Bob Purkey
Encyclopedia
Robert Thomas Purkey was an American
right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
known for his use of the knuckleball
. From through , Purkey played for the Pittsburgh Pirates
(1954–57, 1966), Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds
(1958–64) and St. Louis Cardinals
(1965). In he was elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
, Purkey signed with his hometown Pirates before the 1948 season. He reached the major leagues in 1954, but after four seasons in which he was used largely in relief
, posting a combined record of 16-29, he was traded in December 1957 to the Reds for left-hander Don Gross
.
's MVP award
. He had won
16 games with the Reds' pennant winners, and was named to the NL All-Star
team in 1958, 1961 and 1962, starting the second 1961 game. He started Game 3 of the 1961 World Series
against the New York Yankees
, and pitched a complete game
but took the 3-2 loss after allowing solo home run
s by Johnny Blanchard
and Roger Maris
in the 8th and 9th innings. He was one of eight pitchers used by the Reds in the 13-5 loss in Game 5, pitching the 5th and 6th innings and allowing two unearned runs
, as the Yankees took the Series four games to one.
After his standout 1962 campaign, Purkey's record slipped to just 6-10 in 1963, and after finishing 11-9 in 1964 he was traded that December to the Cardinals in exchange for Roger Craig
and outfielder Charlie James
.
s and a 3.79 ERA in 386 appearances, including 276 starts, 92 complete games, 13 shutout
s, nine saves
, and 2114⅔ innings of work.
in Pittsburgh, then opened a successful insurance business.
Purkey died at the age of 78 in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following a battle with Alzheimer's disease
.
. His 2.81 ERA ranked him third behind Sandy Koufax
(2.54) and Bob Shaw
(2.80). He also was selected Player of the Month
for May.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
known for his use of the knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
. From through , Purkey played for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1954–57, 1966), Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1958–64) and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1965). In he was elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Purkey signed with his hometown Pirates before the 1948 season. He reached the major leagues in 1954, but after four seasons in which he was used largely in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, posting a combined record of 16-29, he was traded in December 1957 to the Reds for left-hander Don Gross
Don Gross (baseball)
Donald John Gross is a retired American baseball player whose 13-year professional career included all or parts of six seasons of Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Redlegs and Pittsburgh Pirates . A left-handed pitcher, Gross stood tall and weighed...
.
Cincinnati Reds
Installed in the Reds' starting rotation, Purkey enjoyed a great deal of success over the next seven seasons, peaking with a 23-5 season in , finishing 8th in voting for the National LeagueNational League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
's MVP award
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
. He had won
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
16 games with the Reds' pennant winners, and was named to the NL All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team in 1958, 1961 and 1962, starting the second 1961 game. He started Game 3 of the 1961 World Series
1961 World Series
The 1961 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Cincinnati Reds , with the Yankees winning in five games to earn their 19th championship in 39 seasons. This World Series was surrounded by Cold War political puns pitting the "Reds" against the "Yanks"...
against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, and pitched a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
but took the 3-2 loss after allowing solo home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s by Johnny Blanchard
Johnny Blanchard
John Edwin Blanchard was a professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder and catcher from 1955 and 1959-1965. A defensive liability for the New York Yankees for most of his career, Blanchard is probably best-known for his play in the 1961 World Series...
and Roger Maris
Roger Maris
Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
in the 8th and 9th innings. He was one of eight pitchers used by the Reds in the 13-5 loss in Game 5, pitching the 5th and 6th innings and allowing two unearned runs
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
, as the Yankees took the Series four games to one.
After his standout 1962 campaign, Purkey's record slipped to just 6-10 in 1963, and after finishing 11-9 in 1964 he was traded that December to the Cardinals in exchange for Roger Craig
Roger Craig (baseball)
Roger Craig may refer to:*Roger Craig , former NFL running back*Roger Craig , former pitcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball...
and outfielder Charlie James
Charlie James
Charles Wesley James, born on December 22, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, is a former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder over parts of six seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds. James was a member of the Cardinals when they won the World Series in 1964...
.
St. Louis and Pittsburgh
Purkey alternated between starting and relieving in 1965, finishing the year with a 10-9 mark, and the Cardinals sold his contract to the Pirates a few days before the 1966 season began. He ended his career that season with 10 relief appearances for Pittsburgh before being released in August.MLB career
Over a 13-season career, Purkey posted a 129-115 record with 793 strikeoutStrikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 3.79 ERA in 386 appearances, including 276 starts, 92 complete games, 13 shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, nine saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
, and 2114⅔ innings of work.
After baseball
Following his baseball career, Purkey worked as a sportscaster for KDKA-TVKDKA-TV
KDKA-TV, channel 2, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. KDKA-TV broadcasts from a transmitter located in the Perry North neighborhood of Pittsburgh, and its studios are located in downtown Pittsburgh at Gateway Center....
in Pittsburgh, then opened a successful insurance business.
Purkey died at the age of 78 in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following a battle with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
.
Best season
: 23-5 and led NL pitchers with a .821 in winning percentageWinning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
. His 2.81 ERA ranked him third behind Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
(2.54) and Bob Shaw
Bob Shaw (baseball)
Robert John Shaw was a Major League Baseball pitcher.His career lasted a decade, and he pitched for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics, Milwaukee Braves, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs. He won 18 games with the American League pennant-winning White...
(2.80). He also was selected Player of the Month
Player of the Month
The Player of the Month Award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league every month of the regular season. The National League started recognizing the award on June 4, 1958. National League president Warren Giles conducted a poll of baseball writers in each Major League city and...
for May.
External links
- BaseballLibrary - profile, career highlights and SABR bibliography
- Retrosheet
- 1961 World Series - Game 3 box score and play-by-play