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Two players who battled Bob Gibson in World Series competition had the most success against him in All-Star Game showdowns.

Red Sox outfielder Carl Yastrzemski and Tigers catcher Bill Freehan are the only players to get more than one hit against Gibson in the six all-star appearances made by the Cardinals pitcher.

In 11 All-Star Game innings, Gibson gave up 11 hits to nine players.

Yastrzemski was 2-for-3 against Gibson in all-star competition. He had singles in the 1967 and 1970 games, and grounded out in the 1972 game.

In the 1967 World Series, Yastrzemski hit .273 (3-for-11) against Gibson, with two singles and a double.

Like Yastrzemski, Freehan also was 2-for-3 against Gibson as an all-star. He had a single in 1965, struck out in 1967 and delivered a RBI-single in 1969.

In the 1968 World Series, Freehan hit .111 (1-for-9) and struck out five times against Gibson, but the hit (a Game 7 double) drove in a run.

Here are the players who got hits against Gibson in all-star play:

_ Tom Tresh, Yankees (double, 1962)

_ Bill Freehan, Tigers (single, 1965; single, 1969)

_ Tony Oliva, Twins (double, 1965)

_ Carl Yastrzemski, Red Sox (single, 1967; single, 1970)

_ Don Mincher, Angels (single, 1967)

_ Sal Bando, Athletics (single, 1969)

_ Willie Horton, Tigers (single, 1970)

_ Brooks Robinson, Orioles (triple, 1970)

_ Reggie Jackson, Athletics (double, 1972)

Of the nine, Yastrzemski, Robinson and Jackson, like Gibson, are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Gibson earned his first all-star selection in 1962. In his book “Stranger to the Game,” Gibson expressed how important that selection was to his career: “To the surprise of many, including myself, I was named to my first National League all-star team. With that, the rehabilitation of my confidence was nearly complete … I loved the recognition _ it was bound to help me as a pitcher, I figured, by establishing my credentials in the eyes of the batters _ and soaked up the hoopla.”

In the 1965 All-Star Game, Gibson earned the save, holding the American League scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings of a 6-5 National League victory. Boxscore

The National League catcher was the Braves’ Joe Torre, who later became a teammate and friend of Gibson, but, at that time, Torre, like all opponents, was viewed as the enemy by Gibson, who never fraternized. Torre said Gibson wouldn’t speak to him during the All-Star Game.