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{{short description|American baseball player (born 1938)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Jake Gibbs
|image=Jake Gibbs Yankees.jpg
|position=[[Catcher]] 
|bats=Left
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1938|11|7}}
|birth_place=[[Grenada, Mississippi]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 11
|debutyear=1962
|debutteam=New York Yankees
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 29
|finalyear=1971
|finalteam=New York Yankees
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.233
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=25
|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=146
|teams=
* [[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|1962}}&ndash;{{mlby|1971}})
}}
'''Jerry Dean "Jake" Gibbs'''  (born November 7, 1938) is an American former [[Major League Baseball]] player who played for the [[New York Yankees]] as a platoon [[catcher]] from 1962 to 1971. Although Gibbs was the regular starting catcher for New York in 1967 and 1968, he was primarily a back-up for [[Elston Howard]] and then [[Thurman Munson]] at the tail-end of his career.

Prior to beginning his professional baseball career, Gibbs had successful careers in [[college baseball]] and [[college football]] at the [[University of Mississippi]] (Ole Miss) for the [[Ole Miss Rebels]]. He was also a member of the [[Pi Kappa Alpha]] (PIKE) Fraternity. He returned to Ole Miss to coach the baseball and football teams.

==Amateur career==
Gibbs attended the University of Mississippi, where he played [[quarterback]] for the [[Ole Miss Rebels football]] team, and also played for the [[Ole Miss Rebels baseball]] team. Both teams compete in the [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC). Gibbs led the Rebels to their first SEC baseball championship, in 1959.<ref name=cdispatch>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdispatch.com/sports/article.asp?aid=9933 |title=Gibbs, Kessinger will return to manage at Ole Miss - The Dispatch |publisher=Cdispatch.com |date=February 4, 2011 |access-date=July 3, 2012}}</ref>

During his junior football season, Gibbs was best remembered for punting the ball to [[LSU Tigers football|Louisiana State University]] [[1959 College Football All-America Team|All-American]] [[Billy Cannon]] in a Halloween Night game at [[Tiger Stadium (LSU)|Tiger Stadium]]. On a third-and-19 with 10 minutes remaining, and the third-ranked Rebels ahead of defending national champion and top-ranked LSU 3-0, Cannon picked up the ball on one bounce at his own 11-yard line and raced past the Rebel coverage unit, including Gibbs, 89 yards for the game's only touchdown. The play helped Cannon win the 1959 [[Heisman Memorial Trophy]].

The 7-3 loss cost Ole Miss a chance at the wire service national championships, since those polls were voted upon at the time prior to bowl games and did not take into account Ole Miss' 21-0 humiliation of LSU in the [[1960 Sugar Bowl]], 62 days after the teams played in Baton Rouge.

During his senior year at Mississippi, Gibbs led the football team to a 10&ndash;0&ndash;1 record, with the lone blemish a 6-6 deadlock against an inferior LSU squad (the Tigers went 5-4-1 after winning 20 of 22 games in 1958 and 1959) at [[Oxford, Mississippi]].  The Rebels won the [[1961 Sugar Bowl]], defeating the [[Rice Owls football]] team 14-6, as Gibbs scored both touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/4610/best-sports-moment-in-each-of-the-50-states |title=Best sports moment in each of the 50 states - Sports Fans, Teams, Stadiums, Page 2 - Fandom Blog - ESPN Playbook - ESPN |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=February 7, 2012 |access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1961-01-03 |title=Sugar Bowl Victor, 14-6 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=78lRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZWwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4807,932834&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |pages=14 |via=Google News Archive Search}}</ref> The Rebels were recognized as [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|national champions]] by the [[Football Writers Association of America]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flashback Friday {{!}} NCAA.com |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/flashback-friday/2014-09-23/fifty-years-ago-ole-miss-was-no-1-nation-until-kentucky |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=www.ncaa.com |language=en}}</ref> Gibbs was named to the [[1960 College Football All-America Team]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |date=1965-03-11 |title=Auction Block Beckons Yankees' Jake Gibbs |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iCw_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=kVAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4911,4522576&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Windsor Star |pages=33 |via=Google News Archive Search}}</ref> That year, he was also named SEC Player of the Year.<ref>{{cite news |date=1960-11-30 |title=Jake Gibbs Elected SEC Player of Year |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3G9DAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JK4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1345,3783660&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Altus Times-Democrat |pages=8 |via=Google News Archive Search}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Gibbs decided instead to go professional in baseball despite being drafted by the [[Houston Oilers]] of the [[American Football League]] and [[Cleveland Browns]] of the [[National Football League]] in 1961. Gibbs signed with the [[New York Yankees]] in 1961, receiving a $100,000 [[signing bonus]] under the [[bonus rule]].<ref name=yankees/><ref>{{cite news |last=Weiss |first=Don |date=1961-10-19 |title=Jake Gibbs is Promoted in Yankee Chain |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hnQlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zfIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2729,860698&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=Gettysburg Times |pages=8 |via=Google News Archive Search |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Gibbs signed as a [[third baseman]] and [[shortstop]].<ref name="yankees">{{cite news |date=1961-05-26 |title=Yanks Whip 19 Major League Units To Land Rebel Jake Gibbs |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pSMxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HlcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7216,4060492&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Evening Independent |pages=9A |via=Google News Archive Search}}</ref>

