Jim Bibby
Encyclopedia
James Blair Bibby was an American
Major League Baseball
right-handed pitcher
. During a 12-year baseball career, he pitched from 1972-1984 with the St. Louis Cardinals
, Texas Rangers
, Cleveland Indians
, and Pittsburgh Pirates
, with whom he was a member of its 1979 World Series
Champions. He pitched a no-hitter against a team in the midst of a three-year dynasty
. Also, in 1981, as a member of the Pirates, he missed out on a perfect game
by just one hit
, allowing a lead off
single, before retiring the next 27 batters he faced.
on a basketball
scholarship
, and also pitched for its varsity
baseball
team. His professional career began when he was signed by the New York Mets
as an undrafted free agent after his junior
year on July 19, 1965. With Fayetteville State having discontinued its baseball program in the late-1970s, he was the only person from the university to perform in the major leagues.
After appearing in thirteen games and posting a 2–3 record with an 11.25 earned run average (ERA)
with the Marion Mets
in 1965, he spent the next two years on active duty with the United States Army
as a truck driver
in Vietnam
. On his return to baseball, he moved up the organization's minor league
system, first with the Raleigh-Durham Mets in 1968 before splitting time with the Memphis Blues
and Tidewater Tides
in 1969. His progress was interrupted again in 1970 when a back
injury which required a spinal fusion
of the first and second vertebrae sidelined him for the entire season and put his career in doubt. He rebounded in 1971 by having his best campaign in the minors as he led all Tides pitchers with a 15–6 mark.
, Rich Folkers
and Charlie Hudson
, were sent to St. Louis for Chip Coulter
, Chuck Taylor
and two players who would later help the Mets capture the National League
pennant
in , Jim Beauchamp
and Harry Parker. Bibby earned a promotion to the Cardinals late in as the Tulsa Oilers
' top hurler at 13–9, with a 3.09 ERA, 13 complete games and 208 strikeout
s. He made his major-league debut at age 27 as the starter
in the second game of a Labor Day
doubleheader
at Busch Memorial Stadium
on September 4. Despite surrendering four run
s in 6⅓ innings
, he picked up the win in the 8–7 triumph over the Montreal Expos
. He made five more starts to finish the season, but lost three of them.
. The trade was made at the urging of Whitey Herzog
who, prior to becoming the Rangers manager
, was the Mets director of player development. Herzog said about Bibby, "I had him for five years in the minors. With the exception of Nolan Ryan
, he throws harder than anybody in this league."
Just under two month
s later on July 30, Bibby pitched the franchise
's first-ever no-hitter
in a 6–0 victory over the defending
and eventual
World Series
Champion Oakland Athletics
at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Despite issuing six walks
and relying almost exclusively on his fastball
, he still registered thirteen strikeout
s and outdueled Vida Blue
—himself a no-hit pitcher in 1970. After he fanned in the ninth inning, Oakland's Reggie Jackson
commented on the strike three pitch, "That's the fastest ball I ever saw. Actually I didn't see it. I just heard it." Bibby, whose salary
was $15,000 that year, earned a $5,000 raise from team owner Bob Short
as a result of the achievement.
On a ballclub that finished with the worst record in the majors at 57–105 and fired Herzog with 24 games remaining in the campaign, Bibby was its winningest pitcher despite a 9–10 record. When the Billy Martin
-managed Rangers became the surprise team of by going 84–76 and vaulting into second place in the American League Western Division
, Bibby (19–19) and the newly-acquired Ferguson Jenkins
(25–12) each made a club-record 41 starts to anchor the pitching staff. The nineteen losses, however, are also a club record.
, Rick Waits
and $100,000 to Cleveland for future Hall-of-Famer
Gaylord Perry
on June 13, 1975. The deal was actually the result of a feud between Perry and Indians manager
Frank Robinson
. Bibby compiled a 30–29 record with a 3.36 ERA in his 2½ years in Cleveland. More importantly, with the help of pitching coach
Harvey Haddix
, he worked on improving his delivery to home plate
and also added the curveball
, slider
and changeup
to his repertoire.
During spring training
on March 6, 1978, an arbitrator
ruled that Bibby be declared a free agent
. The reason was indicative of the financially-strapped and inept Indians management
at the time. Bibby's contract
included a $10,000 bonus
if he made at least thirty starts. He started exactly thirty of the 37 contests in which he appeared, but the Indians failed to make the payment
by the deadline
stated in the terms of the contract.
