Payback is a … pitch

During his Hall of Fame career, Bob Gibson allows just four grand slams among the 257 home runs he gives up over his 17 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Not that the ultra-competitive Gibson ever is thrilled about giving up a homer – let alone a grand slam – but he is particularly perturbed by the one he gives up 49 years ago today.

In what turns out to be the final game of his career – on “Bob Gibson Day” in St. Louis, no less – the 39-year-old Gibson pitches in relief and has a chance work out of bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning of a 7-6 game.

Then along comes Pete LaCock of the Chicago Cubs.

Now, LaCock is not much of a power hitter with only seven homers in his first 148 games with the Cubs.

Bob Gibson reacts to Pete LaCock's slam

That total changes on “Bob Gibson Day” in 1975 as LaCock — pinch-hitting with the bases loaded — homers to deep right field at St. Louis’ Busch Stadium to give the Cubs a five-run lead in a game they eventually win 11-6 before a Wednesday night crowd of 14,119 at Busch.

Gibson ends up taking the loss, dropping his record to 3-10 for the season and 251-174 for his career.

He never pitches in another game.

“When I gave up a grand slam to Pete LaCock, I knew it was time to quit,” Gibson later says. “… I had reached my absolute limit in humiliation. I said to myself, ‘That’s it. I’m out of here.’ ”

The slam is the only one LaCock hits during his nine-year career that ends in 1980 with the Kansas City Royals.

No one can blame LaCock for listing his slam off the great Gibson as one of the top moments in his otherwise pedestrian career that finishes with 27 homers in 715 games for the Cubs and Royals.

Gibson, of course, remembers the slam from a different perspective and he reminds LaCock of that long after they both retire.

“About 15 years later,” LaCock says, “we’re doing an Old-Timers Game in Royals Stadium. Bob Feller is pitching. I walk up to hit, and when I get up to the plate, Gibson comes out of the dugout. He goes to the mound and starts warming up.

“I’m wondering, ‘What in the Sam Hill?’ First pitch, he drills me.”

Of course, he does.

Wouldn’t be Bob Gibson if he doesn’t.