The year of the pitcher

the long version

"In 1968, two astoundingly talented pitchers would dominate the game as never before. One was black, the other white. The stoic Bob Gibson, together with the St. Louis Cardinals, embodied an entire generation's hope for integration at a heated moment in American history. The flashy Denny McLain, his adversary, was a crass self-promoter who eschewed the team charter and his Detroit Tigers teammates to zip cross-country in his own plane. But for one season, the nation watched as these two men and their teams swept their respective league championships to meet in the World Series ... Together, these two pitching greats have come to stand as iconic symbols, giving the fans 'The Year of the Pitcher' and changing the game"--Dust jacket flap.