Bob Purkey: Difference between revisions

Bob Purkey
Bob Purkey
	Purkey in 1958
	Pitcher
	Born: July 14, 1929; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
	Died: March 16, 2008 (aged 78); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
	April 14, 1954, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
	July 26, 1966, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	129–115
Earned run average	3.79
Strikeouts	793
Teams
	Pittsburgh Pirates (1954–1957); Cincinnati Redlegs / Reds (1958–1964); St. Louis Cardinals (1965); Pittsburgh Pirates (1966);
Career highlights and awards
	5× All-Star (1958, 1961–1962²); Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame;

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Robert Thomas Purkey (July 14, 1929 – March 16, 2008) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball known for his use of the knuckleball. From 1954 through 1966, Purkey played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds / Redlegs, and St. Louis Cardinals. In 1974 he was elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Purkey signed with his hometown Pirates before the 1948 season.^[1] He reached the major leagues in 1954, but after 4 seasons in which he was used largely in relief, posting a combined record of 16-29, he was traded in December 1957 to the Cincinnati Reds for left-hander Don Gross.

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 1962 and finishing 8th in voting for the National League's Most Valuable Player Award. He had won 16 games with the Red's 1961 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 runs to Johnny Blanchard and Roger Maris in the 8th and 9th innings. He was one of eight pitchers used by the Reds in a 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 St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Roger Craig and outfielder Charlie James.

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 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.79 in 386 appearances, including 276 starts, 92 complete games, 13 shutouts, 9 saves, and 21142⁄3 innings of work.

After baseball

Following his baseball career, Purkey worked as a sportscaster for KDKA-TV 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.

References

^ "Bob Purkey". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved December 19, 2018.

External links

Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Retrosheet
1961 World Series - Game 3 box score and play-by-play

Preceded by Jim O'Toole	NL Player of the Month May 1962	Succeeded by Sandy Koufax

[Baseball_Reference-1] "Bob Purkey". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved December 19, 2018.