He began his professional career with the [[Richmond Virginians]] of the [[International League]]; he recorded five hits in a [[Doubleheader (baseball)|double header]] in his professional debut<ref>{{Cite news |date=1961-06-07 |title=Jake Gibbs Makes Big Debut, Gets 5 Hits In Doubleheader |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-jake-gibbs-makes-big-debu/156084281/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Miami News |pages=24 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and started his career with an eight-game [[hitting streak]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1961-06-15 |title=Jake Gibbs Ends Hitting Streak |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-jake-gibbs-ends-hitting-s/156088821/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Miami News |pages=42 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>  The Yankees [[options (baseball)|optioned]] him to Richmond in 1962,<ref>{{cite news |date=1962-03-27 |title=Yanks Option Jake Gibbs |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oi9AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9VgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2040,3080204&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=Youngstown Vindicator |pages=11 |via=Google News Archive Search |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> but his season was limited by injuries.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 10, 1962 |title=Bonus Baby Gibbs Benched with Injury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-bonus-baby-gibbs-benche/156081923/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Hartford Courant |pages=17 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The Yankees asked Gibbs to switch to [[catcher]] in 1963.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Flowers |first=Jack |date=1971-03-30 |title=For Jake Gibbs of the Yankees, Life Begins at 32 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-for-jake-gibbs-of-th/156087452/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Palm Beach Post |pages=22 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Crittenden |first=John |date=1963-03-29 |title=Yankees Groom Jake Gibbs For Role Behind The Plate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-yankees-groom-jake-gibbs/156083126/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Miami News |pages=27 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Gibbs spent the 1963 season with the Virginians, before the Yankees promoted him again in September.<ref>{{cite news |date=1963-08-31 |title=Gibbs Will Join Yanks |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-hxcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YVUNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2946,4141690&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=Youngstown Vindicator |pages=13 |via=Google News Archive Search}}</ref>

Gibbs spent his four first professional seasons in [[minor league baseball]],<ref name=coach1965/> where his highest season [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] was .284 and he managed to hit 28 [[home run]]s across the four seasons.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> With [[Yogi Berra]]'s retirement before the 1964 season, Gibbs competed for a spot on the Yankees' roster.<ref>{{cite news |date=1964-02-21 |title=Yogi Berra Plans to Continue Yankees' Winning Ways |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R2JhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=otcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3622,3895188&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Southeast Missourian |pages=4 |via=Google News Archive Search}}</ref> He was unable to appear in the [[1964 World Series]] due to broken fingers.<ref>{{cite news |date=1964-10-06 |title=Yankees' Gibbs Not Available |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QzlWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=regDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3039,1959908&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Spokesman-Review |pages=13 |via=Google News Archive Search}}</ref> He also missed the end of the 1966 season after suffering a broken left hand.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1966-08-27 |title=Yanks' Gibbs Out For Year |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-yanks-gibbs-out-f/156082257/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Los Angeles Times |pages=27 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Gibbs backed up [[Elston Howard]] for a number of years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eck |first=Frank H. |date=1964-02-11 |title=Gibbs Could Solve Yank Problem-No. 2 Catching |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WHEhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Q4gFAAAAIBAJ&pg=792,1397877&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=Schenectady Gazette |pages=17 |via=Google News Archive Search}}</ref> When the Yankees traded Howard during the 1967 season, Gibbs became the team's starting catcher.<ref>{{cite news |date=1967-08-07 |title=Gibbs Heating Up |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nT9QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NFcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5483,1073966&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Evening Independent |pages=15A |via=Google News Archive Search |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He eventually lost the first-string job to [[Thurman Munson]], but continued as a back-up with the team.<ref name="theday">{{cite news |date=1970-08-10 |title=Jake Gibbs Returns To Yankees Bullpen |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GyEiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sXMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=752,1677656&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Day |location=New London, Connecticut |pages=29 |via=Google News Archive Search |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In June 1971, he announced his retirement from baseball, effective at the end of the season.<ref name="retire">{{Cite news |date=1971-06-19 |title=Gibbs Quits Baseball To Be Coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-gibbs-quits-baseball/156087814/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Palm Beach Post |pages=26 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He played his final game on September 29, 1971.

