Mickey Lolich Had Better Luck Than Bob Gibson

The better performer isn't always the winner.

Detroit Tigers' left-hander Mickey Lolich was the 1968 World Series MVP, but his performance was at least equaled by the defending World Champion Cardinals' Bob Gibson.

Mickey Lolich's Great World Series

Lolich was great. He started, completed, and won three games, allowing only 5 runs and 6 walks, while striking out 21, in 27 innings.

After winning the fifth game, Lolich started the seventh game on two days' rest against Bob Gibson, who had been victorious in his last seven World Series decisions.

Gibson held the visiting Tigers to an infield single through the first seven innings, and retired the first two Tigers in the eighth inning, before Norm Cash lined a single to right field.

Willie Horton bounced a single through the left side of the infield to put runners on first and second.

Jim Northrup, a solid left-handed hitter, drove the first pitch he saw from Gibson to deep center field.

The ball was lined to Curt Flood's right. Flood's first instinct was to run in, which was a fatal mistake.

The Cardinals' center fielder, who had been compared favorably defensively to Willie Mays, realized his error and quickly reversed his direction, but it was too late.

Flood slipped on the grass. He tried to keep moving, but he slipped, and Northrup was given a two-run triple.

In the Cardinals' clubhouse, reserve outfielder Bobby Tolan tried to console his teammates. "We're still the best. We're still number one."

Flood knew better.

"We're the second best team in baseball. I fouled up. First of all, I didn't see it.

"At this time of day, you have trouble seeing a line drive right at you. So if you count not seeing the ball as misjudging it, yes, I misjudged it.

"Then I slipped. No, it had nothing to do with holes in the outfield from football. The field may have been damp from the rain yesterday. But I just slipped. I just fouled up."

How Good Had Bob Gibson Been?

Mickey Lolich received a car as the player whose overall play contributed the most to his team, but as great as Lolich had been, Gibson had been slightly better.

No one will know what would have happened if Flood had seen Northrup's deep fly ball. All that we can do is compare their statistics, recall what some of us saw, and read the analyses of the "experts."

Gibson, like Lolich, started and completed three games. In 27 innings, he allowed 5 runs, as did Lolich.

Gibson allowed 18 hits compared to Lolich's 20, and he struck out 31 hitters, while Mickey had 21 strikeouts. Gibson walked only four (one intentional). Lolich walked only six.

There is little to choose between the two great World Series performances, but the results again support the conclusion that one of the least accurate assessments of a pitcher's performance is whether he won or lost the game, yet nothing is more important than winning the game.

References:

Mickey Lolich at Baseball Reference

Bob Gibson at Baseball Reference

By JOSEPH DURSO Special to The New York Times . (1968, October 11). Tigers Win and Take Series: Lolich Beats Gibson of Cards by 4-1 for His 3d Victory Two Keys to Tigers' Victory: Northrup's Triple and Lolich's Pitching TIGERS WIN BY 4-1 AND TAKE SERIES. New York Times (1923-Current file),1. Retrieved April 9, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2006). (Document ID: 76888560).

By GEORGE VECSEY Special to The New York Times . (1968, October 11). Champagne Helps Cards Accept Loss With Sadness and Defiance :FLOOD OCCUPIES CENTER OF STAGE He Discusses Miscue on Northrup's Triple and Pickoff at First. New York Times (1923-Current file),57. Retrieved April 9, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2006). (Document ID: 76889047).