Bob Turley
Encyclopedia
Robert Lee Turley (known as "Bullet Bob") was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
.
Turley was signed as an amateur free agent
by the St. Louis Browns in . He played his first game on September 29, 1951 for the Browns and moved with them to Baltimore in . He was traded to the New York Yankees
after the 1954 season and played for the Yankees from to . After beginning the year with the Los Angeles Angels, he finished the year, and his career, with the Boston Red Sox
.
His best year was 1958, when he won 21 games and lost seven. As a result, he won the Hickok Belt
as top professional athlete of the year, and the Cy Young Award
as the best pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Turley started his 1958 World Series on a low note, giving up a leadoff home run and lasting just one-third of an inning as the Yankees fell behind the Milwaukee Braves two games to none. With the Yankees one game away from elimination, Turley threw a shutout in Game Five, then picked up a 10th-inning save in Game Six. A day later in Game Seven, he relieved Don Larsen
in the third inning and won his second game in three days, with 6 2/3 innings of two-hit relief. The Yankees became just the second team to recover from a 3-1 World Series deficit, and Turley was voted the World Series
Most Valuable Player Award
.
He wore uniform number 24 on the Browns, 33 when they moved to Baltimore as the Orioles
, 19 on the Yankees, 39 on the Angels, and 29 on the Red Sox.
In 1964
, Turley spent one season as pitching coach
of the Red Sox before leaving baseball. Later on Turley became a Representative for Primerica Financial Services earning more than he did as a professional baseball player. (In the 1995 version of the Primerica Financial Independence Council it states that he was paid $150,000 as a professional baseball player compared to his $2,000,000 that he earned through working with Primerica). He retired from the business and gave half of his business to his son and the other half to his secretary. He now resides in Georgia
.
Turley was mentioned in a song called "St. Louis Browns" by former Byrds bass guitar
player Skip Battin
. He is described as a "no-hit pitcher" who "got too surly" and who was "traded...too early".
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
.
Turley was signed as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the St. Louis Browns in . He played his first game on September 29, 1951 for the Browns and moved with them to Baltimore in . He was traded to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
after the 1954 season and played for the Yankees from to . After beginning the year with the Los Angeles Angels, he finished the year, and his career, with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
His best year was 1958, when he won 21 games and lost seven. As a result, he won the Hickok Belt
Hickok Belt
The S. Rae Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year award, known as the Hickok Belt, was a trophy awarded for 27 years to the top professional athlete of the year in the United States...
as top professional athlete of the year, and the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
as the best pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Turley started his 1958 World Series on a low note, giving up a leadoff home run and lasting just one-third of an inning as the Yankees fell behind the Milwaukee Braves two games to none. With the Yankees one game away from elimination, Turley threw a shutout in Game Five, then picked up a 10th-inning save in Game Six. A day later in Game Seven, he relieved Don Larsen
Don Larsen
Donald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series...
in the third inning and won his second game in three days, with 6 2/3 innings of two-hit relief. The Yankees became just the second team to recover from a 3-1 World Series deficit, and Turley was voted the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
Most Valuable Player Award
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
.
He wore uniform number 24 on the Browns, 33 when they moved to Baltimore as the Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, 19 on the Yankees, 39 on the Angels, and 29 on the Red Sox.
In 1964
1964 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over New York Yankees ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 7 at Shea Stadium: National League, 7–4; Johnny Callison, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Minnesota...
, Turley spent one season as pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
of the Red Sox before leaving baseball. Later on Turley became a Representative for Primerica Financial Services earning more than he did as a professional baseball player. (In the 1995 version of the Primerica Financial Independence Council it states that he was paid $150,000 as a professional baseball player compared to his $2,000,000 that he earned through working with Primerica). He retired from the business and gave half of his business to his son and the other half to his secretary. He now resides in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Turley was mentioned in a song called "St. Louis Browns" by former Byrds bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player Skip Battin
Skip Battin
Clyde "Skip" Battin was an American singer–songwriter, performer and recording artist. He is best remembered as a member of The Byrds, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, and the Flying Burrito Brothers...
. He is described as a "no-hit pitcher" who "got too surly" and who was "traded...too early".