1968 World Series champion Tigers had a story all their own besides beating Bob Gibson in Game 7

The death of Bob Gibson, the magnificent St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, on Friday led to the MLB Network offering a Saturday telecast of Gibson's 17-strikeout effort in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series against the Detroit Tigers.

That strikeout total still stands as a World Series record. Yet, the Tigers rallied from down 3-1 to win their first Series since 1945, with Mickey Lolich (making a third start, this on two days' rest) beating Gibson 4-1 in Game 7 in St. Louis.

Gibson was a sleek athlete, including a terrific basketball player. Lolich was a lefty with a big gut. Selected as the Series MVP, Lolich said:

"You could say I'm the redemption of the fat man. … A guy will be watching me on TV and say, 'Hey, Maude, get a load of this guy, and he's a 20-game winner.' "

That was only a portion of a screwball World Series. Al Kaline had returned from a lengthy injury. Detroit manager Mayo Smith wanted him in the lineup and shortstop Ray Oyler out.

Smith's brainstorm: Move Mickey Stanley, a Gold Glove center fielder, to shortstop, where he had no experience. Stanley played there for the last week of the season and then the Series. He made a couple of errors, but the zany lineup decision assisted in the Tigers' upset title.

I would be a witness to Mayo zaniness in the Twins Room (hospitality) on April 25, 1970, after the Twins beat the Tigers 4-3.

Wilson was rounding third, but by then, shortstop Leo Cardenas and left fielder Brant Alyea had taken note. With the plate now covered, Wilson put on the brakes, pulled a hamstring, fell in agony near third and was tagged out.

Postgame, with drink in hand, Mayo Smith circled the Twins Room tables, mimicking Wilson's adventure, and bellowed: "My big pitcher wasn't satisfied with a triple. He wanted an inside-the-park homer."

Write to Patrick Reusse by e-mailing sports@startribune.com and including his name in the subject line.

• Denny McLain was the Game 1 loser. He made three Series starts, after 41 in the season. McLain was 31-6 (first 30-game winner since 1934) and pitched 336 innings.

• Gibson's record-low 1.12 ERA (34 starts, 304⅔ innings) and the general lack of hitting so terrified owners that the mound was lowered by 5 inches to its current 10.