John Russell Gibson was an American reserve catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants between 1967 and 1972. Listed at 6' 1", 195 lb., he batted and threw right-handed. Gibson was born and raised in Fall River, Massachusetts, and was a graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School, where he was a three-sport star, including playing forward for the 1956 New England championship basketball team. Gibson spent ten years in the minors before serving as a backup catcher for his hometown team, the Red Sox, from 1967 through 1969. As a 28-year-old rookie, he made his major league debut with the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on April 14, catching fellow rookie Billy Rohr, who started against Whitey Ford and the New York Yankees. Rohr was one strike away from a no-hitter when Elston Howard looped a two-out, ninth inning single to right-center field. Gibson also contributed in the Rohr's 3?0, one-hit shutout, going 2?for?4 and scoring a run. Later in the season, on June 12 he hit a two-run home run at Fenway Park to defeat the Yankees 3?1. 

May 6th, 1939 in Fall River  /  Died:   Jul 27th, 2008 - aged 69, after a long illness