A memoir from the St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher about the World Series game against the Detroit Tigers when he struck out seventeen batters.
With the tension rising in the stadium, an uproarious crowd behind him, and the record for the for the most strikeouts thrown in a World Series game on the line, Bob Gibson, known as one of the most intimidating pitchers in baseball history, relives every inning and each pitch of this iconic game on October 2, 1968. Facing down batter after batter, he breaks down his thought process and recounts in vivid and candid details his analysis of the players who stepped into the batter's box against him, his control of both the ball and the elements of the day, and his moments of synchronicity with his teammate Tim McCarver, all while capturing the fascinating relationship and unspoken dialogue that carries on between pitcher and catcher over the course of nine critical innings.
From the dugout to the locker room, Gibson offers a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the players, the team's chemistry, and clubhouse culture. He recounts the story of Curt Flood, Gibson's best friend and the Cardinal center fielder, who would go on to become one of the pioneers of free agency; shares colorful anecdotes of his interactions with some of baseball's most unforgettable names, from Denny McLain and Roger Maris to Sandy Koufax and Harry Caray; and relives the confluence of events, both on and off the field, that led to one of his—and baseball's—most memorable games ever.