, replacing Goose Gossage
who had left for the New York Yankees
in the offseason. Instead Bibby became a starter in the five-man rotation and had his most productive years with the Pirates, going 50–32 with a 3.53 ERA in five seasons.
His only postseason experience was when he helped the Pirates capture the 1979 World Series
Championship. Despite not getting a decision in any of his three starts, he pitched effectively with a 2.08 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 17⅓ innings. In the 3–2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds
in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series
at Riverfront Stadium, he pitched seven innings and left the game with a 2–1 lead. He went 6⅓ innings and departed Game 4 of the Fall Classic
with a 6–3 advantage in the 9–6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles
at Three Rivers Stadium
. When the Pirates clinched the series with a 4–1 win in Game 7 at Memorial Stadium
, he lasted four innings, with his only mistake being Rich Dauer
's home run
to lead off the Orioles' third.
Bibby's best year in the majors was in , when he posted a 19–6 record and a league-best .760 win-loss percentage. He also made his only appearance in an All-Star Game
that season at Dodger Stadium
on July 8. He entered the game in relief of Jerry Reuss
and pitched a scoreless seventh inning. After Robin Yount
flied out to right field
, Bibby surrendered a single
to center
to Willie Randolph
, who was retired when Cecil Cooper
grounded to the shortstop
for a double play
.
A Pirates home game on May 19, 1981 began with Bibby allowing a leadoff single to right to the Atlanta Braves
' Terry Harper
. From that point on, Bibby hurled the equivalent of a perfect game
by retiring the next 27 batters in a 5–0 victory. He also excelled at the plate that night by hitting a pair of doubles
(to center off Phil Niekro
in the fifth, to left off Rick Mahler
in the sixth), driving in a run
and scoring another.
After missing all of with a shoulder
injury, Bibby spent one more season with the Pirates as a spot starter/long reliever
. He was granted free agency on November 7, 1983.
without a decision. His final major league appearance was in a 5–1 loss to the Chicago White Sox
at Arlington Stadium
on May 26, 1984. After replacing Dave Tobik
to start the ninth inning, Bibby allowed a single
to Joel Skinner
, a double to Rudy Law
and an intentional walk
to Jerry Hairston, Sr. to load the bases with one out. He managed to not surrender any runs by getting a groundout from Mike Squires
and a flyout from Greg Walker
. Bibby was released six days later on June 1.
He was picked up by St. Louis again on June 9, eight days after his departure from Texas. He only appeared in two contests without a decision for the Louisville Redbirds, the Cardinals' Triple-A farm team
at the time. His career as an active player came to an end when he was released 22 days later on July 1, 1984.
in health & physical education from Lynchburg College
in 1980. His first coaching job was with the Durham Bulls
immediately after the conclusion of his playing career in 1984. He was the pitching coach
for the Carolina League
's Lynchburg, Virginia
ballclub from 1985 to 1999. He served the franchise beginning when it was affiliated
with the Mets and through parent club/name changes in 1988 (Red Sox
both) and 1995 (Pirates/Hillcats
). He was honored by the Hillcats in 2002 when his uniform number 26 was the first one retired in the city's baseball history. He spent the 2000 minor league season in the same capacity with the Nashville Sounds
, but retired
from coaching after his contract wasn't renewed.
and uncle of Mike Bibby
. He was married to Jacqueline Ann (Jordan) Bibby and had two daughters, Tamara Bibby of Washington, DC and Tanya Bibby (McClain) of Charlotte, NC.
According to a family friend, Bibby died at about 9 p.m. in Lynchburg General Hospital on February 16, 2010 due to bone cancer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
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...
right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. During a 12-year baseball career, he pitched from 1972-1984 with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and 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...
, with whom he was a member of its 1979 World Series
1979 World Series
The 1979 World Series matched the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates against the American League's Baltimore Orioles , with the Pirates coming back from a three games to one deficit to win the Series in seven games...
Champions. He pitched a no-hitter against a team in the midst of a three-year dynasty
Dynasty (sports)
A sports dynasty is a team that dominates their sport or league for multiple seasons or years. Such dominance is often only realized in retrospect...
. Also, in 1981, as a member of the Pirates, he missed out on a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
by just one hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, allowing a lead off
Leadoff hitter
In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who bats first in an inning.- Strategy :...
single, before retiring the next 27 batters he faced.
