Of the RBI players, who do you think was the biggest clutch hitter in real life?
My vote goes to kirk gibson.
So many to choose from. How about George Brett?
Here's a stat to back up your call on Gibby, Suckafree:
Most Games
(With A Game Winning RBI)
(Consecutively)
AL Kirk Gibson
Detroit
5 07-13-1986
07-14-1986
07-18-1986
07-19-1986
07-20-1986
ahhhh, but look who's right behind him:
Ozzie Smith
St. Louis
09-08-1988
09-09-1988
09-10-1988
09-11-1988
(heck no I don't think Ozzie was a great clutch hitter, but Gibson was)
and for those who thought Eddie Murray wasn't a feared batter, he's the all-time leader in the GWRBI category (AL) with 117. Some how Keith Hernandez is the ML all-time leader with 129 (maybe he's the best clutch guy in real life?!?)
where did you find the GW rbi stats? I never would have guessed Hernandez had the most ever. Good knowledge
ED, can you get post season GW stats too. I'm curious.
That just made me think, duhhh. Most clutch, Reggie Jackson. I'd take post season clutch over regular season any day.
"I must kill the queen"
excellent point. Post season clutchness is always better!!! Gibby is stilla good pick, but you could also throw in reggie, kirby, and brett. Tough choices. I think I would choose brett.
Potatoes... Mr. October
well i dont know about real-life, but in the game i say either Jim Rice, Chet Lemon, or Wally Joyner. i always seem to do great with them near the end of the game.
Here is some stuff I copied and pasted about Kirk Gibson's post-season performances with the 84 and 87 Tigers and the 88 Dodgers:
In 1984 Gibson was installed as the #3 hitter and helped guide Detroit to the AL title with 27 home runs, 91 RBI, and 29 stolen bases, becoming the first Tiger to reach 20 steals and homers in the same season. He was voted MVP of the 1984 AL Championship Series after batting .417 against the Kansas City Royals. Gibson clouted two homers with five RBI in the decisive fifth game of the World Series for the victorious Tigers against the San Diego Padres. His monstrous home run off Goose Gossage in Game Five served as the dramatic exclamation point to an amazing season. Gossage talked manager Dick Williams out of intentionally walking Gibson, whom Goose had enjoyed some success against in his Yankee days. Sparky Anderson challenged Gibson to take a crack at the imposing relief ace and Gibby delivered a towering shot into the right field porch.
In spring training 1987 Gibson suffered pulled muscles in his rib cage while taking batting practice, missing several weeks. In April an ankle injury sidelined him, but he returned in May and hit 24 home runs and 79 RBI in just 128 games, helping the Tigers capture the AL Eastern Division. Once again he proved clutch -- blasting a ninth-inning home run to beat the Blue Jays in the next-to-the-last weekend of the season, keeping Detroit three games back. The Tigers rallied that final week to win the division crown on the final day. (this wasn't post season, but helped get them there...please note that without this clutch performace by Gibby in 87, we would not have the Tigers, but the Blue Jays on RBI Baseball!!! How clutch is THAT?)
In the NLCS against the favored Mets, Gibson batted just .154, but he provided two key home runs. His solo blast in the top of the 12th inning won Game Four, and his three-run homer in Game Five provided the winning margin. Hobbled by injuries, Gibson sat out the first game of the World Series against the Oakland A's. As a pinch hitter against relief ace Dennis Eckersley in the bottom of the ninth inning, he belted a two-out, two-run homer on a 3-2 pitch to give the Dodgers a 5-4 victory. It was one of the most dramatic events in post-season history.
I found some pretty good evidence to support George Brett and Reggie too as great clutch post-season hitters. I have to put an asterisk out there on those game winning rbi stats, because I'm not totally positive that the stat is even officially kept anymore. The stats on gwrbi that I found were official, but I am suspecting that they were only kept as official stats during the 80's
i am sure that if it were an official stat the elias sports bureau would be on top of it. who knows, they are probably tabulating them as we post...