Fred's Ramblings

It seems like we are losing many of the storied players in Major League History. In early September, Lou Brock passed away and on Friday, the baseball world lost a titan. One of the most legendary figures to ever grace the mound, Hall of Fame Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson died at age 84 after battling pancreatic cancer for more than a year. The Cardinals confirmed Gibson’s death late Friday night to the New York Times. In his 17-year big-league career, Gibson was a nine-time All-Star, winning an MVPs, two Cy Youngs, two World Series MVPs, two World Series rings and an ERA title. He was 251-174 with a 2.91 ERA and recorded 3,117 strikeouts in nearly 4,000 innings.

Gibson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first try in 1981 with 84 percent of the vote. He’s widely hailed as the greatest pitcher in the storied history of the Cardinals franchise and also in the inner circle of all-time great pitchers. No batter ever “dug in” against Bullet Bob…not unless they wanted to hear some chin music. RIP Bob Gibson.

Longtime big leaguer and Hall of Famer Tom Seaver passed away Monday, August 31, his family confirmed to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was 75. Seaver’s family says he “passed peacefully in his sleep of complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19.”

Seaver pitched for 20 seasons in the big leagues from 1967-86 and was, quite simply, one of the greatest pitchers to ever live. He retired with a 311-205 record and a 2.86 ERA. Seaver broke in with the Mets (1967-77) and also played for the Reds (1977-82), Mets again (1983), White Sox (1984-86), and Red Sox (1986). He was named the NL Rookie of the Year after throwing 251 innings with a 2.76 ERA in 1967. He won three Cy Young awards (1969. 1973, 1975) and was selected to 12 All-Star Games. Seaver also finished second in the Cy Young voting in 1971 and 1981, and third in 1977. He was voted into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1992. He was a member of the “Miracle Mets” of 1969…rest in peace Tom Seaver.

Today, I read about the death of John Thompson the legendary basketball coach of the Georgetown Hoyas. I vividly remember his fiery pacing on the basketball court and the perennial run in the NCAA championships in the mid to late 80’s. He was only 78 and although the cause of his death was not announced, the fact that it happened at such an early age made me sad. He was one of the first black coaches in college basketball and he paved the way for many others to follow in his stead. RIP John Thompson.