Bob Gibson Makes a Pitch for the Old-Timers

Two of the least likely pursuits for Bob Gibson following his retirement from baseball were talk show host and old-timers’ game pitcher.

The Hall of Fame pitcher was never the most garrulous sort when he played for the St. Louis Cardinals. And he openly disdained old-timers’ gatherings.

Today, Gibson not only runs a talk show in St. Louis but is one of the leading spokesman for Equitable’s Old-Timers’ series.

The series begins May 17 in St. Louis and continues through August with games in all 26 major-league cities. Proceeds from the three-inning games go to the Baseball Alumni Fund designed to help former players in need.

“No, I never imagained myself getting involved with an old-timers’ game when I was an active player,” Gibson said. “It was one of the furthest things in my mind. Basically, I’m doing it now for the intent of the series and help people who need help. I also found out that I liked it, sitting around telling lies of how great we used to be and seeing the lies grow bigger.”

Gibson said he was asked two years ago if he would come to New York concerning the series. He had been dismissed as the Atlanta Braves pitching coach and was out of baseball.

“Actually, I was invited to a meeting in the commissioner’s office,” Gibson recalled. “There were six or seven others.”

Gibson said he was surprised over the interest in the old-timers’ series.

“Well, the reason is the statistics that are kept,” he said. “People can go back and tell you what someone hit in 1920. No one can tell you who rushed for 1,000 yards three years ago. Everyone knows baseball stats. You can talk about it and remember it. It’s amazing.”

Although the tour will take Gibson from St. Louis, he will be able to maintain his postgame call-in shows.

“The people at the station (KMOX) have been very gracious about it,” Gibson said. “I do my talk shows during the home games anyway so I am free when St. Louis is on the road.”

The talk show came about almost accidentally.

“I was reluctant to do it because I was reluctant to do that type of stuff in the past,” Gibson said. “They said don’t worry, it would be fun. I enjoyed it. After a week, they asked me to do it full time and I said, after some thought, I’d do it.”