Bob Veale, the hard-throwing Pirates pitcher who dominated batters in the 1960s, has died at 89.
Standing 6-foot-6 with a fastball that could touch the high 90s, Veale was one of baseball’s most intimidating left-handed pitchers during his prime. The Pirates announced his passing on Tuesday.
“He was one of the most dominant left-handed pitchers in all of Major League Baseball,” Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting said. “He was a great man who will be missed.”
Baseball was in Veale’s blood from an early age. As a kid, he worked as a bat boy and threw batting practice for the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. His father Robert had played briefly for the legendary Homestead Grays.
His own career would prove pretty remarkable. In 1964, he led all of baseball in strikeouts.
But Veale’s power came with a wild streak – he led the National League in walks four different times. Still, he was effective enough to make the All-Star team in both 1965 and 1966.
Over 13 seasons in the majors, most spent with Pittsburgh, Veale posted an impressive 3.07 ERA. Modern statistics value his career at nearly 25 wins above replacement level.
He was more than just numbers though. Veale helped the Pirates win back-to-back division titles and pitched in their 1971 World Series victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
After hanging up his spikes, he stayed in baseball as both a scout and coach.
The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame inducted him in 2006, recognizing a career that started with a young kid throwing batting practice and ended with a World Series ring.
