Herald News: Russ Gibson dies at 69

Farewell, Impossible Dreamer…

Gibson was signed by the Red Sox out of high school. A catcher, Gibson toiled a decade in the minor leagues before making it to the Red Sox in 1967. He was a favorite of Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams, who had managed him at Triple A Toronto in 1966. Attar recalled how excited Gisbon was at Attar’s house one night after the 1966 season because Williams had told him he would be coming to Boston the next spring. “He was so proud to be representing Fall River, representing Durfee High School,” Attar said.

In his major league debut, Gibson caught Billy Rohr’s near no-hitter at Yankee Stadium in the first week of the 1967 season, getting a pair of hits off Whitey Ford in the process. And he was the starting catcher in Game 1 of the World Series against the Cardinals. The Sox lost that series in seven games.

Russ Gibson.