, at New York: Gibson pitched a three-hitter and struck out 11. Charlie Smith’s homer accounted for the New York run. In the fifth, two innings after Gibson had hit Mets shortstop Roy McMillian with a pitcher, Al Jackson hit Gibson with a pitch. After advancing to second on a single, Gibson swiped third and scored on catcher Jimmie Schaffer’s throwing error. Boxscore

Cardinals 3, Mets 0, Sept. 5, at. St. Louis: In a Sunday doubleheader opener that lasted just 2:01, Gibson pitched a two-hit shutout. The Mets got singles by Johnny Lewis in the first and Joe Christopher in the fourth. After being held to one hit (an infield single by Curt Flood) through seven innings by Mets rookie starter Tug McGraw, the Cardinals struck for three unearned runs in the eighth. Boxscore

1966

Cardinals 5, Mets 4, April 21, at New York: Curt Flood’s two-run, two-out home run in the ninth off ex-Cardinal Gordon Richardson overcame a 4-3 New York lead before a Thursday afternoon gathering of only 4,261 at Shea Stadium.  Gibson struck out 11 and held New York to one earned run on four hits. Boxscore

Cardinals 4, Mets 1, Aug. 7, at New York: Ed Kranepool’s eighth-inning homer was the only run against Gibson in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader. With one on and one out in the ninth, Hal Woodeshick relieved Gibson and got Cleon Jones to ground into a double play. Boxscore

Cardinals 9, Mets 6, Aug. 13, at St. Louis: The Cardinals built leads of 5-1 in the second and 8-3 in the sixth as Gibson cruised to his 15th win of the season. Gibson contributed a single and a stolen base. Boxscore