Monday, July 28, 2008
Goose versus Gibby
Goose Gossage or Kirk Gibson? Which of these two baseball players do you remember more? One is now a hall of famer, the other NEVER even suited up for an all-star game. One hit the most dramatic game one home run in World Series history-on practically one leg. The other gave up a World Series clinching home run four years earlier, to the guy you might have clearer memories of. The Hall of Fame is a strange benchmark indeed. Yes, Kirk Gibson who famously homered as a pinch hitter for the LA Dodgers off of Oakland's Dennis Eckersley in the opening game of the 1988 World Series, hit a championship clinching home run against Goose Gossage (Padres) for the Detroit Tigers in game five of the 1984 fall classic. It is strange to think that Gossage-whose ego would not let him walk Gibson in 1984-is now in the Hall and Gibby is not. Gibson never even played in an all star game. In all fairness he was asked in 1985 and 1988, but he let word be known he wanted the days off at the break to rest up. Gossage was a great player in his own right, and I know baseball is about numbers, but isn't it also about moments? Kirk Gibson was responsible for some truly memorable moments in baseball history, (even if announcer Jack Buck didn't believe what he had just seen in '88) and I think if Goose is in, Gibby should be too. Too bad I don't have a vote, but ask yourself which of these two players sticks out more in your mind? I have a feeling it's the one on the outside of Cooperstown looking in.
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so I saw your blog on your facebook page while wishing you a happy birthday. So I naturally had to look up the stats of these two fine players. First, though, handlebar mustache definitely trumps scruffy beard. Second, longevity is huge with the HOF, as it should be. Gossage was the youngest player in the AL when he started and the oldest player in the AL when he ended. He not only made the All-Star game, but did so with four different teams! 310 saves, 18th all time. Gibson, always hurt, only player more than 150 games one time. Never hit 30 homers, never drove in 100 runs. Career .268. A great talent, an amazing moment, but that's not what the HOF is for. Bobby Thomson isn't there (more HRs, higher avg than KG), neither is Joe Carter (150 more HRs and drove in 100 ten times.)
Of course, neither Gossage nor these two guys attended MSU or played for the Tigers :)
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