Show Retire In COSTA COLLO WE SE CA I what he was really saying was: What you have to do is figure Out why you said it There also was the time that McCarver was about to leave the locker room when he noticed a black man waiting for Gibson He went back in to tell the pitcher "There's a colored guy vaiting for you He says he's got a date with you" "Oh" said Gibson "What color is her It was McCarver gradually came to understand Gibson pushing him to be complete as a man and therefore complete as a friend as well and to understand even the most subtle irritants to his black teammates As the distance between the two men closed what was once edgy became sketched more in humor "Hey Timmy: Gibson once asked "do you know how a white boy shakes hands with a Negro?" McCarver said he did not So Gibson trotted out Curt Hood and they shook hands Gibson playing the white boy and Flood the black one The handshake concluded Gibson looked down at his hand a little and wiped it against his pants "You've done it before haven't you Timmyr Gibson asked and McCarver thought to himself "Danunit he's right" he had done that But it struck McCarver that the more Gibson teased him the more secure their friendship was For it was Gibson who did exceptional imitations of McCarver particularly on those occasions when the ball popped out of his catcher's glove "Gigub: Gibby would yell as close as he could make it to the cry of a frog on a lily pad before it jumped into the water "Gigub" Soon the rest of the team would yell it too when the ball came Out of the catcher's mitt McCarver became known as McGitrub By the middle of the 1964 season McCarver knew that in some way he had earned Bob Gibson's respect as a baseball player and that though be was still on partial probation as a man the difference between them was constantly narrowing There was the beginning of real friendship—more and more occasions when the Gibsons and e McCarver and his went to dinner with other couples on the team some white some black The signs of acceptance were of course often subtle Bob Gibson did not lightly go over to people and tell them that he liked them a lot or that they had earned his esteem But one year McCarver had led the league in triples and the following spring he hit a triple in an exhilition game and Crib For As Little As $600 Per Month Superb Climate Winter & Summer Live Well on Social Seanity 'Great Real Estate at Bargain Prices 1:-- : z 'ci 'Gorgeous Beaches 1e- - 1:1i: - - - - ' 1 n out or recreation You'll find everything you need to know on possible e retirement spots throughout Costa and sunshine spring-likEnjoy d Live in pic- Rica—housing health care recreweather turesque surroundings enjoy gor- ational activities even business geous beaches and delicious tropical opportunities for those who might foods Spend your 'golden year in a wish to launch a new career as well g as a new lifestyle Order your copy of place where people are CHOOSE COSTA RICA today be estate where prime real may the at where yours bargain prices OST)01 cost of living is low and retirement BELA FRACTION 0111105LO VAN income may go further than you can in the land where Americans L ive have been retiring for years year-roun- law-abidin- imagine Sound incredible? if you retire in Costa Rica home: Rent for lust $200 per monthl Beachfront Vacation Cabin: Rent for $ZSO per month! Its true— Great Housing Health Care Recreation And More! Housekeeper-cook-: MOVIeS rit 3 lAttig): 1115 On Doctors Vitt 120 Telephone (unlimited beter for less in this i SUCIDay Bas Rides: NC book by This information-packe- d John Howells shows how you can live friendly stable democratic paradise that is less than a 3 hour from Florida flight 1 — less r Just think of it than $600 a month -1 can provide a couple diwith a mile: 1110 Also Available ei RETIRDALNT ON A SHOESTRING coS by 'Choose Costa Rica' author John Howells shows you how to save t money no matter where you decide to retire It covers the fifty most affordable locations in the US home deliciously wintering in Mexico on a shoestring fresh food and full-ti- low cost mobile home and RV retrement and strategies for singles household help with money left ONer for travel doling and much much more Order today! 1- two-bedroo- m 0 Publishers Choices' GUARANTEE are dissatisfied with your purchase in If you any way you may return it for a prompt and full rPublishers Choice' Box 4171 Dept Huntington Station NY 11746 wife-to-b- G Please rush me: BM Choose Costa Oa Rica Orgy 11295 phs 1230 a Shoestring Only 1995 pits 1230 SA1E Order both for only 11995 phis 1400 ptih CA arid NY leaderas add Wes lat FZ42 Retirement On thy thed Card enciosed kr Oar? ray DVSAC WASMCARD 11111111111111111ff refund All orders are processed promptly and Address notification will be sent I State 413 aty In case of delay Sanaa I i IMPS WN W S atica ms ler G ems Olic s I I tik bea m i t m e I I e son said to him after the game "Hey you like to hit triples" and it was something of a magic moment McCarver thought It was as if Gibson were saying "McCarver you're a pretty good ballplayer and you may be all right as a man as well" There was one moment on the field that McCarver treasured a moment that linked the two of them forever in baseball history It came in the first game of the 1968 World Series againct Detroit and it was Gibson at his best his face cold and unsparing as he struck out one Detroit hitter after another In the ninth inning Gibson holding a comfortable 0 lead struck out Al Kaline for his 15th strikeout of the game tying the record set by Sandy Koufax in 1963 The scoreboard flashed the news that Gibson had just tied the record for World Series play McCarver walked partway out to the mound to call Gibson's attention to it and to let him soak in the sweetness of the moment "Give me the ball" Gibson yelled at him McCarver pointed to the scoreboard "Give me the ball!" he repeated Normally McCarver properly intimidated would have gone back behind the plate but this was history and he was determined that Gibson would share in it Again Gibson yelled at McCarver "Give me the damn ball!" Then finally McCarver explained why the Cardinal crowd was cheering and now Gibson understood and without breaking his rhythm but with a different tone almost one of sweetness he said "All right now give me the ball" Then for the second out he struck Out Norm Cash That broke the Koufax record "Who follows Cash?" Gibson asked McCarver "What difference does it make?" McCarver said It was Willie Horton and with two strikes on him Horton backed away from a slider that looked like it was going to hit him but then broke wickedly back over the plate It was the 17th strikeout of the game It was not just a baseball game McCarver thought it was a work of art They were linked permanently now not just in baseball history but also in friendship 4-- Contributing editor David Harberstam winner of the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting in 1964 is the author of "October 1964" and 13 previous books including the "Sumner of '49" also about baseball Bob Gibson's memoir 'Stranger to the Game" will be published by Vildng in September best-sell- I o o "'J N FRIENDS?continued I Ai I PAGE A - JULY 24 1994 er PARADE KAGAZIE n |