Bob Gibson Strikeout Record

Lore & Background

The 1968 season remains the pinnacle of Gibson's dominance, where he recorded 268 strikeouts in just 304 innings pitched. This single-season total stood as a National League record for decades, showcasing his ability to miss bats with both his fastball and his devastating curveball. His performance that year was so extraordinary that it forced Major League Baseball to lower the pitcher's mound height the following season, an event forever linked to Gibson's name.

Reader's Guide

Gibson's championship runs were defined by his ability to shut down elite offenses during the World Series. In 1964, he helped lift the Cardinals over the New York Yankees, pitching a complete game victory in Game 7 that secured the title.

His most dominant performance came in the 1967 World Series against the Boston Red Sox. Gibson posted an incredible 1.12 ERA across three starts, striking out 30 batters and allowing only two earned runs over 23 innings of work. His complete game victory in Game 5 is often cited as one of the greatest pitching performances in postseason history.

In 1968, Gibson returned to the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. He took a perfect game into the eighth inning before losing it, but his overall dominance helped secure another championship for St. Louis. Across these runs, he set World Series records that stood for years.

Did You Know?

• He is one of only two pitchers in history to win both the Cy Young Award and MVP in the same year (1968).
• His 1.12 ERA in the 1967 World Series remains a standard for postseason excellence.
• Gibson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot of eligibility.