George Gibson
Encyclopedia
George C. Gibson nicknamed Mooney, was a Canadian
baseball player (catcher) who caught
for two different Major League
team
s, starting in 1905 with the Pittsburgh Pirates
and ending his playing career with the New York Giants
in 1918. In the 1920s and 1930s he served as manager
for Pittsburgh and for the Chicago Cubs
. Before that, however, Gibson started his managerial career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, a AAA Class team in the International League
.
Gibson was the nephew of William Southam
, founder of Southam Newspapers, the brother of Richard Southam, manager of the London Tecumsehs
, and the father-in-law
of Bill Warwick
, a major league baseball player in the 1920s.
with Pittsburgh in 1909 by beating Ty Cobb
's Detroit Tigers
five games to two.
Arriving back at the train station in his hometown of London, Ontario
, on October 27, 1909, after winning the World Series, Gibson found more than 7,000 cheering fans to greet him. At the time, the population of London was approximately 35,000.
On September 9, 1909, Mooney caught his 112th consecutive game, breaking Chief Zimmer's
1890 record. Gibson's streak came to an end at 140 consecutive games behind the plate.
In 1921, Gibson, as manager of Pittsburgh, led the Pirates to his third consecutive first-division finish.
Born a stone's throw away from Tecumseh Park (today's Labatt Memorial Park) in London West, Gibson gained the nickname, "Mooney" early in his career due to his round, moon-like face. (The Society for American Baseball Research
(SABR) dispute this, saying that Gibson picked up the nickname as a youngster when he played on a sandlot team known as the Mooneys.)
At age 12, Gibson played for the Knox Baseball Club in a church league. In 1901, he played for the West London Stars of the Canadian League and the Struthers and McClary teams of the City League.
Today, there is a commemorative plaque prominently displayed at the entrance to the main grandstand
at Labatt Park in Gibson's honour.
of the Eastern League
and in Montreal
before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates two years later on July 2, 1905, at age 24. He had a strong throwing arm and led National League
catchers in fielding percentage several times.
Gibson played in the Major Leagues until August 20, 1918, 12 years with the Pirates and two years with the New York Giants, appearing in 1,213 games.
Known as a developer of young pitchers, Gibson later managed the Pirates (1920–1922, 1932–1934) and the Chicago Cubs
(1925).
On May 9, 1921, under manager George Gibson, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the London Tecumsehs
8-7 at Tecumseh Park before 3,500 people in an exhibition baseball game. Before the game, Gibson and his team is presented with a silver loving cup by the London Kiwanis Club
. Gibson thrills the locals by catching the opening inning with his 1909 battery mate Babe Adams
and singling and scoring a run in his lone at-bat. London Mayor Sid Little entertains the team that evening at his home.
& Museum in 1987 and was one of the inaugural 10 inductees into the London Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. In February 1955 while organizers were planning the charter season of the Eager Beaver Baseball Association
, Gibson was named "honorary lifetime president."
Gibson died at age 86 in London and is buried at Campbell Cemetery in Komoka, Ontario, not far from his Delaware
farm. Near Gibson's former farm is a road named in his honour after Gibson donated some land for public use to the area conservation authority of the day.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
baseball player (catcher) who caught
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for two different Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
team
Team
A team comprises a group of people or animals linked in a common purpose. Teams are especially appropriate for conducting tasks that are high in complexity and have many interdependent subtasks.A group in itself does not necessarily constitute a team...
s, starting in 1905 with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and ending his playing career with the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in 1918. In the 1920s and 1930s he served as manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
for Pittsburgh and for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. Before that, however, Gibson started his managerial career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, a AAA Class team in the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
.
Gibson was the nephew of William Southam
William Southam
William Southam was a Canadian newspaper publisher. Born in Montreal, Quebec, he began his newspaper career working for the London Free Press. The first newspaper he bought was the Hamilton Spectator...
, founder of Southam Newspapers, the brother of Richard Southam, manager of the London Tecumsehs
London Tecumsehs
The historic London Tecumsehs were a professional men's baseball team in London, Ontario, Canada, that were first formed in 1868 — a merger of the Forest City Base Ball Club and the London Base Ball Club — which, according to George Railton's 1856 London directory, consisted of officers J.K. Brown,...
, and the father-in-law
Father-in-law
A parent-in-law is a person who has a legal affinity with another by being the parent of the other's spouse. Many cultures and legal systems impose duties and responsibilities on persons connected by this relationship...
of Bill Warwick
Bill Warwick (baseball)
Firmin Newton "Bill" Warwick was a Major League Baseball player. Warwick played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in and later for the St. Louis Cardinals. Warwick was a member of St. Louis' first championship team in 1926. Warwick batted and threw right-handed, and in addition was the son-in-law of...
