Facing Tough Competition
Having spent the better part of this millennium until
recently in St. Louis I grew to become an avid follower of the Cardinals. Time spent at the current Busch Stadium
and its predecessor was a slice of baseball heaven.
St. Louis has arguably one of the best fan bases in all of
the major leagues, attracting upwards of 3.5 million in annual attendance, good
for second in overall turnstile counts the last three years in a metropolitan
market that ranks 19th in population. Beyond numbers, though, Cardinals followers are a highly
baseball-educated fan base. Among
those in the crowd, it is not uncommon to observe as many as three generations
of family members in attendance, 80 year old ladies keeping score, and intelligent
conversations about lefty-righty batting-pitching matchups.
A great appreciation of St. Louis baseball history
exists. From Dizzy Dean to Stan
Musial, from Lou Brock to Ozzie Smith; from Budweiser Beer to Clydesdales; from
Harry Caray to Jack Buck, the roots run deep.
Most fans of my generation and older still speak of a
magical individual season 50 years ago when one individual performed so
sensationally that the rules were altered the next year partly due to his
prowess. Omaha native and
right-handed pitcher Bob Gibson was 32 in 1968 and in his 10th
season with the Cardinals. He
opened the year in rather unspectacular fashion enjoying three wins vs. five
losses in his initial eight decisions.
Cardinal fans, however, still recall and can recite the final numbers: 22 wins, 9 losses, an earned run
average of 1.12, 28 games completed out of 34 starts, 13 shutouts.
Put that season in the perspective of the modern game. Granted baseball has changed due to an
infusion of offense. However, in
2017 the most wins by a pitcher was 18.
The lowest earned run average was 2.25, a full run and then some above
Gibson’s mark. The most complete
games was 5 and 3 shutouts led all of baseball.
Bob Gibson was an intense competitor, feared by opponents
and even somewhat his teammates. His
long-time catcher, Tim McCarver, recalls those rare instances that Gibson would
find himself in a jam. McCarver
would visit the mound to “settle him down.” Often those visits were met with a glare followed by,
“McCarver get back to your place and do your job (or a choice of more colorful
verbiage to that effect).”
Many Hall of Famers of that area flailed against
Gibson: Willie Mays, Hank Aaron,
and Roberto Clemente among them.
Yet, lesser known players such as Billy Williams of the Cubs and Richie
Hebner of the Pirates enjoyed some degree of success.
What must it have been like to face the Gibson’s, the
Koufax’s, the Marichal’s the Seaver’s, and other great pitchers of their time,
especially knowing the likelihood of failing four out of every five times? And what parallels does it have today
in our careers, health, and relationships?
Remember that first audition for a musical? Your initial talk or presentation you
gave? An unexpected confrontation
with a co-worker? Palms were
sweaty, heart pounding rapidly, throat tightening. The inclination may have been for flight as in “God get me
out of here.” Yet you stood in,
most importantly survived the experience, perhaps had some level of success,
and were better prepared for the same or similar situation the next time
around.
Williams and Hebner figured out something about Gibson that
made even the invincible appear just a little more human. Maybe it was approaching the “at bat”
with a “nothing left to lose” viewpoint.
There was likely an element of patience involved of “waiting for the
right pitch.” It could have been
merely the baseball fundamental of making solid contact with the ball.
David had his Goliath, the youngster equipped with just a
few stones and slingshot. Besides
his life he had little else to forfeit as expectations for his success were
low. He had been patient and
waited for the right time and moment.
He made solid contact.
Though I’m not promoting the notion of walking into danger,
I would observe from experience that the best antidote to facing the giants in
your life is to meet them head on.
Consider your strengths and abilities. Take into account the vulnerabilities and weaknesses of that
which you’re confronting. Maintain
perspective and know that a more important battle may be in the offing.
Bob Gibson was one of the finest ballplayers of my
lifetime. And, as we move towards
another season of baseball with Spring Training now in full mode, a parallel to
the American Pastime felt right, not to denigrate Mr. Gibson, but rather to
illustrate that any of us can have our moment.
Play ball!
The Seed Sower
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