Only pitcher to with 7 consecutive World Series starts, and each one a complete game Bob Gibson…
Bob Gibson: The Iron Man of October – The Only Pitcher with Seven Consecutive Complete Game World Series Starts
In the rich history of Major League Baseball, few names command as much respect and reverence as Bob Gibson. A Hall of Famer, two-time Cy Young Award winner, and nine-time All-Star, Gibson’s career is a towering monument to grit, dominance, and unyielding competitive fire. But one achievement, often overshadowed by his dazzling ERA and strikeout records, stands alone in the annals of baseball lore: Bob Gibson is the only pitcher in MLB history to start seven consecutive World Series games—and finish each of them with a complete game.
From 1964 to 1968, in an era already dominated by pitching, Gibson was a force of nature. Representing the St. Louis Cardinals, he not only led his team to three World Series appearances in five years but cemented his status as one of the greatest postseason performers ever. During those seven games, he didn’t just take the ball—he kept it, fought with it, and walked off the mound only after the final out.
A Streak Begins: 1964
Gibson’s first taste of the Fall Classic came in 1964 against the mighty New York Yankees. After a rocky start to the series for the Cardinals, Gibson was summoned in Game 5, pitching a 10-inning complete game to give his team the edge. Just three days later, he returned to the mound for Game 7 and gutted out another complete game—this time on short rest—to clinch the title. Two complete games, two gutsy wins. The legend had begun.
Dominance Reaches New Heights: 1967
Three years later, in 1967, the Cardinals were back in the World Series, this time squaring off against the Boston Red Sox. Gibson was transcendent. He pitched Game 1, Game 4, and Game 7—complete games in all three, allowing just three runs total over 27 innings. He struck out 26 Red Sox batters and posted an absurd 1.00 ERA in the series. Not only did he win all three of his starts, but he also hit a home run in Game 7, driving in more runs than he allowed. Gibson didn’t just dominate; he did it with flair.
For his efforts, he was awarded the World Series MVP for the second time in his career, the first being in 1964. Few pitchers in the modern era could match the combination of power, control, and tenacity he exhibited on the game’s biggest stage.
The Record is Set: 1968
The 1968 season, often referred to as “The Year of the Pitcher,” was Gibson’s masterpiece. He posted a microscopic 1.12 ERA over the regular season—still the lowest in the modern era—and struck out 268 batters. But what he did in the World Series against the Detroit Tigers cemented his October legacy.
In Game 1, Gibson delivered what might be the greatest World Series pitching performance of all time: a complete game shutout with a then-record 17 strikeouts. He followed that with another complete game in Game 4 and, finally, his seventh straight complete game in Game 7. Though he took a rare loss in that final outing, his endurance and dominance over the series were nothing short of heroic.
Seven starts. Seven complete games. It is a record that may never be broken.
A Record for the Ages
In today’s game, where pitch counts, specialized bullpens, and data-driven decision-making reign supreme, the idea of a pitcher throwing even one complete game in the World Series is increasingly rare. A streak like Gibson’s—a full seven-game stretch of starts and finishes against the best teams in baseball—is almost unthinkable in the modern era.
It speaks not only to Gibson’s legendary stamina but also to the trust his managers placed in him and the iron will he displayed every time he took the mound. He wasn’t just pitching games; he was commanding them.
More Than Just a Statistic
While the raw numbers dazzle, Gibson’s streak of seven consecutive complete game World Series starts is also a testament to his relentless spirit. Teammates recall his scowl, his refusal to speak to opponents, and his disdain for weakness. When Gibson was on the mound, the Cardinals believed they would win. More often than not, they did.
As time passes and the game evolves, Bob Gibson’s record becomes less likely to be matched and more iconic in its defiance of time and trends. His World Series legacy is not just in the numbers—it’s in the grit, the complete games, and the cold stare from 60 feet, 6 inches away.
Bob Gibson didn’t just pitch in the World Series. He owned it.