Writing about Bob Gibson raises a few more thoughts on the 1968 World Series.

First, let's remember that this was the last classic World Series. Two leagues, two pennant winners, one postseason series. No divisions. No playoffs. Which is why Gibby's Game 1 gem came on October 2.

Second, it was amusing to watch the old-style broadcast. There were fewer statistics, and they were presented in charmingly Stone-Age looking graphics. There were few (any? can't remember for sure) replays, though there was a nice split-screen when Lou Brock and Curt Flood, the Cards' basestealers, were on first. The play-by-play and color, handled by Curt Gowdy and Harry Caray, was fairly low key and uninterrupted by promotions of other shows or inside jokes. There were no stupid celebrity interviews, though Tony Kubek did have an unintentionally hilarious turn with then-Commissioner William Eckhart, who did a wonderful imitation of a person, and less embarrassing but silly spot with Gibson's wife and cute little daughter.

Third, a shout-out to Mickey Lolich, the potbellied, elephant-eared Tiger southpaw, who had to have been one of the homeliest pitchers ever.

Lolich earned his entry in the Hall of Fame by having more strikeouts than any other AL lefthander and by being the last pitcher to win three complete games in the World Series. (Randy Johnson's third win in 2001 came in relief.) But, remarkably, Lolich was not naturally lefthanded. He hurt his left arm in a tricycle accident as a child, and the pediatrician suggested he do exercises with that arm to strengthen it. Thus, Lolich became what must be baseball's only Throws Left, Signs Autographs Right pitcher in history.

Fourth, a nod to Bill Freehan. Mickey's Game 5 win did more than stave off elimination and give the Tigers a chance to come back. It changed the course of the Series. And Freehan played a key role. Cardinals leadoff man Lou Brock had amassed seven stolen bases in the first four games and he and Curt Flood were running rings around the Tigers. In the third inning, with the Tigers already trailing 3-0, Brock singled, and everybody knew he was going to steal. But Freehan nailed Brock at second. Then, in the fifth, after the Tigers had clawed back with two runs, Brock was on second with one out when Julian Javier singled to left. Willie Horton came up firing, and Freehan took the through, perfectly blocking the plate like the old football player he was and making the tag. The incredible play--which saw me jump higher than I had ever jumped before--looked like this:

And I'm sure Cardinals fans still wonder why Lou Brock didn't slide. 

Last, some praise for the overlooked boldness of Tiger manager Mayo Smith, who wins the all-time Trying to Roll a Spot the Hard Way in the World Series Award. What dice was Mayo rolling? He had four solid outfielders: Kaline, Horton, Jim Northrup, and slick-fielding Mickey Stanley. Kaline had been injured for much of the season, which allowed time for Stanley to play and prove that his glove was incomparable. But Mayo only had three outfield spots available in the World Series, and there was no designated hitter where he could place somebody. He could play Kaline at first, but that would mean benching Norm Cash, his biggest lefthanded power guy. And he couldn't not play Kaline, the most beloved Tiger, a Gold Glove outfielder, and a future Hall of Famer. But Mayo did have a lousy hitting shortstop, Ray Oyler (who was a vacuum cleaner with the glove), who hit all of .135 that year. (Like I said, the Year of the Pitcher.) So the last couple of weeks of the regular season, after the Tigers clinched, Smith put Stanley in at short to get his infield legs. And then put him in the World Series. At shortstop, a position he had played for all of nine games. That took guts.

Stanley was not perfect. He made two errors, though neither led to a run. He only hit .214. But Kaline hit .379 and knocked in 8 runs; Cash hit .385 with 5 RBI; and Northrup, though he only hit .250, knocked in 8 more. Those 21 RBI were two-thirds of the team's total for the Series. Mayo Smith. Hall of Fame Gambler.