, a major league baseball player in the 1920s.
1909 World Series winner
The highlight of Gibson's playing career was winning the best-of-nine- games World SeriesWorld Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
with Pittsburgh in 1909 by beating Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
's Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
five games to two.
Arriving back at the train station in his hometown of London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, on October 27, 1909, after winning the World Series, Gibson found more than 7,000 cheering fans to greet him. At the time, the population of London was approximately 35,000.
On September 9, 1909, Mooney caught his 112th consecutive game, breaking Chief Zimmer's
Chief Zimmer
Charles Louis Zimmer was a catcher in Major League Baseball for 19 seasons from to , playing for the Detroit Wolverines , New York Metropolitans...
1890 record. Gibson's streak came to an end at 140 consecutive games behind the plate.
In 1921, Gibson, as manager of Pittsburgh, led the Pirates to his third consecutive first-division finish.
Born a stone's throw away from Tecumseh Park (today's Labatt Memorial Park) in London West, Gibson gained the nickname, "Mooney" early in his career due to his round, moon-like face. (The Society for American Baseball Research
Society for American Baseball Research
The Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
(SABR) dispute this, saying that Gibson picked up the nickname as a youngster when he played on a sandlot team known as the Mooneys.)
At age 12, Gibson played for the Knox Baseball Club in a church league. In 1901, he played for the West London Stars of the Canadian League and the Struthers and McClary teams of the City League.
Today, there is a commemorative plaque prominently displayed at the entrance to the main grandstand
Grandstand
A grandstand is a large and normally permanent structure for seating spectators, most often at a racetrack. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap all or most of the way...
at Labatt Park in Gibson's honour.
Twenty-one years in the big leagues
Gibson first signed a pro contract in 1903 and developed his talents in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
of the Eastern League
Eastern League (U.S. baseball)
The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...
and in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates two years later on July 2, 1905, at age 24. He had a strong throwing arm and led National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
catchers in fielding percentage several times.
Gibson played in the Major Leagues until August 20, 1918, 12 years with the Pirates and two years with the New York Giants, appearing in 1,213 games.
Known as a developer of young pitchers, Gibson later managed the Pirates (1920–1922, 1932–1934) and the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1925).
On May 9, 1921, under manager George Gibson, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the London Tecumsehs
London Tecumsehs
The historic London Tecumsehs were a professional men's baseball team in London, Ontario, Canada, that were first formed in 1868 — a merger of the Forest City Base Ball Club and the London Base Ball Club — which, according to George Railton's 1856 London directory, consisted of officers J.K. Brown,...
8-7 at Tecumseh Park before 3,500 people in an exhibition baseball game. Before the game, Gibson and his team is presented with a silver loving cup by the London Kiwanis Club
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
. Gibson thrills the locals by catching the opening inning with his 1909 battery mate Babe Adams
Babe Adams
Charles Benjamin "Babe" Adams was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1906 to 1926 who spent nearly his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
and singling and scoring a run in his lone at-bat. London Mayor Sid Little entertains the team that evening at his home.
Post-career honours
Gibson was named Canada's baseball player of the half century in 1958 and was the first baseball player elected to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. He was subsequently inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of FameCanadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
& Museum in 1987 and was one of the inaugural 10 inductees into the London Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. In February 1955 while organizers were planning the charter season of the Eager Beaver Baseball Association
Eager Beaver Baseball Association
Eager Beaver Baseball Association, Inc. is a baseball league for youths in London, Ontario, Canada, that was first organized in 1955 by former Major League Baseball player Frank Colman, London sportsman Gordon Berryhill and Al Marshall....
, Gibson was named "honorary lifetime president."
Connection to Labatt brewing family
When Gibson lived at 252 Central Avenue in London during the 1920s and 1930s, his immediate neighbours to the east were members of the Labatt brewing family, with whom Gibson frequently socialized. It is believed that Gibson played a significant role in the decision by John and Hugh Labatt to purchase Tecumseh Park and donate it to the City (along with $10,000 for repairs and maintenance), which occurred on December 31, 1936, after which Tecumseh Park was officially renamed "The John Labatt Memorial Athletic Park."Gibson died at age 86 in London and is buried at Campbell Cemetery in Komoka, Ontario, not far from his Delaware
Delaware, Ontario
Delaware is a community located about west of and outside of London, Ontario, within Middlesex County. Delaware stradles the Thames River. Delaware is accessed by the old highway linking London and Chatham and the freeway linking Sarnia along with Port Huron and Toronto.- History :The community...
farm. Near Gibson's former farm is a road named in his honour after Gibson donated some land for public use to the area conservation authority of the day.