Bob Veale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bob Veale |
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Veale in 1966
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: October 28, 1935 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Died: January 3, 2025 (aged 89) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 16, 1962, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 8, 1974, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 120–95 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.07 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,703 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Robert Andrew Veale (born October 28, 1935, died January 3, 2025) was an American baseball player and coach. He was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox from 1962 to 1974.
Bob Veale was known for striking out many batters. He was one of the best pitchers in the National League. He was chosen for the All-Star team twice. In 1964, he led the league in strikeouts. He also helped the Pirates win the World Series in 1971.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Bob Veale was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He went to Holy Family High School there. His father was also a baseball pitcher. He played for the Homestead Grays in the Negro National League.
Working at Rickwood Field
As a boy, Veale worked at Rickwood Field in Birmingham. This is a very old baseball stadium. Birmingham Black Barons player-manager Piper Davis noticed him. Davis made Veale the team's batboy. He also let Veale practice pitching regularly. In 1948, Davis even let Veale pitch in a Black Barons game. But because Bob was so young, his appearance was not officially recorded.
College Baseball and Basketball
In 1955, Veale left Birmingham to attend Benedictine College in Kansas. He had a scholarship to play sports. He played both baseball and basketball for the Ravens team.
Starting His Professional Career
In 1958, Bob Veale signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He joined them as a free agent.
Minor League Success
In 1959, Veale played for the Wilson Tobs. He led the Carolina League with 187 strikeouts. He also pitched a no-hitter that year. His great performance led to a promotion. He moved up to the Columbus Jets in the International League. In 1961, he led that league with 208 strikeouts.
Playing in Major League Baseball
Bob Veale made his first MLB appearance with the Pirates on April 16, 1962. He was 26 years old.
Early Challenges and Records
He won his second major league game. But then he struggled and was sent back to Columbus. On August 10, he set an International League record. He struck out 22 batters in one game. He was called back to the Pirates in September. He finished his first year with a 2–2 record.
In 1963, Veale became a starting pitcher for the Pirates. He pitched very well in September. On September 22, 1964, he struck out 15 Milwaukee Braves players. This set a new Pirates team record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game.
Leading the League in Strikeouts
Veale was the Pirates' opening day pitcher in 1964. He led the National League with 250 strikeouts that year. He even struck out 16 batters in one game against the Cincinnati Reds. He finished the season with 18 wins and 12 losses. His earned run average (ERA) was 2.74, which was very good.
His strong pitching earned him a spot on the National League team. He played in the 1965 All-Star Game. On June 1, he struck out 16 batters against the Philadelphia Phillies. This broke his own team record. In 1965, he had a career-high 276 strikeouts. This is still a Pirates modern-era team record. He ended the season with 17 wins and 12 losses.
All-Star Seasons and World Series Win
Veale was a key pitcher for the Pirates in 1966. He had 16 wins and was named to the 1966 All-Star Game. The 1966 Pirates team had famous players like Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell. They fought for the league title but finished in third place.
In 1967, Veale started the season very well. He won six of his first seven games. He finished the season with 16 wins and 8 losses.
Changing Roles and the 1971 World Series
An elbow injury in 1968 made him change how he pitched. This reduced his strikeouts. In 1971, the Pirates moved him to the bullpen as a relief pitcher.
The 1971 season was a big success for the Pirates. They won their division. Veale had a 6–0 record in 37 games as a relief pitcher. On September 1, 1971, the Pirates made history. They became the first MLB team to start a game with all minority players. Veale came into that game as a relief pitcher.
The Pirates then won the 1971 National League Championship Series. They went on to face the Baltimore Orioles in the 1971 World Series. Veale pitched in one game during the World Series. The Pirates won the World Series in seven games.
Finishing His Career
In May 1972, the Pirates released Veale. He then signed with the Boston Red Sox in September. He pitched well as a relief pitcher for them. In 1973, he had 11 saves and a 3.47 ERA. He played his final major league game on September 8, 1974. He was 38 years old.
Career Highlights and Records
In his 13-season MLB career, Bob Veale had 120 wins and 95 losses. He had 1,703 strikeouts and a 3.07 ERA. He also pitched 20 shutouts and 78 complete games.
His ratio of 7.96 strikeouts per nine innings is still a Pirates team record. It ranks very high among all MLB pitchers. His 16 strikeouts in a single game is also a Pirates team record. When he retired, he was the only Pirates pitcher to have 200 strikeouts in a season.
Life After Baseball
After he stopped playing, Veale worked as a pitching instructor. He taught young players for the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees. He also worked as a groundskeeper at Rickwood Field. This is the same stadium where he worked as a boy.
In 1990, Veale was added to his college's Raven Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Veale in 1966
