Back in the day I saw a doubleheader at the 'Stick where the 2nd game was Marichal vs Gibson. Nothing but zeroes for the first 6 or 7 innings and then Musial went yard against Marichal and they added a few more off the bullpen. Giants had the Willies, Cepeda, the Alous, Ed Bailey, Harvey Kuehn, lots of lumber that year but Gibson was amazing with a complete game shutout. He set the tone early by plunking Cepeda and Jim Ray Hart. I remember Hart going down because it was like one of his first MLB ABs and Gibson got him right between the shoulder blades on the very first pitch. Welcome to the big leagues, indeed. Hart went down like a sack of potatoes and it took a long time for him to get up.
I think Gibson's great season a few years later in 1968 was the primary reason they lowered the mound 5 or 6 inches the next year.
I think Gibson's great season a few years later in 1968 was the primary reason they lowered the mound 5 or 6 inches the next year.