Early Nineties Mets Pitcher Born in the Hamptons: Paul Gibson (1992-1993)

Paul Marshall Gibson was born on January 4, 1960 at South Hampton, New York. He became a top pitcher at Center High School in Moriches, Suffolk County New York. But after early success, it was a long road to the majors for the six foot left hander.

Gibson was originally signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1978 but was then released by 1981. In 1982 he was signed again, this time by the Detroit Tigers but was taken away (Rule V) by the Minnesota Twins. After being let go to free agency he signed back with the Tigers in their championship season of 1984. After a decade in the minor leagues, he had his best year in the minors in 1987 , when he was 14-7 at AAA Toledo. At age 27 he finally got to the big leagues in the next season.

Gibson debuted in the majors at Kansas City on April 8th 1988, pitching the last two innings of a 3-2 Tiger loss. He went 4-2 in forty games that season, posting a 2.93 ERA in 92 innings pitched. He posted a losing record the next year (4-8) making 13 starts in 45 games. In 1990 he improved to 5-4 with a 3.05 ERA in 61 appearances. Gibson spent four years with the Tigers as a reliever going 18-21 with three saves over that period, pitching over 90 innings every season.

In the winter of 1992 he was traded to his home town area, to the New York Mets for Mark Carreon & Tony Castillo. Gibson debuted with the Mets in the third game of the 1992 season, at St. Louis pitching three innings of in relief of Sid Fernandez. That day was a disaster as he served up two HRs, allowed six earned runs & watched his ERA soar to over six teen. In seven more appearances in the month, he settled down to allow runs in just one of those games.

He secured his spot as a middle reliever in the Mets '92 bullpen. Overall he pitched in 43 games for the 1992 Mets team that finished in fifth place. He got credit for five holds earning his only decision on September 6th taking a loss at Cincinnati after serving up a three run HR to Reggie Sanders. He was 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA striking out 49 batters & walking 25 in 62 innings of work.

Gibson began 1993 at AAA Norfolk getting called up to the Mets club in late May. He pitched in only eight games going 1-1 with an ERA over five before getting released in mid June. His only career Mets win came at Wrigley Field on May 31st, in the Mets 9-5 victory as he pitched the 6th through the 8th innings.

Two weeks later he was signed by the A.L. New York team and went 2-0 there the rest of the year. He pitched there for three seasons making a high of 30 appearances in 1994. He finished his career there in 1996 after pitching in just four games. In a brief eight year career Gibson was 22-24 with 11 saves, 345 strikeouts 236 walks & a 4.07 ERA in 319 games pitched.

Retirement: Paul currently runs the All Pro Sports Academy in Bellport, Long Island.