Bo Belinsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bo Belinsky |
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Belinsky in 1964
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: December 7, 1936 Manhattan, New York City |
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| Died: November 23, 2001 (aged 64) Las Vegas, Nevada |
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| debut | |||
| April 18, 1962, for the Los Angeles Angels | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 18, 1970, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 28–51 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.10 | ||
| Strikeouts | 476 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Robert "Bo" Belinsky (December 7, 1936 – November 23, 2001) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1970. During his career, he pitched for the Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cincinnati Reds.
Bo Belinsky became famous as a rookie with the Angels. He won his first four games, including a special game called a no-hitter. He is one of only two pitchers in Angels history to start their career with such a winning streak. The other pitcher was Jered Weaver.
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Early Life and Beginnings
Bo Belinsky was born in Manhattan, New York City. His parents were Anna and Edward Belinsky. His father was Polish-American Catholic, and his mother was Jewish. When he was a child, his Russian-Jewish grandmother called him "bubelah," which is a Yiddish term of endearment. He went to Trenton Central High School.
Before joining the Major Leagues, Bo was known for his lively personality. He played several seasons in the minor leagues. When the Angels chose him in a special draft for the 1962 season, he quickly became a star. His exciting personality made him famous even before he pitched his first game in the big leagues.
Bo Belinsky's Baseball Career
Bo Belinsky's career record was 28 wins and 51 losses. However, he made history by throwing the very first no-hitter for the Los Angeles Angels. This amazing game happened at Chavez Ravine (Dodger Stadium) on May 5, 1962. He beat the Baltimore Orioles with a score of 2–0.
The Famous No-Hitter
This no-hitter was his fourth straight win at the start of his rookie season. It made his name famous forever. After this incredible game, Bo Belinsky said, "If music be the food of love, by all means let the band play on." He finished the 1962 season with 10 wins and 11 losses. His earned run average (ERA) was 3.56. He was also good at getting strikeouts, ranking fourth in the league. However, he also led the league in walks with 122.
Bo was known for his quick wit and charming personality. Sportswriters in Southern California loved writing about him. His name became linked with a cool and dazzling lifestyle. Some people felt that his talent might not have reached its full potential because of his off-field activities.
Other Career Highlights
Besides pitching the first no-hitter for the Angels, Bo Belinsky was also the pitcher when the Angels had their first no-hitter thrown against them. This happened on June 26, 1962, when Earl Wilson of the Boston Red Sox pitched a 2–0 no-hitter at Fenway Park. Interestingly, Earl Wilson also hit a home run in that game! Only four no-hit pitchers have ever done that.
In 1963, Bo's performance dropped, and he was sent to the Angels' minor league team in Hawaii. He worked hard there and returned to the Major Leagues, finishing the year with 2 wins and 9 losses.
By August 1964, Bo had a record of 9 wins and 7 losses, with a career-best ERA of 2.86. However, an incident occurred that led to him leaving the Angels. After the season, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He played for the Phillies for a little over a year, mostly as a long reliever. After that, he also pitched for the Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cincinnati Reds. His baseball career ended in 1970 while he was in the Cincinnati minor league system.
Later Life
After his baseball career, Bo Belinsky became a kind of student to Walter Winchell, a famous newspaper columnist who knew many people in show business. Bo was known for his charming personality. One of his fellow players, Mike Hegan, once said that Bo "had more fun off the field than he did on the field."
It was clear that Bo Belinsky had a promising career that didn't last as long as many expected. People sometimes grew tired of his unique personality. He didn't quite have the knack of other famous athletes, like Joe Namath or Ken Harrelson, who managed to keep the public interested in their personalities without going too far.
Later in his life, Bo Belinsky became a born-again Christian. He once joked, "Can you imagine finding Jesus Christ in Las Vegas?" He bravely fought bladder cancer. He passed away in Las Vegas from what seemed to be a heart attack when he was 64 years old. He is buried at Davis Memorial Park in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A veteran sportswriter named Maury Allen wrote a book about Bo Belinsky called Bo: Pitching and Wooing. The book was written with Bo Belinsky's full cooperation.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