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|American baseball player (1929–2008)}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
 {{No footnotes|date=April 2009}}
-{{Infobox MLB player
+{{Infobox baseball biography
-|image=Bob Purkey 1958.png
-|caption=Purkey in 1958.
 |name=Bob Purkey
+|image=Bob Purkey 1958.png
+|caption=Purkey in 1958
 |position=[[Pitcher]]
 |bats=Right
 |throws=Right
 |birth_date={{Birth date|1929|7|14}}
-|birth_place=[[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]
+|birth_place=[[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
 |death_date={{death date and age|2008|3|16|1929|7|14}}
-|death_place=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
+|death_place=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
+|debutleague = MLB
 |debutdate=April 14
 |debutyear=1954
 |debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
+|finalleague = MLB
 |finaldate=July 26
 |finalyear=1966
 |finalteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
+|statleague = MLB
 |stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
 |stat1value=129–115
@@ Line 22: / Line 27: @@
 |stat2value=3.79
 |stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
 |stat3value=793
 |teams=
-* [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ({{By|1954}}–{{By|1957}})
+* [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ({{mlby|1954}}–{{mlby|1957}})
-* [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati Redlegs / Reds]] ({{By|1958}}–{{By|1964}})
+* [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati Redlegs / Reds]] ({{mlby|1958}}–{{mlby|1964}})
-* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{By|1965}})
+* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|1965}})
-* [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ({{By|1966}})
+* [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ({{mlby|1966}})
 |highlights=
 * 5× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1958 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1958]], [[1961 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (first game)|1961]]–[[1962 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (second game)|1962²]])
 * [[Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame]]
 }}
-'''Robert Thomas Purkey''' (July 14, 1929 &ndash; March 16, 2008) was an [[United States|American]] right-handed [[pitcher]] in [[Major League Baseball]] known for his use of the [[knuckleball]]. From {{By|1954}} through {{By|1966}}, Purkey played for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] (1954–57, 1966), [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds]] (1958–64) and [[St. Louis Cardinals]] (1965). In {{By|1974}} he was elected to the [[Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame]].
+'''Robert Thomas Purkey''' (July 14, 1929 – March 16, 2008) was an American right-handed [[pitcher]] in [[Major League Baseball]] known for his use of the [[knuckleball]]. From 1954 through 1966, Purkey played for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati Reds / Redlegs]], and [[St. Louis Cardinals]]. In 1974 he was elected to the [[Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame]].
 ==Pittsburgh Pirates==
-Born in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], 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 pitcher|relief]], posting a combined record of 16-29, he was traded in December 1957 to the Reds for left-hander [[Don Gross (baseball)|Don Gross]].
+Born in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], Purkey signed with his hometown Pirates before the 1948 season.<ref name="Baseball Reference">{{cite web |title=Bob Purkey |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/purkebo01.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |publisher=Sports Reference, LLC |access-date=19 December 2018}}</ref> He reached the major leagues in 1954, but after 4 seasons in which he was used largely in relief, posting a combined record of 16-29, he was traded in December 1957 to the [[Cincinnati Reds]] for left-hander [[Don Gross (baseball)|Don Gross]].
 ==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 {{By|1962}}, finishing 8th in voting for the [[National League]]'s [[MLB Most Valuable Player Award|MVP award]]. He had [[win (baseball)|won]] 16 games with the Reds' {{By|1961}} pennant winners, and was named to the NL [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|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 [[earned run|unearned runs]], as the Yankees took the Series four games to one.
+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 1962 and finishing 8th in voting for the [[National League (baseball)|National League]]'s [[Most Valuable Player Award]]. He had won 16 games with the Red's 1961 pennant winners, and was named to the NL [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|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 runs to [[Johnny Blanchard]] and [[Roger Maris]] in the 8th and 9th innings. He was one of eight pitchers used by the Reds in a 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 (baseball)|Roger Craig]] and outfielder [[Charlie James]].
+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 [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in exchange for [[Roger Craig (baseball)|Roger Craig]] and outfielder [[Charlie James (baseball)|Charlie James]].
 ==St. Louis and Pittsburgh==
@@ Line 46: / Line 51: @@
 ==MLB career==
-Over a 13-season career, Purkey posted a 129-115 record with 793 [[strikeout]]s and a 3.79 ERA in 386 appearances, including 276 starts, 92 complete games, 13 [[shutout]]s, nine [[save (sport)|saves]], and 2114⅔ innings of work.
+Over a 13-season career, Purkey posted a 129-115 record with 793 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.79 in 386 appearances, including 276 starts, 92 complete games, 13 shutouts, 9 saves, and 2114{{frac|2|3}} innings of work.
 ==After baseball==
 Following his baseball career, Purkey worked as a sportscaster for [[KDKA-TV]] 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]].
+Purkey died at the age of 78 in his hometown of [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] following a battle with [[Alzheimer's disease]].
-==Best season==
-*{{By|1962}}: 23-5 and led NL pitchers with a .821 in [[winning percentage]]. His 2.81 ERA ranked him third behind [[Sandy Koufax]] (2.54) and [[Bob Shaw (baseball)|Bob Shaw]] (2.80). He also was selected [[Player of the Month]] for May (5-1, 2.81 ERA, 34 SO).
 ==See also==
 {{Portal|Baseball}}
 * [[List of knuckleball pitchers]]
+==References==
+{{Reflist}}
 ==External links==
-*{{Baseballstats|br=p/purkebo01}}
+{{Baseballstats|mlb=120807|br=p/purkebo01|brm=purkey001rob}}
-*[http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/P/Purkey_Bob.stm BaseballLibrary] - profile, career highlights and [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/sabr/tbi/P/Purkey_Bob.tbi.stm SABR bibliography]
 *[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/Ppurkb101.htm Retrosheet]
-*[http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN196110070.shtml 1961 World Series - Game 3 box score and play-by-play]
+*[https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN196110070.shtml 1961 World Series - Game 3 box score and play-by-play]
 {{s-start}}
-{{succession box | before = [[Jim O'Toole]] | title = [[Player of the Month|NL Player of the Month]]| years = May 1962| after = [[Sandy Koufax]]}}
+{{succession box | before = [[Jim O'Toole]] | title = [[Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award|NL Player of the Month]]| years = May 1962| after = [[Sandy Koufax]]}}
 {{s-end}}
@@ Line 73: / Line 77: @@
 {{Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame}}
-{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
-| NAME              =Purkey, Bob
-| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
-| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American baseball player
-| DATE OF BIRTH     =July 14, 1929
-| PLACE OF BIRTH    =Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
-| DATE OF DEATH     =March 16, 2008
-| PLACE OF DEATH    =Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
-}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Purkey, Bob}}
 [[Category:1929 births]]
 [[Category:2008 deaths]]
-[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
+[[Category:Baseball players from Pittsburgh]]
 [[Category:Cincinnati Redlegs players]]
 [[Category:Cincinnati Reds players]]
-[[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players]]
+[[Category:Davenport Pirates players]]
-[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
+[[Category:Greenville Pirates players]]
-[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
+[[Category:Hollywood Stars players]]
-[[Category:Baseball players from Pennsylvania]]
-[[Category:Sportspeople from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]
 [[Category:Knuckleball pitchers]]
+[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
+[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
 [[Category:New Orleans Pelicans (baseball) players]]
-[[Category:Hollywood Stars players]]
+[[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players]]
+[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]