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| Joe Gibbon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1935-04-10)April 10, 1935 Hickory, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| Died: February 20, 2019(2019-02-20) (aged 83) Newton, Mississippi, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 17, 1960, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 11, 1972, for the Houston Astros | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 61–65 |
| Earned run average | 3.52 |
| Strikeouts | 743 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Joseph Charles Gibbon (April 10, 1935 – February 20, 2019) was an American professionalbaseball player. Aleft-handedpitcher, he spent all or parts of 13 seasons (1960–72) inMajor League Baseball as a member of thePittsburgh Pirates,San Francisco Giants,Cincinnati Reds andHouston Astros. Gibbon was born inHickory, Mississippi.[1]
An alumnus of theUniversity of Mississippi, where he was a standout in both baseball andbasketball, Gibbon signed with the Pirates in 1957. In 1959, his thirdminor league season, he won 16 of 25decisions for theTriple-AColumbus Jets, posted a strong 3.22earned run average, and hurled 11complete games and fourshutouts in 28starting pitcher assignments. He led theInternational League instrikeouts with 152.
His performance helped Gibbon win a spot on the roster of the1960 Pirates, for whom he pitched in 27 games (including nine starts). He was thewinning pitcher in his first two big-league games (as arelief pitcher) and during the year posted a 4–2record for a Pirate team that captured the 1960National Leaguepennant by seven games. In the1960 World Series, Gibbon worked in Games 2 and 3 (both lopsided losses to theNew York Yankees) and surrendered threeearned runs (on a three-runhome run byMickey Mantle in Game 2)[2] in three fullinnings pitched. However, the Pirates won the Series in seven games, onBill Mazeroski'swalk-off Game 7 home run.
Apart from threegames pitched for the 1962Kinston Eagles of the Class BCarolina League, Gibbon spent the remainder of his pro career in the big leagues. In his sophomore season, 1961 with Pittsburgh, he set personal bests in wins (13), games started (29), complete games (seven), shutouts (three), strikeouts (145) and innings pitched (1951⁄3). As his career progressed (and especially after his December 1965 trade to the Giants), Gibbon became more of a relief specialist. He did not make any starts after the 1967 season.
When he returned to the Pirates in June 1969, he pitched out of the Pittsburgh bullpen through 1970, appearing in two games of the1970 National League Championship Series against Cincinnati and working a total of one-third of an inning. Released at the end of October, Gibbon joined the Reds in 1971 and posted a 2.94 ERA and tying his career-best mark forsaves with 11.
During his MLB career, Gibbon compiled a 61–65 record with a 3.52 earned run average and 743 strikeouts in 1,1192⁄3 innings pitched; he allowed 1,053 hits and 414bases on balls. He made 419 total appearances, 127 as a starting pitcher, and logged 20 complete games, four shutouts and 32 career saves.
Gibbon died on February 20, 2019, at his home south ofNewton, Mississippi after a short illness.[1]
