George "Mooney" Gibson - Canadian Catcher for the Deadball Era Pirates (Paperback)

Canadian-born George "Moon" Gibson (1880-1967) grew up playing baseball on the sandlots around London, Ontario, before going on to star with the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League. In an era known for tough, defensive catchers, Gibson was an ironman and set records for endurance. He helped the Pirates defeat Ty Cobb and the Detroit Tigers to win their first World Series in 1909. Gibson built a reputation as a smart player and had a knack for helping develop young pitchers. He played with and against some of the biggest names in the game and counted Cobb, Honus Wagner and John McGraw among his friends. Post-career he held numerous coaching and managing roles in New York, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Washington and Chicago. This first biography of Gibson covers the career of one of Canada's greatest ball players and the last Canadian to manage full-time in the Major Leagues.