Bob Gibson's record-setting career led to his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981. Gibson was a fierce competitor who rarely smiled and was known to hit players when pitching to let them know who was in charge. Known by many as the best pitcher ever, Gibson dominated with his fastball, sharp slider, and a huge curveball.

Born Pack Gibson, after his father who died 3 months before his birth, Gibson changed his name to Robert when he turned 18. Despite a childhood filled with health problems, including rickets, asthma, pneumonia, and a heart murmur, he was active in sports as a youth, particularly baseball and basketball. He won a basketball scholarship to Creighton University.

In 1957, Gibson received a $4,000 bonus to sign with the Cardinals. He delayed his start with the organization for a year, playing with the Harlem Globetrotters, earning the nickname "Bullet" Bob Gibson (his nickname in baseball was "Hoot", after Hoot Gibson, the cowboy and silent movie star). Gibson resigned from the Globetrotters to play baseball because he could not stand the clowning. In 1958 he spent a year at the triple-A farm club in Omaha. He graduated to the major leagues in 1959 and had the first of nine 200-strikeout seasons in 1962.

In the eight seasons from 1963 to 1970, he won 156 games and lost 81. He won nine Gold Glove Awards, was awarded the World Series MVP Award in 1964 and 1967, and won Cy Young Awards in 1968 and 1970. His 1967 World Series was amazing. Gibson allowed only three earned runs over three complete game victories (Games 1, 4, & 7), also hitting a vital home run in Game 7. Moreover, he had come back late in that season from having his leg broken earlier in the season from a line drive by Roberto Clemente.

His earned run average in 1968 was 1.12, which is a Live Ball Era record. He threw 13 shutouts, and allowed only two earned runs in 92 straight innings of pitching. He also won the National League MVP. In Game One of the 1968 World Series, he struck out 17 Detroit Tigers to set a World Series record for strikeouts in one game, which still stands today. His season was so successful that his performance is widely cited in Major League Baseball's decision to lower the pitcher's mound by five inches in 1969.

His number 45 is retired by the St. Louis Cardinals, and in 1981, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame.

In 1999, he ranked Number 31 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.