Jake Gibbs--1966
An All-American quarterback at Ole
Miss, Jake Gibbs was drafted by the
Houston Oilers in the AFL and the
Cleveland Browns in the NFL. But, he
picked the Yankees.
Is it any wonder why he chose
baseball over football? The New York
Yankees or Houston Oilers? The
New York Yankees or the Cleveland
Browns? Having 300-pound linemen
chase you or hang with The Mick and
Whitey?
Seems like an easy decision.
What we like best about this card
though is his look of uncertainty
Gibbs wears while wielding the non-
hinged catching glove of the 1960’s?
It had to be difficult to catch with that
hunk of leather, especially blocking
balls in the dirt.
Yet Gibbs would post a .986 fielding
average during his 10-year career,
which was the norm for that era.
However, his .233 average fell
short off gathering him regular
playing time.
This takes us back to Gibbs and his
bewildered look on his 1966 card.
Could it be that all the curveballs that
helped contribute to his career .233
average would leave him wondering
about whether he made the right
choice or not?
Life’s decisions are not always easy,
but you just make the choice and try
not be puzzled by it in the future.
Editor's Note: Gibbs would be
inducted into the College Football
Hall of Fame in 1995 and enjoy a 19-
year career as the baseball coach at
Ole Miss, guiding the Rebels to a
486-389-9 (.555) overall record,
making him the winningest baseball
coach in U Miss history.
(6/3/09)
Miss, Jake Gibbs was drafted by the
Houston Oilers in the AFL and the
Cleveland Browns in the NFL. But, he
picked the Yankees.
Is it any wonder why he chose
baseball over football? The New York
Yankees or Houston Oilers? The
New York Yankees or the Cleveland
Browns? Having 300-pound linemen
chase you or hang with The Mick and
Whitey?
Seems like an easy decision.
What we like best about this card
though is his look of uncertainty
Gibbs wears while wielding the non-
hinged catching glove of the 1960’s?
It had to be difficult to catch with that
hunk of leather, especially blocking
balls in the dirt.
Yet Gibbs would post a .986 fielding
average during his 10-year career,
which was the norm for that era.
However, his .233 average fell
short off gathering him regular
playing time.
This takes us back to Gibbs and his
bewildered look on his 1966 card.
Could it be that all the curveballs that
helped contribute to his career .233
average would leave him wondering
about whether he made the right
choice or not?
Life’s decisions are not always easy,
but you just make the choice and try
not be puzzled by it in the future.
Editor's Note: Gibbs would be
inducted into the College Football
Hall of Fame in 1995 and enjoy a 19-
year career as the baseball coach at
Ole Miss, guiding the Rebels to a
486-389-9 (.555) overall record,
making him the winningest baseball
coach in U Miss history.
(6/3/09)
