Highlighted Year: Bob Friend, 1960

Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age:  32

10^th season with Pirates

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1960:

An Indiana native, Friend was a star athlete at West Lafayette High School who was all-state in football as well as baseball. He also participated in golf and basketball. Having earned the nickname “Warrior “ (which proved to be long-lasting) for his football exploits, a shoulder injury derailed his plan to play football at nearby Purdue University where he enrolled in 1949. Now concentrating on baseball, he signed with the Pirates in 1950. He continued with his college education during offseasons and earned an Economics degree from Purdue. Having received a $12,500 bonus from the Pirates, he was assigned to Waco of the Class B Big State League in 1950 and after posting a 12-9 record, including a no-hitter in his last start, and 3.08 ERA he was promoted to Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association where he finished out the year by going 2-4 with a 5.46 ERA. In 1951 he made it to the Pirates, who at the time were prone to rushing young talent. With a sinking fastball and curve that he threw with good control, he produced a 6-10 tally and 4.27 ERA for the seventh-place club,3 complete games, one shutout, and 41 strikeouts over 149.2 innings. The Pirates dropped into the NL cellar in 1952 and Friend’s record sank to 7-17 with a 4.18 ERA, 6 complete games, one shutout, and 75 strikeouts over 185 innings. He remained a well-regarded prospect entering 1953 when Pittsburgh again finished in last place and Friend went 8-11 with a 4.90 ERA, 8 complete games, and 66 strikeouts over 170.2 innings. With the Pirates again firmly ensconced in the NL cellar in 1954, Friend had a 7-12 tally and 5.07 ERA with 4 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 73 strikeouts over 170.1 innings. The two shutouts were pitched consecutively in September, and the second, against the Brooklyn Dodgers, proved fatal to their pennant hopes and was the first shutout of the Dodgers by a Pittsburgh pitcher since 1947. Prior to the 1955 season, Friend, in danger of being sent down to the minors,  was coached to utilize a more deceptive windup which made hiis curve more effective. While he was consigned to the bullpen to start the season, he performed well in relief stints and was given a start at the end of May that propelled him back into the starting rotation. He went on to compile a 14-9 record and his 2.83 ERA led the National League, making him the first pitcher on a last-place team to win an ERA title. He also hurled 9 complete games and 2 shutouts with 98 strikeouts over 200.1 innings. The season turned his career around and he was effective with the ineffective Pirates again in 1956, producing a 17-17 tally and 3.46 ERA. He was an All-Star for the first time and the stocky pitcher proved to be a workhorse as he led the league in games started (42) and innings pitched (314.1) as he compiled 19 complete games, 4 shutouts, and 166 strikeouts. 13 of his wins came against first-division clubs. Friend got off to a poor start in 1957 but turned things around as the season progressed to end up at 14-18 with a 3.38 ERA, again leading the NL in starts (38) and innings pitched (277) while compiling 17 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 143 strikeouts. On the personal front, prior to the season he received his college degree from Purdue and in September he got married. In 1958 the Pirates advanced to second place and Friend contributed a 22-14 record and 3.68 ERA with 16 complete games, one shutout, and 135 strikeouts over 274 innings pitched. Struggling with his weight in 1959, Friend had an unimpressive season in which he produced an 8-19 record and 4.03 ERA with 7 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 104 strikeouts over 234.2 innings.   

1960 Season Summary

Appeared in 38 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 38

Games Started – 37 [2]

Complete Games – 16 [4, tied with Glen Hobbie]

Wins – 18 [5, tied with Larry Jackson & Sam Jones]

Losses – 12 [17, tied with Mike McCormick, Johnny Podres & Jim O’Toole]

PCT - .600 [9]

Saves – 1

Shutouts – 4 [3, tied with four others]

Innings Pitched – 275.2 [2, tied with Lew Burdette]

Hits – 266 [3, tied with Vern Law]

Runs – 97 [14]

Earned Runs – 92 [12]

Home Runs – 18 [19, tied with Sam Jones & Ernie Broglio]

Bases on Balls – 45

Strikeouts – 183 [5]

ERA – 3.00 [4, tied with Stan Williams]

Hit Batters – 0

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 5 [20, tied with four others]

Midseason Snapshot: 10-5, ERA - 2.99, SO - 110 in 153.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 11 (in 9 IP) at Philadelphia 4/28

10+ strikeout games – 1

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) vs. Cincinnati 6/1

Batting

PA – 105, AB – 88, R – 5, H – 6, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 3, BB – 6, SO – 31, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .068, GDP – 3, HBP – 0, SH – 11, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 68

Put Outs – 24

Assists – 43

Errors – 1

DP – 1

Pct. - .985

Postseason Pitching: G – 3 (World Series vs. NY Yankees)

GS – 2, CG – 0, Record – 0-2, PCT – .000, ERA – 13.50, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 6, H – 13, R – 10, ER – 9, HR – 0, BB – 3, SO – 7, HB – 2, BLK – 0, WP – 0 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star (Started first game for NL)

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The Pirates went 95-59 to win the NL pennant by 7 games over the Milwaukee Braves for their first pennant since 1927. The pitching staff led the NL in fewest walks surrendered (386). They won the World Series over the New York Yankees, 4 games to 3, capped by Bill Mazeroski’s Game 7 walk-off home run. Friend didn’t make it past the fourth inning in either of his starts and also was ineffective in a relief appearance.

Aftermath of 1960:

The Pirates dropped to sixth place in 1961 as several key players failed to match their 1960 performance levels. Friend dropped to 14-19 with a 3.85 ERA, 10 complete games, one shutout, and 108 strikeouts over 236 innings. He rebounded in 1962 to co-lead the NL with 5 shoutouts while posting an 18-14 tally with a 3.06 ERA, 13 complete games, and 144 strikeouts over 261.2 innings. Intelligent and respected, Friend served as player representative for the Pirates for many years and became National League player representative during the 1960s. On the mound in 1963 he produced a 17-16 record and 2.34 ERA with 12 complete games, 4 shutouts, and 144 strikeouts over 268.2 innings. His 1964 tally was 13-18 with a 3.33 ERA, 13 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 128 strikeouts over 240.1 innings. Friend slipped to 8-12 with a 3.24 ERA in 1965 and feuded with manager Harry Walker which led to the end of his long tenure in Pittsburgh. Dealt to the New York Yankees in the offseason, he was 1-4 in 1966 when he was purchased by the New York Mets in June. Going 5-8 the rest of the way, his combined record was 6-12 with a 4.55 ERA and he retired at age 35. For his major league career, Friend compiled a 197-230 record with a 3.58 ERA, 163 complete games, 36 shutouts, and 1734 strikeouts over 3611 innings. With Pittsburgh the totals were 191-218 with a 3.55 ERA, 161 complete games, 35 shutouts, and 1682 strikeouts over 3480.1 innings. His only World Series action came in 1960. He was a four-time All-Star. Following his playing career, Friend worked as an insurance broker and was active in politics, winning election as Allegheny County Controller. He was also an avid golfer and his son, Bob Jr., became a professional golfer. The workhorse pitcher known as “Warrior” died in 2019 at age 88.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.