Bob Buhl
Encyclopedia
Robert Ray Buhl was an American
right-handed starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played with the Milwaukee Braves
(1953–62), Chicago Cubs
(1962–66) and Philadelphia Phillies
(1966–67). His last name rhymes with "fuel".
A native of Saginaw, Michigan
, in a 15-year career Buhl posted a 166-132 record with 1288 strikeout
s and a 3.55 ERA
in 2587 innings
. He pitched 111 complete game
s and compiled 20 shutout
s. He was first signed to a major league contract in 1953 by Milwaukee Braves scout Earle W. Halstead.
Buhl compiled an 8-1 record against the National League
champion Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, en route to an 18-win season. He repeated as an 18-game winner the following year, helping the Braves capture NL pennants in both 1957 and 1958 as the third starter behind Warren Spahn
and Lew Burdette
.
In 1959, Buhl won 15 games and led the National League with four shutout
s. His most productive season came in 1960, when he finished with a 16-9 record, a 3.09 ERA and an All-Star
berth.
In 1962, Buhl was traded to the Cubs after appearing in just one game for the Braves. He failed to hit in 70 at-bats that season, the worst single-season batting performance in major league history (Sporting News Baseball Record Book, 2007, p. 19).
It was not an entirely fruitless season for Buhl at the plate, however, as he collected 6 bases-on-balls, scored 2 runs and had 1 stolen base. He was even credited with 1 run-batted-in (on a sacrifice fly) and 7 sacrifice bunts, demonstrating that he could make contact occasionally, although he did strike out 36 times that season. Pitching, he had 12 wins against 13 losses, a considerably better percentage than the 9th-place Cubs (59-103 .364) achieved overall that year.
He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
in 1966 in a deal which brought future Hall-of-Famer Ferguson Jenkins
to Chicago.
Buhl died in Titusville, Florida
, just two days before his Braves roommate Eddie Mathews
, another baseball Hall-of-Famer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played with the Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1953–62), Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1962–66) and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1966–67). His last name rhymes with "fuel".
A native of Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, in a 15-year career Buhl posted a 166-132 record with 1288 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 3.55 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 2587 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. He pitched 111 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s and compiled 20 shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s. He was first signed to a major league contract in 1953 by Milwaukee Braves scout Earle W. Halstead.
Buhl compiled an 8-1 record against the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
champion Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, en route to an 18-win season. He repeated as an 18-game winner the following year, helping the Braves capture NL pennants in both 1957 and 1958 as the third starter behind Warren Spahn
Warren Spahn
Warren Edward Spahn was an American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career in the National League. He won 20 games each in 13 seasons, including a 23-7 record when he was age 42...
and Lew Burdette
Lew Burdette
Selva Lewis Burdette, Jr. was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves...
.
In 1959, Buhl won 15 games and led the National League with four shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s. His most productive season came in 1960, when he finished with a 16-9 record, a 3.09 ERA and an All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
berth.
In 1962, Buhl was traded to the Cubs after appearing in just one game for the Braves. He failed to hit in 70 at-bats that season, the worst single-season batting performance in major league history (Sporting News Baseball Record Book, 2007, p. 19).
It was not an entirely fruitless season for Buhl at the plate, however, as he collected 6 bases-on-balls, scored 2 runs and had 1 stolen base. He was even credited with 1 run-batted-in (on a sacrifice fly) and 7 sacrifice bunts, demonstrating that he could make contact occasionally, although he did strike out 36 times that season. Pitching, he had 12 wins against 13 losses, a considerably better percentage than the 9th-place Cubs (59-103 .364) achieved overall that year.
He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 1966 in a deal which brought future Hall-of-Famer Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins, CM, is a Canadian former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was a three-time All-Star and the 1971 NL Cy Young Award winner. In 1991, Jenkins was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. During a 19-year career, he pitched for four different teams,...
to Chicago.
Buhl died in Titusville, Florida
Titusville, Florida
Titusville is a city in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is the county seat of Brevard County. Nicknamed Space City, USA, Titusville is on the Indian River, west of Merritt Island and the Kennedy Space Center and south-southwest of the Canaveral National Seashore...
, just two days before his Braves roommate Eddie Mathews
Eddie Mathews
Edwin Lee "Eddie" Mathews was an American Major League Baseball third baseman. He is regarded as one of the greatest third basemen ever to play the game.-Early life:...
, another baseball Hall-of-Famer.
Highlights
- All-Star (1960)
- Led league in shutouts (1959)
- 6-time Top 10 in ERA (1953, 1955–57, 1959–60)
- 5-time Top 10 in wins (1955–57, 1959–60)