Robert Andrew Veale (born October 28, 1935 in Birmingham, Alabama) is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1962-1972) and the Boston Red Sox (1972-1974). He attended Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.

Veale was a top strikeout pitcher for the Pirates for about seven years. He led the league in the category once, with 250 in 1964, although his career-high came the year after in 1965 (276). He also was in the top three in the National League two other times. He was considered one of the hardest throwers in the game at the time. His lifetime ratio of 7.96 strikeouts per nine innings is still a Pirates career record and ranks 24th on the MLB All-Time List.

With the strikeouts came walks as well, as he led the NL in walks four times, tying a modern record.

Veale won one World Series with the Pirates in 1971, when they beat Baltimore in seven games. That year, in 37 games being used as a reliever, Veale was 6-0 with a 6.99 ERA, 40 strikeouts and 2 saves. To go along with that trend, one of Veale's best years, 1968, he had a 2.05 ERA and a losing record, 13-14. That was the lowest ERA since 1914 by a pitcher with more than 20 starts and a losing record.

In a 13-year career, he was 120-95 with a 3.07 ERA in 397 games, 255 starts. Out of the 255 starts, he pitched 78 complete games, with 20 shutouts. He completed almost one-third of his starts. As a reliever, he accumulated 21 saves. He allowed 658 earned runs and struck out 1703 in 1926 innings pitched.

In 2006, Veale was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

[edit] Fact

• On September 1, 1971, Pittsburgh faced the Phillies with a lineup which is believed, according to historians, to be the first major league all-black starting-lineup (including some Latino players). The Pirates won 10-7, and the lineup was:
  • Rennie Stennett - second baseman
  • Gene Clines - center fielder
  • Roberto Clemente - right fielder
  • Willie Stargell - left fielder
  • Manny Sanguillén - catcher
  • Dave Cash - third baseman
  • Al Oliver - first baseman
  • Jackie Hernández - shortstop
  • Dock Ellis - starting pitcher
  • Bob Veale, a relief pitcher, was one of three relievers in the game.
  • Resource: Baseball Library

[edit] See also

• List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
• List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• Audio Clip of Bob Veale discussing Jackie Robinson