(LOT 120)
Outstanding 1967 Bob Gibson Player Contract – Full PSA/DNA LOA
The 1967 campaign would see the legendary Bob Gibson go through some extreme highs and extreme lows. Similar to an 'EKG" reading, the "ups and downs" of Gibson's season would start on a high note, with Robby claiming his 10th victory of the year after besting the Reds on July 3rd. Unfortunately for Gibson, the potential for a third consecutive "20-win" season all came tumbling down when on July 15th, Pirate's superstar Roberto Clemente lined a baseball directly off of Gibson's right leg, fracturing a bone that would keep the legendary right-hander out of action until September. Synonymous with Gibson's unparalleled competitiveness, he incredibly remained in the game and pitched to three more batters before ultimately collapsing on the mound. Fortunately for the Redbirds, Gibson would return in September to flash his previous brilliant form, posting three more victories while helping St. Louis clinch the National League Pennant. Facing the upstart Boston Red Sox in the Fall Classic, here is where the "agony" would turn into sheer "Ecstasy", with Gibson besting the BoSox in three games including the Game #7 clincher. In his three complete game wins, Gibson would yield only three runs to the tune of a microscopic- 1.00 E.R.A., while striking out 26 Red Sox hitters and easily earning the Series M.V.P. award. As an extraordinary testament for that amazing '67 campaign that truly revealed Gibson's unbridled courage, presented here is his complete 1967 Player's Contract.

This amazing 4-page document secured Bob Gibson's services for the aforementioned 1967 campaign, signed on September 2, 1966 by "Robert Gibson" ("2nd", "September" and "6" are also scripted in Gibson's hand). Additionally, the contract is signed by St. Louis Cardinals General Manager "Robert Howsam" and legendary National League President "Warren Giles" (w/Giles also scripting "Sept 9" and "6" in his hand). Interestingly enough, this contract would guarantee the Cardinals ace to be paid $60,000 for the 1967 campaign, a formidable amount for that time. Considering Gibson was one of the top pitchers in baseball along with Koufax and Marichal, we can only imagine what his single-season salary would have been in current-day baseball, most likely ranging in the $25-30 million range! When you look at the "big picture", Gibson's somewhat turbulent season is the perfect depiction of the aforementioned "Agony and the Ecstasy" notion, with his bona fide '67 contract residing as an unparalleled heirloom from that momentous campaign. As an aftermath to his remarkable '67 World Series performance, in 1968 Gibson would go on to compile one of the most incredible all-time pitching campaigns; winning 22 games (w/28 complete games), striking out an N.L. leading 268 batters while posting a beyond minuscule 1.12 E.R.A. in 304 innings of work. Incredibly, that figure still stands as the third lowest figure in modern MLB history, trailing only Dutch Leonard's 0.96 (1914) and Mordecai Brown's 1.04 (1906) E.R.A.s that were both achieved in the "dead-ball" era!

MIN BID $750
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