On September 3, 1975 — In the final game of his Hall of Fame career, Cardinals great Bob Gibson gives up a grand slam to Pete LaCock.
LaCock took Gibson to a 3-and-2 count and then golfed a low fastball high over the right-field wall. It was the first grand-slam homer of LaCock’s career and that goes all the way back through high school days in Woodland Hills, Calif. When the lefthanded LaCock came to the plate, Schoendienst had southpaw John Curtis throwing in the bullpen.
Did the manager consider lifting Gibson?
“No, we were gonna let him pitch,” Schoendienst said glumly.
Gibson will again face Lacock in 15 years later in old-timer’s game in Royals Stadium. Bob Feller is pitching. LaCock walk up to hit, and Gibson comes out of the dugout. He goes to the mound and starts warming up. I’m wondering what in the Sam Hill? First pitch, he drills LaCock. Long memory. The two would go on to coach the Cardinals together and never spoke a word.
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