Jake Gibbs
Jake Gibbs | ||
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Runs batted in | 146 | |
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Jerry Dean "Jake" Gibbs (born November 7, 1938) is an American former Major League Baseball player who played for the New York Yankees as a platoon catcher from 1962 to 1971. Although Gibbs was the regular starting catcher for New York in 1967 and 1968, he was primarily a back-up for Elston Howard and then Thurman Munson at the tail-end of his career.
Prior to beginning his professional baseball career, Gibbs had successful careers in college baseball and college football at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) for the Ole Miss Rebels. He was also a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) Fraternity. He returned to Ole Miss to coach the baseball and football teams.
Amateur career
Gibbs attended the University of Mississippi, where he played quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels football team, and also played for the Ole Miss Rebels baseball team. Both teams compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Gibbs led the Rebels to their first SEC baseball championship in 1959.[1]
During his junior football season, Gibbs was best remembered for punting the ball to
The 7-3 loss cost Ole Miss a chance at the wire service national championships, since those polls were voted upon at the time prior to bowl games and did not take into account Ole Miss' 21-0 humiliation of LSU in the 1960 Sugar Bowl, 62 days after the teams played in Baton Rouge.
During his senior year at Mississippi, Gibbs led the football team to a 10–0–1 record, with the lone blemish a 6-6 deadlock against an inferior LSU squad (the Tigers went 5-4-1 after winning 20 of 22 games in 1958 and 1959) at Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels won the 1961 Sugar Bowl, defeating the Rice Owls football team 14-6, as Gibbs scored both touchdowns.[2][3] The Rebels were recognized as national champions by the Football Writers Association of America.[4][citation needed] Gibbs was named to the 1960 College Football All-America Team.[5] That year, he was also named SEC Player of the Year.[6]
Professional career
Gibbs decided instead to go professional in baseball despite being drafted by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League and Cleveland Browns of the National Football League in 1961. Gibbs signed with the New York Yankees in 1961, receiving a $100,000 signing bonus under the bonus rule.[7][8] Gibbs signed as a third baseman and shortstop.[7]
He began his professional career with the
Gibbs spent his four first professional seasons in
Coaching career
Gibbs returned to Ole Miss as an assistant football coach in 1965, working during the Yankees' offseason.[16][23] In this role, Gibbs mentored Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Archie Manning.[22]
After the 1971 season, Gibbs returned to Ole Miss full-time as a baseball coach and football recruiter.
Gibbs returned to the Yankees' organization in 1993 as the team's
Honors
On February 15, 2020 Gibbs' baseball number, 41, was retired in a ceremony prior to the Ole Miss baseball game vs Louisville.
In 1995, Gibbs was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[29] He appeared at the Yankees' Old-Timers' Day in 2012.[30]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Gibbs, Kessinger will return to manage at Ole Miss - The Dispatch". Cdispatch.com. February 4, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ "Best sports moment in each of the 50 states - Sports Fans, Teams, Stadiums, Page 2 - Fandom Blog - ESPN Playbook - ESPN". Espn.go.com. February 7, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "Flashback Friday | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ a b "The Windsor Star - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "The Altus Times-Democrat - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ a b "The Evening Independent - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "The Miami News - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "The Miami News - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "Youngstown Vindicator - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "Proquest - Courant.com". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. May 10, 1962. Retrieved July 3, 2012. (subscription required)
- ^ "The Palm Beach Post - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "The Miami News - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "Youngstown Vindicator - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ a b "The Miami News - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "The Southeast Missourian - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "The Spokesman-Review - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "Los Angeles Times: Archives - YANKS' GIBBS OUT FOR YEAR". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. August 27, 1966. Retrieved July 3, 2012. (subscription required)
- ^ "Schenectady Gazette - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "The Evening Independent - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ a b "The Day - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ a b c "The Palm Beach Post - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "Herald-Journal - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "Jake Gibbs named top coach in South". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. June 8, 1977. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
- ^ "Record-Journal - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ Curry, Jack (October 14, 2004). "As Prospects, Rivera and Jeter Shared Talent and Big Dreams". The New York Times.
- ^ "Yankees' Jeter wins MVP honor Series%3A FSL%3B BASEBALL%3B Correction". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. August 26, 1994. Retrieved July 3, 2012. (subscription required)
- ^ "GIBBS ENTERS COLLEGE SHRINE HALL OF FAME". Sun Herald. December 13, 1995. p. D2. Retrieved July 3, 2012. (subscription required)
- ^ "Yankees to hold 66th Old-Timers' Day on Sunday, July 1 | yankees.com: News". Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. June 25, 2012. Archived from the original on July 3, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
External links
- Jake Gibbs at the College Football Hall of Fame
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference