Best Big Game Pitcher of All-Time
Your the manager, it's game 7 of the world series and you can pitch anyone in history. Whose your choice? I'm taking Bob Gibson. I don't think anyone had the killer instinct on the mound more than him. Tony Perez said on the MLB channel recently that his wife wouldn't watch him bat when it was against Gibson. She was afraid for him. He pitched in 3 game sevens and won 2 of them. Lost the third on a misplayed ball by Curt Flood in 1968. Sandy Koufax would be my 2nd choice.
I asked my dad last night, and he picked Christy Mathewson, citing his three shutouts in the World Series (1908 I think). I'd have to agree with Gibson though. He had the talent and the sheer will. From my generation, I would pick Schilling or Halladay.
ReplyDeleteFrom the last 20 years, I'd pick Schilling also. He was a big game pitcher.
ReplyDeletei was going to go with christy mathewson myself and im with you tom with gibson but from our generation i would go with halladay and smoltz or anyone else from that staff except for avery
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to argue with any of those choices... I think that Roy Halladay has certainly started to craft his resume in the same manner as those other greats but the sample size is still small. Lefty Grove, well before my time threw 4 complete games in 5 career world series starts and a sub 2 ERA. Before my time, of course. If I could pick any pitcher from my time to throw in one game it would be Roger Clemens... Steroids aside, he was the most fearless competitor I've ever seen. Talent alone on his best day- Koufax. Lincecum has Koufax stuff. but what sets apart Gibson and Mathewson is that they had it all... Grit, determination, talent and fearlessness.
ReplyDeleteUgh Clemens always barfed in big games, on the Sox and on the Yanks, big game bust. Otherwise I agree with all selections. I add Don Larson, the only man to pitch a perfect game in a world series to that list. Just to add to the list some 80-'s pitchers that were awesome but didn't have HOF cred w World series games, but would have been some of the most dangerous of their time. John Tudor, Mike Scott, Nolan Ryan, and Dr. K (even though he also has Clemens' big game syndrome
ReplyDeleteMathewson and Gibson seems to be the hands down favorite. Its so hard to think of this as a "right now" decision. Both Gibson and Mathewson played in 2 VERY different Eras of baseball. Thats part of what makes baseball so great, its stand agienst time and how its changed. I can really speak to 25 years of baseball because that's what I've 'watched.' Pre 1985ish is all learnd from books and archives so I can't 'remember' Guys like Gibson, Seaver, and Koufax's dominance in context. But, I noticed the "last 20 years" and realized thats from 1990 to now....RANDY JOHNSON people!
ReplyDeleteI too remember Clemens choking in big games more often than winning them. I can't pick him. Pedro was more of a big game pitcher than steroid Roger. But I still go with Schilling over both. Randy Johnson's record in the post season, other than 2001 when he had Schilling on the team, is not that good.
ReplyDeleteClemens started 37 postseason games so of course he lost a few... 8. He never lost a world series start- in 8 games started he was 3-0 with a 2.37 ERA. Not mathewson or Koufax or Gibson but good... Steroids aside.
ReplyDeleteI can't put steroids aside. I can accept Mathewson. 3 shutouts in one WS.
ReplyDeleteBob Gibson. He pitched with a broken leg even though it was only one batter.
ReplyDeletei missed mathewson though hersh saw him lol. koufax or gibson cant lose with either. definitely not greg maddux!
ReplyDeleteBeing 31 and the only time i saw him pitch was striking out 18 in 68 gibson has to be the choice, but as far as pitchers i have watched. I would say Schilling. So many big games.
ReplyDelete