Feb. 5, 1965 - Bob Gibson, standing next to the visitors’ dugout at Busch Stadium yesterday, fondled a snowball, then prepared it as a spitball. The Cardinal flamethrower, who had just signed his 1965 contract, figures he needs an extra advantage when he pitches in his home park.
Looking out at the right-field roof, Gibson winced and said, “It’s sickening the way the ball carries out of here when the wind blows to right. I can’t wait for our new park.”
Gibson had to wait a little while yesterday, until Ken Boyer was finished with his press conference. A few hours earlier, Boyer had come to terms for approximately $65,000, a boost of about $15,000 that makes him easily the highest paid Cardinal except for Stan Musial.
There was enough left in August Busch’s treasury to lift Gibson to about $40,000 — making a $100,000-plus day in the contract department.
Boyer disclosed that, armed with a pennant, World Series triumph, most valuable player award, and other prizes, he decided to “shoot for the moon.”“I didn’t make it, but I’m very satisfied with the contract,” said the 33-year-old team captain who led the majors in RBI’s with 119 and socked a decisive World Series homer.
Asked about possible future shots at a moon called $100,000, Boyer smiled and said, “Oh, no. When you say $100,000, you’re talking about a guy who hits 40 or more home runs and can do all the other things, like run and field well. The $100,000 man is the kind of player who can put people in the park by himself. No, I’m not kidding myself. I’m not in that category.”
Both Boyer and Gibson looked trim, despite the heavy banquet schedule.
“I hate spring training,” Gibson said. “I don’t like to do all that running.”
Boyer said: “Wait till Joe Becker [the Cardinals’ new pitching coach] hears about that. He’ll put a note in his little black book.”
Gibson said his arm didn’t stop aching until the first of December, “but it always hurts for a while after the season.”
Bob’s right ankle, which was broken late in the 1962 season, still hurts, he said.
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
Comments