Gibson was born and raised in Fall River, Massachusetts, and was a graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School, where he was a three-sport star, including playing forward for the 1956 New England championship basketball team.\n', '

In June 1957, Red Sox scout Joe Dugan signed Gibson to a contract with the Oklahoma City Indians of the Texas League, although Gibson never played for them. Gibson played for ten years in Minor League Baseball, spending seasons in the Class D Midwest League and New York–Penn League (1957–1958), Class B Carolina League (1959–1961), Class A Eastern League (1962), Triple-A Pacific Coast League (1963–1964), and Triple-A International League (1965–1966). After the 1966 season, when he hit .292 with Triple-A Toronto, Gibson was added to Boston\'s major league roster.\n', '

As a 27-year-old rookie, Gibson made his major league debut with the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on April 14, 1967, catching fellow rookie Billy Rohr, starting pitcher against Whitey Ford and the New York Yankees. Rohr was one strike away from a no-hitter when Yankees\' catcher Elston Howard looped a two-out, ninth inning single to right-center field. Coincidentally, Howard would be traded to Boston later that season, sharing catching duties with Gibson through the next season. Gibson also contributed offensively to Rohr\'s 3–0 one-hit victory, going 2-for-4 and scoring a run.\n', '

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