Bob Gibson pitched more complete games (255) than he had wins (251). Read that again, and think about it.

35 comments

1. In 1968 from June 1 until the end of the season, Bob started 24 games and averaged 9.0 innings per game and 0.96 ERA You just do not see that these days. 😊

   The complete game is wonderful to see. Was at Kevin Gausman’s complete game shutout in September, was an absolute masterclass.

2. Birds not bringing the run support goes back farther than I thought.

   But also what the fuck, Bob. Insane stat.

3. Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson are both absolute legends and how the game was meant to be played.

4. In the 1970’s Catfish Hunter, Steve Carlton & Fergie Jenkins each pitched 30 complete games in a season. In 2025, there were only 29 complete games pitched in MLB and in 2024, there were only 26 complete games pitched.

5. His managers should’ve used metrics, that way he could’ve had more wins (88) than CGs (0) while averaging 4 innings pitched per start and being a complete strain on his bullpen. Plus, it would’ve been more fun for the fans; I know my kids **LOVE** seeing 8 relievers pitch in games we go to…

6. The further we get away from this style of play (both hitting and pitching), the less exciting the game gets, imo.

7. Cy Young won 511 games. He had 749 complete games.

8. Top 5 pitchers of all-time in my opinion. I love collecting his baseball cards.

9. Not surprising for the era he played in. (Still an amazing stat).  That be unheard of today. 

10. This is as good a place as any to ask the question, if throwers today through as comparatively slow as they did back then and with less movement and arm strain and whatnot, do you think we would see more complete games?

    Or maybe phrase differently is the lack of complete games a product of hitters getting bigger and stronger and forcing pictures to adapt?

11. I wonder what he’d say to his manager if they tried to pull him after the 5th inning after allowing one hit and throwing 80 pitches.

12. I watched Cliff Lee pitch a 10 inning complete game and lose in 2012.

13. Do you want an aesthetically pleasing romantic game or do you want your team to increase its chances of winning? It’d not like the middle reliever lobby applied pressure to the front office to make them manage the game differently. Numbers were crunched and it was found that managing the staff this way maximizes the team chances.

    The game has evolved and its not the same as we grew up with

14. Managers were too scared to even consider taking him out.

15. One day I hope AI allows me to feel what it must have been like to stand in the batters box against Bob Gibson or Satchel Paige.

    I assume it would feel terrifying

16. This is crazy to see. It’s like what happened to this type of baseball?? We rarely see CGs these days, including 20+ game winners a year and 300+ wins in a career . These type of stats are a dying breed

17. 3 complete game victories in the 1967 World Series.

    Insane stat.

18. Back then they were smart about their in game stamina. Today they throw every pitch as hard as they can, last 4-5 innings then at some point get injured and are out of action. Sometimes out for the year. 😭

19. In Gibson’s era, a pitcher’s going the distance was not uncommon. If a relief pitcher did enter the game, usually it was only one and he finished the game. Pitchers did go the distance and still lose. There were far more one run games in that era, as well.

    The last time that I saw a pitcher go the distance and lose was Jim Palmer at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. I forget the opponent, at the time.

20. Juan Marichal won 243 games with 244 complete games.

21. This is especially amazing since some batters back then had no arms

22. This is when they left you in tl clean up your own mess

23. I mean in an era where starting pitchers were expected to complete games, win or lose, it makes perfect sense. I’m sure there’s a buttload more from his era that definitely have more CGs than Ws. I’m too lazy to look it up though

24. I wonder how many 1–0 complete-game losses he had in his career.

25. 2-time Cy Young, 2-time MLB MVP, 2-time WS MVP, 9-time GG, And still only on 84% of the HoF ballots in 1981. 🙄

26. Warren Spahn
    382 CG, 363 Wins

27. Of course he was unhittable, that batter has no arms

28. Wow

29. If you haven’t read Gibson’s book Stranger to the Game you should. Way better than Ball Four.

    Gibson’s brother Josh was an amazing man.

30. It was a different era

31. This makes sense honestly

32. Would’ve loved the pay and getting pulled every 5th inning with the Mets

33. You have to remember that pitch counts weren’t a thing until counting was invented in 1990s

34. Here’s a fun fact about Bob Gibson in the last inning he ever pitched, he gave up a Grand Slam to Pete LeCock

    A few years later at an Old Timers game, Gibson was pitching and LeCock came up to bat. Gibson drilled him in the ribs.

    Gibson also used to throw at batters on the on deck circle for timing his pitches.

35. Not the same game. Ohtani is Ohtani. He isn’t and never will be Babe Ruth. Paul Skenes may be a generational talent, but don’t compare him to to Bob Gibson. Repeat after me: not the same game.