Major League Baseball Player. He was a pitcher for Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, and New York Mets from 1951 to 1966. Born Robert Bartmess Friend, he played football, baseball, basketball, and golf at West Lafayette (Indiana) High School. He dreamed of playing both football and baseball at Purdue University, but a shoulder injury caused him to pursue a career in baseball. He signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and entered their farm system in 1950. He joined the Pirates in 1951 and went on to pitch for them for the next fifteen years. In 1955, he was the first man ever to lead the league in ERA while pitching for a last place team. He was named to the first of his four All-Star Games (1956, 1958, 1960 (1), and 1960 (2) in 1956 and was the winning pitcher of the game. In 1958, he led the Major Leagues in wins with 22. He was a key part of the 1960 Pirates team that won both the National League championship and the World Series. In 1966, he split his last year between the two New York baseball teams (Yankees and Mets) before retiring at the end of the year. His career statistics included 197 wins, 230 losses, 1,734 strikeouts, and an 3.58 ERA. After his baseball career, he went on to serve as controller of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1975. He joined an insurance brokerage in 1976 and eventually rose to the company's vice president position.
Major League Baseball Player. He was a pitcher for Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, and New York Mets from 1951 to 1966. Born Robert Bartmess Friend, he played football, baseball, basketball, and golf at West Lafayette (Indiana) High School. He dreamed of playing both football and baseball at Purdue University, but a shoulder injury caused him to pursue a career in baseball. He signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and entered their farm system in 1950. He joined the Pirates in 1951 and went on to pitch for them for the next fifteen years. In 1955, he was the first man ever to lead the league in ERA while pitching for a last place team. He was named to the first of his four All-Star Games (1956, 1958, 1960 (1), and 1960 (2) in 1956 and was the winning pitcher of the game. In 1958, he led the Major Leagues in wins with 22. He was a key part of the 1960 Pirates team that won both the National League championship and the World Series. In 1966, he split his last year between the two New York baseball teams (Yankees and Mets) before retiring at the end of the year. His career statistics included 197 wins, 230 losses, 1,734 strikeouts, and an 3.58 ERA. After his baseball career, he went on to serve as controller of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1975. He joined an insurance brokerage in 1976 and eventually rose to the company's vice president position.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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