Stranger to the Game: 2the Autobiography of Bob Gibson

Gibson describes himself as ``a glowering black man who wouldn't make small talk.'' Playing his entire major-league career (1959-1975) with the St. Louis Cardinals, he built a reputation as the most competitive pitcher in the game. With Wheeler, who coauthored I Had a Hammer with Hank Aaron, Gibson tells the story of his youth in Omaha, Neb., his brilliance as a basketball player (he was good enough to play with the Harlem Globetrotters), his astounding record ERA of 1.12 in 1968 and his exceptional performances in three World Series. Always known for expressing himself directly, he tells of his battle against prejudice and bigotry in his home town, in the 1950s Jim Crow South and in his fruitless quest for a front office job after he hung up his spikes. Gibson pitches a memoir that is hard and inside. Photos not seen by PW. 75,000 first printing; $75,000 ad/promo; author tour. (Sept.)