New York Mets organization
Bibby attended Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville State University
Fayetteville State University is a historically black, regional university located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States. FSU is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System and is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.-Academics:The primary...
on a basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
, and also pitched for its varsity
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team. His professional career began when he was signed by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
as an undrafted free agent after his junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
year on July 19, 1965. With Fayetteville State having discontinued its baseball program in the late-1970s, he was the only person from the university to perform in the major leagues.
After appearing in thirteen games and posting a 2–3 record with an 11.25 earned run average (ERA)
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
with the Marion Mets
Marion Mets
The Marion Mets were a minor league baseball team based in Marion, Virginia that played in the Appalachian League from 1965 to 1976. They were affiliated with the New York Mets and played their home games at the Marion High School baseball field....
in 1965, he spent the next two years on active duty with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as a truck driver
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. On his return to baseball, he moved up the organization's minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
system, first with the Raleigh-Durham Mets in 1968 before splitting time with the Memphis Blues
Memphis Blues (baseball)
The Memphis Blues were a minor league baseball team from Memphis, Tennessee that played from 1968 to 1976. From 1968 to 1973, they were affiliated with the New York Mets and they played in the Texas League. From 1974 to 1975, they were affiliated with the Montreal Expos and they played in the...
and Tidewater Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
in 1969. His progress was interrupted again in 1970 when a back
Human back
The human back is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck and the shoulders. It is the surface opposite to the chest, its height being defined by the vertebral column and its breadth being supported by the ribcage and shoulders...
injury which required a spinal fusion
Spinal fusion
Spinal fusion, also known as spondylodesis or spondylosyndesis, is a surgical technique used to join two or more vertebrae. Supplementary bone tissue, either from the patient or a donor , is used in conjunction with the body's natural bone growth processes to fuse the vertebrae.Fusing of the...
of the first and second vertebrae sidelined him for the entire season and put his career in doubt. He rebounded in 1971 by having his best campaign in the minors as he led all Tides pitchers with a 15–6 mark.
St. Louis Cardinals
He never got to play for New York because he was part of an eight-player transaction on October 18, 1971, when he, along with Art ShamskyArt Shamsky
Arthur Louis Shamsky is a former Major League Baseball player. He played right field, left field, and first base from to for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and Oakland Athletics. In he was the manager of the Modi'in Miracle of the Israel Baseball League.-Early life:Shamsky...
, Rich Folkers
Rich Folkers
Richard Nevin Folkers is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to for the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers....
and Charlie Hudson
Charlie Hudson
Charles Hudson is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1972 to 1975 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers and California Angels. He was 6'3" tall and he weighed 185 pounds. He attended Tupelo High School in Tupelo, Oklahoma.Hudson was originally drafted by the...
, were sent to St. Louis for Chip Coulter
Chip Coulter
Thomas Lee "Chip" Coulter is a former switch hitting, right-handed throwing Major League Baseball second baseman who played in 1969 for the St...
, Chuck Taylor
Chuck Taylor (baseball)
Charles Gilbert "Chuck" Taylor is a former right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played from 1969 to 1976 for the St...
and two players who would later help the Mets capture the 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...
pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
in , Jim Beauchamp
Jim Beauchamp
James Edward Beauchamp was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played from to for the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Colt .45s/Astros, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Mets. He attended Grove High School in Grove, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University...
and Harry Parker. Bibby earned a promotion to the Cardinals late in as the Tulsa Oilers
Tulsa Oilers (baseball)
The Tulsa Oilers, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off in multiple leagues from 1905 to 1976. For most of their history, they played at Oiler Park, which opened on July 11, 1934, and was located on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds at 15th Street and...
' top hurler at 13–9, with a 3.09 ERA, 13 complete games and 208 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s. He made his major-league debut at age 27 as the starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in the second game of a Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
at Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
on September 4. Despite surrendering four run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
s in 6⅓ innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
, he picked up the win in the 8–7 triumph over the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He made five more starts to finish the season, but lost three of them.
Texas Rangers
After beginning at 0–2 with a 9.56 ERA, he was acquired by Texas on June 6, 1973 in exchange for Mike Nagy and John WockenfussJohn Wockenfuss
Johnny Bilton Wockenfuss is a former utility player in Major League Baseball who had a twelve year career from 1974 to 1985.-Playing career:...
