*Starred Review* Arguably the most dominant individual regular season of baseball's modern era was the one fashioned in 1968 by Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson, who threw 28 complete games (including 13 shutouts) and posted a 22-9 record (with little offensive help) and an ERA of 1.12, earning him that year's NL Cy Young and MVP awards and his team a trip to the World Series versus the Detroit Tigers. In his game-one matchup with that year's AL Cy Young and MVP winner, Denny McLain, Gibson blanked the Tigers and struck out 17, a series record that still stands. Along with sportswriter Lonnie Wheeler, Gibson walks through every one of the 144 (!) pitches he threw that afternoon, generously explaining his thought process versus each hitter and his (strong) opinions of teammates and opponents alike, even sharing some of the early influences in his life that made him such an imposing competitor. Baseball purists might reasonably wish for clear demarcation between the Hall of Fame pitcher's words and those of his coauthor, but no doubt, Gibson would own up to them all. What an unexpected gift to the game.--Moores, Alan Copyright 2015 Booklist

When the Detroit Tigers won the 1968 World Series, it was anything but easy. The team played against the St. Louis Cardinals, who were the world champions just the year before, and the series went the full seven games and showcased some of the best pitching in baseball history. Detroit's Denny McLain and Mickey Lolich were in their prime, and the Cardinals, of course, had Bob Gibson, future Hall-of-Famer. Gibson started Game 1 and gave one of the most incredible World Series performances in history, tossing a five-hit shutout with 17 strikeouts. Gibson recollects this game in great detail in a book structured in an inning-to-inning approach that recalls every batter he faced and every pitch he threw. He discusses how he chose his pitches and what was going through his mind throughout the game, while also remembering fondly his relationships with teammates. There are even mentions of the historical events of 1968 that affected him deeply. VERDICT Gibson's memory and insights are as sharp as his famous fastball. Baseball fans who love the inner workings of the game will devour this book faster than a hot dog with mustard.-Brett Rohlwing, Milwaukee P.L. © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Baseball Hall of Famer Gibson, a star pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals for 17 seasons, provides a fascinating peek into his complex thoughts while on the mound during one of the most memorable games in World Series history. The two-time Cy Young winner, having hurled 13 shutouts, faced Detroit pitching ace Denny McLain on October 2, 1968 in the first series game at Busch Stadium. Unafraid to reveal the flaws of his game, Gibson, with writer Lonnie Wheeler, moves with ease behind the scenes, writing about teammates, coaches, rivals, and the opposition in this savvy analysis of the landmark contest. He calls every inning and every pitch. This is not a book about fastballs or breaking pitches, but about the close bond between Gibson and catcher Tim McCarver in a 17 strikeout effort, and their winning strategies against the heart of the Tigers team: Norm Cash, Jim "the Slammer" Northup, and Bill Freehan. In each anecdote, Gibson embodies the soul of baseball: fearless, intense, and talented. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gibson relives in detail, and with many asides, the brilliant first game he threw against the Detroit Tigers in the 1968 World Series.A tumultuous year politically and culturally, 1968 was also the Year of the Pitcher. Denny McLain, pitching for the Tigers, won 31 games, and Gibson, unfurling on the mound like a mad stork, compiled a staggering 1.12 ERA. Fortunately for baseball fans, the two would face off in the first game of that year's World Series. Gibson, working with veteran baseball writer Wheeler (Intangiball: The Subtle Things that Win Baseball Games, 2015, etc.), writes with both brio and control, in perfect imitation of his pitching. One moment he sounds lawyerly"the pregame machinations on the Cardinal clubhouse were mostly beyond the pale of my cognizance"while the next, like the menacing presence he showed his opponents: the button over his locker read, "I'm not prejudiced. I hate everybody." But that is not true, as the vest-pocket profiles of his teammates attest: Lou Brock, Curt Flood, Orlando Cepeda, Tim McCarver, and Roger Maris. Nor does the level of particulars slow the swiftness of the narrative. Simply, this is a fun book to read. The game was not much of a contest; Gibson was in complete command, masterfully working his backdoor slide and the four-stitch fastball. The author works plenty of local color into the story, as well: Al Kaline's high school baseball talent, Gibson playing for the Harlem Globetrotters, why American League umpires have a better look at the strike zone, finding a hole in the swing of Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews, "whose swing had been described as perfect by no less than Ty Cobb." One of the best parts of the book is the author's evocation of the atmosphere of a big-league gamee.g., "sometimes you just have to go with the currents of the game." A captivating account from one of baseball's most formidable pitchers. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.