Bob Gibson vs Albert Pujols

by DimitroffVodka on Jun 19, 2007 12:00 AM EDT

So at my work they have a competition whoever has the most in sales at the end of the day gets a choice between a Albert Pujols autographed ball or a Bob Gibson autographed ball. This has sparked all kind of debate at my work.

Seem like all the older guys want the Bob Gibson and all the younger guys want Albert Pujols. Some are arguing that Bob Gibson is a HOFer today and it is worth more today. While Pujols is one bad injury away from ending his shot at HOF. While the other side is Pujols is the best in first couple years of anyone and it will be worth more in the long run.

Which ball would you choose?

I choose Bob Gibson today.

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Bob Gibson.

When Pujols wins 2 rings (should be 3...I still love you, Curt), then he can talk.

Interested in pre-1990 Cardinals games on tape

by Hardcore Legend on Jun 18, 2007 11:57 PM EDT reply actions

Gibby

BTW, I have a Stan Musial autographed baseball.

by Zubin on Jun 19, 2007 1:37 AM EDT reply actions

Both

Why not? They aren't hard to buy:

http://www.insidestl.com/stlstore/

and http://www.fansedge.com/Browse.aspx?nav=||||||1|||3_2:6_2:2_991,3_2:9_2:10_2:11_18|1|1|18||

Woo!!

by rockin redbird on Jun 19, 2007 3:33 AM EDT reply actions

But if forced

to choose--

Gibby.

by rockin redbird on Jun 19, 2007 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Depends on what you want out of the ball

To many, a memento like that means more than mere money, but instead a representation of the emotions and inherent meaning in being a diehard Cardinals fan.

The generational differences are quite natural and revealing. I'd attribute the choices to the impression that the respective players made during each age group's formative years as a baseball fan. There's nothing like experiencing your team's first "glory years" at an age when you are old enough to appreciate it. While Gibson is in the Hall now and has the added allure of history, for those of us younger than a certain age, Gibby is precisely that: History. Someone who we'll sadly only see pitch in oh so brief highlight reels. Someone whose exploits we'll only hear and read about from the experiences of others. Whereas with Albert we live and experience his exploits on a daily basis, creating distinct, fresh memories that weave that fill our impressionable hearts and minds with the intuition and knowledge that we are in the presence of baseball greatness. In other words, we know and love the greatness that is the career of Albert Pujols, whereas the we only learn of the greatness of Gibson through our minds, but not our hearts, since we never experienced firsthand the joys of his greatness.

Yes the Gibson ball is probably the safer long-term "investment" because his safety in the Hall and the added value of being connected to an older era, but I really don't think money would drive any true Cardinal fan's choice.

by bailorg on Jun 19, 2007 3:35 AM EDT reply actions

That

was beautiful. Thanks.

by rockin redbird on Jun 19, 2007 3:37 AM EDT reply actions

bailorg nailed it.

A good friend of mine at work, who is much older than me, showed me his baseball collection one day. He had a whole room filled with autographed balls, photos, programs from stadiums old and new... all kinds of things. I asked how much all of it was worth and he said he didn't know and didn't care. He has been a baseball fan for 50 years and collected all of it out of love for the game and the people who play it.

To me, that's what it should all be about. So if you love watching Albert hit the ball over the tracks at Minute Maid, go for that. If you loved seeing Gibson throw 4,502,340 complete games, grab that one. It's all good.

by paCardsFan on Jun 19, 2007 8:32 AM EDT reply actions

Nice....

Give Bailorg comment of the week. I have a starter collection of stuff, 85% of it I've gotten in person. What Bailorg wrote is true, go for for what your heart and soul tells you to get. Which did you look at and go, "HELLLLL YEAHHHHH!!!"

Personally, I'm the only young person who would go with Gibson, just because he's a member of the holy Cardinal trinity in my mind...Gibson, Musial, and Brock.

by Brock20 on Jun 19, 2007 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions

gibson

i am still a very close friend to one of my jr high teachers who is a lifelong pirates fan, and he hates all things cardinal, well i have asked him what he thought of certain cards players, and he had this to say about these players:

ozzie-prima donna

mcgwire-thought he was roid guy back in 98

edmonds-hates him so bad he would like to see him hit in the earhole, every at-bat

pujols-has respect for him, says he plays the game right

flood-feels he ruined baseball with free-agency

musial-best player he ever saw in person

gibson-the best right-handed pitcher he ever saw(koufax was his lefty)

so from what he says he saw, at THIS time i would go with bob gibson, and i think a lot of the older fans who actually saw gibby pitch have the same feelings about him, that they have yet to see a right-hander who was better, and for him to be felt of that way, when he pitched in the pitching rich 60's, means a lot

Pujols is the greatest Cardinal in my lifetime.

by bigcardsfan5 on Jun 19, 2007 10:46 AM EDT reply actions

The sad fact is

that most memorabilia "collectors" are only in it for the cash, and could give a rat's ass about the actual history/sentimentality associated with it. So, if the resale value of the ball is more important to you than anything else, go with the Pujols ball. If it's not, go with Gibby.

by cardsrul on Jun 19, 2007 11:39 AM EDT reply actions