. The trade was made at the urging of Whitey Herzog
Whitey Herzog
Dorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog is a former Major League Baseball manager. Born in New Athens, Illinois, he made his debut as a player in 1956 with the Washington Senators. After his playing career ended in 1963, Herzog went on to perform a variety of roles in Major League Baseball, including...
who, prior to becoming the Rangers 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...
, was the Mets director of player development. Herzog said about Bibby, "I had him for five years in the minors. With the exception of Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
, he throws harder than anybody in this league."
Just under two month
Month
A month is a unit of time, used with calendars, which was first used and invented in Mesopotamia, as a natural period related to the motion of the Moon; month and Moon are cognates. The traditional concept arose with the cycle of moon phases; such months are synodic months and last approximately...
s later on July 30, Bibby pitched the franchise
Professional sports league organization
Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. The two most significant types are a European model, characterised by a tiered structure using promotion and relegation to determine participation in a hierarchy of leagues or divisions and a North American model characterized by its use...
's first-ever no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in a 6–0 victory over the defending
1972 World Series
The 1972 World Series matched the American League champion Oakland Athletics against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds, with the A's winning in seven games. These two teams would meet again in the fall classic eighteen years later...
and eventual
1973 World Series
The 1973 World Series matched the defending champion Oakland Athletics against the New York Mets, with the A's winning in seven games to repeat as World Champions....
World Series
World 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...
Champion Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Despite issuing six walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
and relying almost exclusively on his fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, he still registered thirteen strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and outdueled Vida Blue
Vida Blue
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 17-year career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , and Kansas City Royals He won the American League Cy Young award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971...
—himself a no-hit pitcher in 1970. After he fanned in the ninth inning, Oakland's Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
commented on the strike three pitch, "That's the fastest ball I ever saw. Actually I didn't see it. I just heard it." Bibby, whose salary
Salary
A salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which may be specified in an employment contract. It is contrasted with piece wages, where each job, hour or other unit is paid separately, rather than on a periodic basis....
was $15,000 that year, earned a $5,000 raise from team owner Bob Short
Bob Short
Robert Earl Short was an American sport teams owner and politician.-Biography:A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Short bought the Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball Association in the late 1950s and moved the team to Los Angeles in 1960...
as a result of the achievement.
On a ballclub that finished with the worst record in the majors at 57–105 and fired Herzog with 24 games remaining in the campaign, Bibby was its winningest pitcher despite a 9–10 record. When the Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
-managed Rangers became the surprise team of by going 84–76 and vaulting into second place in the American League Western Division
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
, Bibby (19–19) and the newly-acquired Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins, CM, is a Canadian former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was a three-time All-Star and the 1971 NL Cy Young Award winner. In 1991, Jenkins was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. During a 19-year career, he pitched for four different teams,...
(25–12) each made a club-record 41 starts to anchor the pitching staff. The nineteen losses, however, are also a club record.
Cleveland Indians
Bibby's inconsistency with his control plagued him again early in when he went 2–6 with a 5.00 ERA. He was traded along with Jackie BrownJackie Brown (baseball)
Jackie Gene Brown is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1970 through 1977 for the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians and Montreal Expos . He batted and threw right-handed...
, Rick Waits
Rick Waits
Michael Richard Waits is a former professional baseball pitcher. Waits, who threw left-handed, played all or part of twelve seasons in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians , and Milwaukee Brewers...
and $100,000 to Cleveland for future Hall-of-Famer
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Jackson Perry is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1962-1983 for eight different teams in his career. During a 22-year baseball career, Perry compiled 314 wins, 3,534 strikeouts, and a 3.11 earned run average...
on June 13, 1975. The deal was actually the result of a feud between Perry and Indians 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...
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
. Bibby compiled a 30–29 record with a 3.36 ERA in his 2½ years in Cleveland. More importantly, with the help of pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
Harvey Haddix
Harvey Haddix
Harvey Haddix, Jr. was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played with the St. Louis Cardinals , Philadelphia Phillies , Cincinnati Redlegs , Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles . Haddix was born in Medway, Ohio, located just outside of Springfield...
, he worked on improving his delivery to home plate
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
and also added the curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
and changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
to his repertoire.
During spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
on March 6, 1978, an arbitrator
Arbitral tribunal
An arbitral tribunal is a panel of one or more adjudicators which is convened and sits to resolve a dispute by way of arbitration. The tribunal may consist of a sole arbitrator, or there may be two or more arbitrators, which might include either a chairman or an umpire...
ruled that Bibby be declared a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. The reason was indicative of the financially-strapped and inept Indians management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
at the time. Bibby's contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
included a $10,000 bonus
Performance-related pay
Performance-related pay is money paid to someone relating to how well one works. Car salesmen, production line workers, for example, may be paid in this way, or through commission....
if he made at least thirty starts. He started exactly thirty of the 37 contests in which he appeared, but the Indians failed to make the payment
Payment
A payment is the transfer of wealth from one party to another. A payment is usually made in exchange for the provision of goods, services or both, or to fulfill a legal obligation....
by the deadline
Time limit
A time limit or deadline is a narrow field of time, or particular point in time, by which an objective or task must be accomplished.In project management, deadlines are most often associated with milestone goals....
stated in the terms of the contract.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Bibby signed with Pittsburgh nine days later on March 15, 1978. He was originally expected to be the new closerCloser (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
, replacing Goose Gossage
Goose Gossage
Richard Michael "Goose" Gossage is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 22-year baseball career, he pitched from 1972-1994 for nine different teams, spending his best years with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. The nickname "Goose" is a play on his surname...
who had left for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in the offseason. Instead Bibby became a starter in the five-man rotation and had his most productive years with the Pirates, going 50–32 with a 3.53 ERA in five seasons.
His only postseason experience was when he helped the Pirates capture the 1979 World Series
1979 World Series
The 1979 World Series matched the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates against the American League's Baltimore Orioles , with the Pirates coming back from a three games to one deficit to win the Series in seven games...
Championship. Despite not getting a decision in any of his three starts, he pitched effectively with a 2.08 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 17⅓ innings. In the 3–2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series
1979 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 2, 1979 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioBoth sides threw their aces in Game 1 as fourteen-game winner John Candelaria started for the Pirates, and Tom Seaver started for the Reds. After Omar Moreno grounded out to start the game, a 45-minute rain delay stalled the...
at Riverfront Stadium, he pitched seven innings and left the game with a 2–1 lead. He went 6⅓ innings and departed Game 4 of the Fall Classic
World 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 a 6–3 advantage in the 9–6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
at Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
. When the Pirates clinched the series with a 4–1 win in Game 7 at Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
, he lasted four innings, with his only mistake being Rich Dauer
Rich Dauer
Richard Fremont Dauer , is a former professional baseball player who played with the Baltimore Orioles primarily as an infielder from 1976-85. He played in two World Series with the Orioles....
's home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
to lead off the Orioles' third.
Bibby's best year in the majors was in , when he posted a 19–6 record and a league-best .760 win-loss percentage. He also made his only appearance in an All-Star Game
1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 51st midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 8, 1980 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, home of the Los...
that season at Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
on July 8. He entered the game in relief of Jerry Reuss
Jerry Reuss
Jerry Reuss -- pronounced "royce" -- is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the United States, who had a 22-year career from to ....
and pitched a scoreless seventh inning. After Robin Yount
Robin Yount
Robin R. Yount is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop and center fielder. He spent his entire 20-year baseball career with the Milwaukee Brewers . In 1999, Yount was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.-Early years:Yount was born in Danville, Illinois...
flied out to right field
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
, Bibby surrendered a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
to center
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
to Willie Randolph
Willie Randolph
Willie Larry Randolph is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and manager, most recently the third base coach for the Baltimore Orioles...
, who was retired when Cecil Cooper
Cecil Cooper
Cecil Celester Cooper , nicknamed "Coop," is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former manager of the Houston Astros. From through , Cooper played for the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers...
grounded to the shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for a double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
.
A Pirates home game on May 19, 1981 began with Bibby allowing a leadoff single to right to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
' Terry Harper
Terry Harper (baseball)
Terry Joe Harper , is a retired professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from -. He played for the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Detroit Tigers, as well as one season for the Yakult Swallows in Japan.-External links:...
. From that point on, Bibby hurled the equivalent of a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
by retiring the next 27 batters in a 5–0 victory. He also excelled at the plate that night by hitting a pair of doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(to center off Phil Niekro
Phil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro , nicknamed "Knucksie" because of his usage and skill level with the knuckleball, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997....
in the fifth, to left off Rick Mahler
Rick Mahler
Richard Keith Mahler was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Atlanta Braves , Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos...
in the sixth), driving in a run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and scoring another.