==Coaching career==
Gibbs returned to Ole Miss as an assistant football coach in 1965, working during the Yankees' offseason.<ref name="coach1965">{{Cite news |date=1965-10-26 |title=Jake Gibbs Returns to Ole Miss |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-jake-gibbs-returns-to-ole/156084599/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Miami News |pages=11 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name=retire/> In this role, Gibbs mentored Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback [[Archie Manning]].<ref name=theday/>

After the 1971 season, Gibbs returned to Ole Miss full-time as a baseball coach and football recruiter.<ref name=retire/> In 1972, he coached Ole Miss to the SEC championship. The team set an SEC record for consecutive conference wins, and went to Omaha for the [[1972 College World Series]] (CWS),<ref name=cdispatch/> and Gibbs was named coach of the year.<ref>{{cite news |date=1972-06-07 |title=Gibbs Named Coach Of Year |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g4AsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NM0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=1416,1258903&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=Herald-Journal |pages=B3 |via=Google News Archive Search |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Gibbs was named coach of the year again in 1977.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1977-06-08 |title=Jake Gibbs named top coach in South |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-jake-gibbs-named-top-coa/156082689/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=Chicago Tribune |pages=52 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Gibbs retired in 1990 with 485 wins, more than any coach in Ole Miss history, though this was later surpassed on March 9, 2013, by Mike Bianco.<ref name=cdispatch/>

Gibbs returned to the Yankees' organization in 1993 as the team's [[bullpen catcher]].<ref>{{cite news |date=1993-01-13 |title=Baseball: Cerone, Gibbs return to Yankees |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2TBIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JgENAAAAIBAJ&pg=4729,1822850&dq=jake-gibbs&hl=en |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=Record-Journal |pages=27 |via=Google News Archive Search}}</ref> In 1994 and 1995, Gibbs managed the [[Tampa Yankees]], the Yankees' [[Class A-Advanced]] affiliate in the [[Florida State League]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Curry |first=Jack |date=October 14, 2004 |title=As Prospects, Rivera and Jeter Shared Talent and Big Dreams |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/14/sports/baseball/as-prospects-rivera-and-jeter-shared-talent-and-big-dreams.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1994-08-26 |title=Yankees' Jeter wins MVP honor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-yankees-jeter-wins-mvp/156087964/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=Tampa Bay Times |pages=38 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

==Honors==
On February 15, 2020, Gibbs' baseball number, 41, was retired in a ceremony prior to the Ole Miss baseball game vs Louisville.

In 1995, Gibbs was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BX&s_site=sunherald&p_multi=BX&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB623C8094527BC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=GIBBS ENTERS COLLEGE SHRINE HALL OF FAME |newspaper=Sun Herald |date=December 13, 1995 |page=D2 |access-date=July 3, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=July 2012}}</ref> 
He appeared at the Yankees' [[Old-Timers' Day]] in 2012 and 2014.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 25, 2012 |title=Yankees to hold 66th Old-Timers' Day on Sunday, July 1 |url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120625&content_id=33893390&vkey=pr_nyy&c_id=nyy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703212753/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120625&content_id=33893390&vkey=pr_nyy&c_id=nyy |archive-date=July 3, 2012 |access-date= |website=MLB.com}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{cfbhof|id=1814|name=Jake Gibbs}}
{{Baseballstats|br=g/gibbsja01}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibbs, Jake}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college baseball players]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball catchers]]
[[Category:New York Yankees players]]
[[Category:Ole Miss Rebels baseball coaches]]
[[Category:Ole Miss Rebels baseball players]]
[[Category:Ole Miss Rebels football coaches]]
[[Category:Ole Miss Rebels football players]]
[[Category:Richmond Virginians (minor league) players]]
[[Category:Toledo Mud Hens players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Grenada, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Mississippi]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Mississippi]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]