George Scott tried to psyche out Bob Gibson before Game 7 of the 1967 World Series. Naturally, it didn’t work. Instead, Gibson struck out Scott for the final out that sealed the championship for the Cardinals.
The showdown between Gibson and Scott is recalled here in appreciation of the former Red Sox first baseman, who died July 28, 2013, at 69.
In 1967, Scott was 23, a .300 hitter and smooth-fielding first baseman for the American League champions. He won the first of eight Gold Glove awards that year and batted .303 with 19 home runs and 82 RBI for Boston.
In Game 1 of the World Series, Scott had a double, single and walk against Gibson. The Cardinals ace ran the count to three balls on only one batter, Scott in the ninth inning, before walking him on a 3-and-2 pitch. In Game 4, Scott singled off Gibson. The Cardinals won both games.
On Oct. 12, the morning of the decisive Game 7 at Boston, a headline in the Boston Herald Traveler newspaper blared, “We’ll KO Gibson in Five _ Scott.”
The article by George Sullivan led with this sentence: “George Scott poetically predicts Bob Gibson ‘won’t survive five’ in Thursday’s World Series Game 7.”
Brash words for a second-year big-leaguer.
Gibson and the Cardinals were neither impressed nor intimidated. Instead, they were angered, motivated.
In his book “Stranger to the Game,” Gibson wrote that Scott gave “a poor imitation of Cassius Clay (as Muhammad Ali was known at the time).”
Said Cardinals reliever Joe Hoerner of Gibson’s reaction to Scott’s comments: “He responded … by taking it personally.”
Fifth-inning fireworks
Scott was wrong in his prediction that Gibson wouldn’t survive five, but the fifth inning did turn out to be memorable for both players.
Leading 2-0, the Cardinals scored twice in the fifth. Gibson slugged a solo home run off starter Jim Lonborg and Roger Maris produced a sacrifice fly.
Scott opened the bottom of the fifth with a triple off Gibson and scored Boston’s first run when second baseman Julian Javier, taking the relay from center fielder Curt Flood, made an errant throw trying to nail Scott at third.
That was one of the few Red Sox highlights. As he had in Games 1 and 4, Gibson dominated Game 7.
Sweet revenge
In the ninth, Scott came to bat with two outs. Gibson fanned him for his 10th strikeout of the game, sealing a 7-2 Cardinals victory and their second championship in four years.
Gibson’s pitching line for Game 7: 9 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts. Boxscore
In three wins in the 1967 World Series, Gibson struck out 26 in 27 innings.
Scott hit .231 (6-for-26) during the World Series. Against Gibson, he was 4-for-11 (.364) with a double, triple and two singles.
“There are pitchers in our league with his stuff, guys like (Dean) Chance and (Joel) Horlen and (Gary) Peters,” Scott said to The Sporting News about Gibson after Game 7. “But the thing that makes Gibson is that he’ll never give in. He’ll always challenge you. He’ll throw the ball across the plate with something on it and say, ‘There it is. See if you can hit it.’
“Other good pitchers will give you the ball when they get in trouble. But not him. He won’t give you anything. That’s what makes him a winner.”
Previously: Dick Williams couldn’t intimidate 1967 Cardinals
Great timing for this story, Mark. “Boomer” was always a favorite in the Red Sox clubhouse, even during Old Timers’ Games at Fenway in the late 80s. Enjoy this year’s Fall Classic!
Thanks, Rob. Always appreciate your insights as a pitcher who excelled in The Show.