After missing all of with a shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
injury, Bibby spent one more season with the Pirates as a spot starter/long reliever
Long reliever
A Long reliever is a type of relief pitcher in baseball.Long relievers traditionally enter early in a game when the starting pitcher cannot continue, whether due to ineffective pitching, lack of endurance, rain delays, injury, or ejection...
. He was granted free agency on November 7, 1983.
Retirement
He returned to the Rangers on February 7, 1984, but lasted only two months into the regular season as he pitched in eight games out of the bullpenBullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
without a decision. His final major league appearance was in a 5–1 loss to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
at Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium was a baseball stadium located in Arlington, Texas, United States, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It served as the home for the Texas Rangers from 1972 until 1993, when the team moved into The Ballpark in Arlington .-1960s:The stadium was built in 1965 as Turnpike...
on May 26, 1984. After replacing Dave Tobik
Dave Tobik
David Vance Tobik is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. After attending Ohio University, Tobik played eight season in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Texas Rangers , and Seattle Mariners .-Ohio University:Tobik played college baseball at Ohio University...
to start the ninth inning, Bibby allowed a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
to Joel Skinner
Joel Skinner
Joel Patrick Skinner is a former Major League Baseball catcher and former third base coach of the Cleveland Indians. Skinner was dismissed effective with the end of the 2009 season on September 30, 2009. He is the son of Bob Skinner, a National League outfielder in the 1950s and '60s...
, a double to Rudy Law
Rudy Law
Rudy Karl Law , is a former professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1978-1986. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, and Kansas City Royals. In 1983, he stole 77 bases, setting the White Sox single-season record.-External links:...
and an intentional walk
Intentional base on balls
In baseball, an intentional base on balls, usually referred to as an intentional walk and denoted in baseball scorekeeping by IBB, is a walk issued to a batter by a pitcher with the intent of removing the batter's opportunity to swing at the pitched ball...
to Jerry Hairston, Sr. to load the bases with one out. He managed to not surrender any runs by getting a groundout from Mike Squires
Mike Squires
Michael Lynn Squires is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Chicago White Sox primarily as a first baseman from 1975 and 1977 to 1985. Squires was best known as a defensive player, often coming on in late inning situations when the White Sox had a slim lead...
and a flyout from Greg Walker
Greg Walker
Gregory Lee Walker is a former power-hitting first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former hitting coach of the Chicago White Sox, the team for which he played all but the last 14 games of his career. As a player for 9 years, Walker hit 113 home runs and drove in 444 runs, while scoring...
. Bibby was released six days later on June 1.
He was picked up by St. Louis again on June 9, eight days after his departure from Texas. He only appeared in two contests without a decision for the Louisville Redbirds, the Cardinals' Triple-A farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
at the time. His career as an active player came to an end when he was released 22 days later on July 1, 1984.
Coaching career
Bibby earned his bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in health & physical education from Lynchburg College
Lynchburg College
Lynchburg College is a private college in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA, related by covenant to the Christian Church with approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. The Princeton Review lists it as one of the 368 best colleges in the nation...
in 1980. His first coaching job was with the Durham Bulls
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
immediately after the conclusion of his playing career in 1984. He was the pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
's Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
ballclub from 1985 to 1999. He served the franchise beginning when it was affiliated
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
with the Mets and through parent club/name changes in 1988 (Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
both) and 1995 (Pirates/Hillcats
Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
). He was honored by the Hillcats in 2002 when his uniform number 26 was the first one retired in the city's baseball history. He spent the 2000 minor league season in the same capacity with the Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
, but retired
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
from coaching after his contract wasn't renewed.
Personal
Bibby was an older brother of Henry BibbyHenry Bibby
Charles Henry Bibby is a former professional basketball player who became a coach after his playing days were over.- Playing career :...
and uncle of Mike Bibby
Mike Bibby
Michael "Mike" Bibby is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. He is a 6'2" point guard, and he attended Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, Arizona and played collegiately at the University of Arizona. In...
. He was married to Jacqueline Ann (Jordan) Bibby and had two daughters, Tamara Bibby of Washington, DC and Tanya Bibby (McClain) of Charlotte, NC.
According to a family friend, Bibby died at about 9 p.m. in Lynchburg General Hospital on February 16, 2010 due to bone cancer.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
- List of Texas Rangers Opening Day starting pitchers