Bob Friend - Major League Baseball Career

Major League Baseball Career

Friend went 6–10 during his rookie season in 1951, not getting much run support from a horrible Pirates team that finished 6th in the 8-team league in batting average and last in stolen bases. His ERA was 4.27 as he both started 22 games and also relieved for 34 total appearances. At the beginning of his career, Friend threw a sinking fastball and a hard curveball; later he would add a slider to his repertoire.

In 1955, Friend struck out 98 batters in 20 starts and 44 games. His 2.83 ERA was best in the National League but he ended with only a 14–9 record, for a Pirates team that finished last in the league in runs scored, hits, and home runs. Friend finished the season leading the team in ERA, wins, appearances, and strikeouts. Teammate Vern Law took 2nd place in most of those categories. Talk of Friend being the best pitcher in the league was legitimate as well, with his ERA beating out even Don Newcombe (3.20), future Cy Young Award and MVP Award winner. Most say Friend would have won it in 1955, the year before the award was first given.

In 1956, Friend had a 17–17 record with a 3.46 ERA and 166 strikeouts, 68 more than the year before. He pitched an amazing total of 314 innings (1st in the league) and started 42 games (1st in the league) in 49 appearances. He also had 19 complete games (3rd in the league) and 4 shutouts (4th in the league). Friend's career looked to be on its way to the record books.

Friend didn't slow down after that, picking up outstanding 1957 and 1958 seasons. By 1957, he was only a starter basically. In 1958, his run support came as well and the Pirates finished in 2nd place. Friend went 22–14 that year, and his 22 wins were good for a tie for 1st in the league with Warren Spahn. He made his second All-Star game and came the closest to winning the Cy Young Award (3rd place). He continued his success into the 1960s.

After an average year in 1959 for both him and his team, his career high in strikeouts (183) came in 1960, and his only trip to the World Series (See: 1960 World Series) came as well. The Pirates would win in a truly memorable world series against the New York Yankees, winning Game 7, 10–9. Although his team beat the Bronx Bombers, Friend's World Series performance was poor, losing the two games he started and then allowing two critical hits in the ninth inning of Game 7 that let the Yankees come back and tie the game. His postseason stats stand at an 0–2 record with a 13.50 ERA in 6 innings pitched.

In 1962, Friend tied for the league lead in shutouts with Bob Gibson (5). That year, he went 18–14 with a 3.06 ERA and pitched 261 innings. In 1963, Friend eclipsed his previous career best in ERA, when he ended the season with a 2.34 ERA and 17–16 record. On April 13 of that year, Friend gave up Pete Rose's first Major League hit. That game, the major league record for balks occurred, with 7 (4 by Friend).

Friend's final complete season, and final season with the Pirates came in 1965. He went 8–12 with a 3.24 ERA in 34 starts before being traded to the Yankees for Pete Mikkelsen after the season.

After being moved again, Friend played his final game with the Mets on September 24, 1966. Friend remains the only pitcher to lose more than 200 (230), while winning less than 200 (197), mostly due to playing with 5 last place Pirate teams.

Friend ended his career with a 197–230 record and a 3.58 ERA. He had 1734 career strikeouts in 3611 innings pitched. Friend pitched 36 shutouts in 163 complete games. In 602 career games, he gave up 1438 earned runs. He hit 46 batters in his career.

As a batter, Friend hit .121 with 2 home runs and 60 RBIs, three coming on May 2, 1954 in an 18–10 win against the Chicago Cubs.

Friend was active in the fledgling Major League Baseball Players Association union. Friend served as the Pirates' player representative beginning in 1953, and later was the National League player representative for five years.