View source for Bob Veale

{{Short description|American baseball player (1935–2025)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Bob Veale
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|image=Bob Veale - Pittsburgh Pirates - 1966 (3x4 cropped).jpg
|caption=Veale in 1966
|bats=Both
|throws=Left
|birth_date={{Birth date|1935|10|28}}
|birth_place=[[Birmingham, Alabama]], U.S.
|death_date={{Death date and age|2025|1|3|1935|10|28}}
|death_place=Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 16 
|debutyear=1962
|debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 8
|finalyear=1974
|finalteam=Boston Red Sox
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=120–95
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.07
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=1,703
|teams=
* [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ({{mlby|1962}}–{{mlby|1972}})
* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|1972}}–{{mlby|1974}})
|highlights=
* 2× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1965]], [[1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1966]])
* [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1971}})
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|NL strikeout leader]] (1964)
}}

'''Robert Andrew Veale''' (October 28, 1935 – January 3, 2025) was an American professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]] and [[Coach (baseball)|coach]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) as a left-handed [[pitcher]] from 1962 through 1974 for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] and [[Boston Red Sox]].<ref name="Bob Veale statistics">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vealebo01.shtml |title=Bob Veale statistics |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 19, 2020}}</ref>

Veale was one of the top [[strikeout]] pitchers in the National League during his tenure with the Pirates.<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'>{{sabrbio|6d2348b9|Joseph Gerard|January 19, 2020}}</ref> The two-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] player was the [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|National League strikeout leader]] in 1964. He was a member of the Pirates teams that won three consecutive [[National League East|National League Eastern Division]] titles between 1970 and 1972 and, won the [[World Series]] in 1971. Veale also played for the [[Boston Red Sox]] from 1972 to 1974.<ref name="Bob Veale statistics"/>

==Early life==
Veale was born on October 28, 1935, in [[Birmingham, Alabama]],<ref name="MLB-obit" /> where he attended Holy Family High School in the [[Ensley (Birmingham)|Ensley neighborhood]].<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> His father had played baseball as a pitcher for the [[Homestead Grays]] of the [[Negro National League (1933–1948)|Negro National League]].<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> As a boy, Veale worked the concession stand at historic [[Rickwood Field]] in Birmingham.<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> The [[Birmingham Black Barons]] player-manager [[Piper Davis]] made him the team's [[batboy]] and let him pitch batting practice regularly.<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> In 1948, Davis allowed the underaged Veale to pitch in a Black Barons game; however, because he was a minor, his appearance was kept off the records.<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> Veale left Birmingham in 1955 to attend [[Benedictine College]] in [[Atchison, Kansas]], on an [[athletic scholarship]],<ref name=obit/> playing both baseball and basketball for the Ravens.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=2025-01-09 |title=Hall of Famer Bob Veale passes away at 89 |url=https://www.ravenathletics.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/releases/20250109lui6cf |language=en}}</ref>

==Minor league career==
In 1958, Veale signed with the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] as an amateur free agent.<ref name="Bob Veale statistics"/> In 1959, he led the [[Carolina League]] with 187 [[strikeout]]s in 147 [[innings pitched]] for the [[Wilson Tobs (minor league baseball)|Wilson Tobs]]. He also threw a [[no-hitter]].<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> His performance earned him a promotion to the [[Columbus Jets]] of the [[International League]], where he established himself as a strikeout pitcher in 1961 by striking out a league-leading 208 [[Batting (baseball)|batters]] in 201 innings.<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/>

==Major league career==
Veale made his major league debut with the Pirates on April 16, [[1962 Pittsburgh Pirates season|1962]], at the age of 26.<ref name="Bob Veale statistics" /> He had one [[complete game]] victory in only his second major league game but then, struggled and was sent back to Columbus on May 25. On August 10, he set an International League record for the most strikeouts in a game with 22 against the [[Buffalo Bisons]].<ref name="Bob Veale at SABR" /> On September 3, he pitched a one-hitter against Jacksonville and struck out 15 batters.<ref name="Bob Veale at SABR" /> After striking out 179 batters in 134 innings and winning eight games, Veale was called back by the Pirates in September and finished his rookie year with a 2-2 record, one save and 3.74 ERA over 11 games.<ref name="Bob Veale at SABR" />

Veale began 1963 pitching out of the pen until Pirates manager [[Danny Murtaugh]] made him a [[starting pitcher]] in August [[1963 Pittsburgh Pirates season|1963]] and he responded impressively in September by throwing three complete games in six [[games started|starts]], including two [[shutout (baseball)|shutouts]].<ref name="Bob Veale at SABR" /> On September 22, [[1964 Pittsburgh Pirates season|1964]], Veale struck out 15 [[Milwaukee Braves]] to set the Pirates team record for most strikeouts in a nine-inning game, breaking the previous record of 12 set by [[Babe Adams]] in [[1909 Pittsburgh Pirates season|1909]].<ref name="Bob Veale at SABR" />

Veale was the Pirates opening day starter for the 1964 season. He led the National League with 250 strikeouts in 1964 (including a team-record 15 strikeouts against the [[Milwaukee Braves]] in a 2-0 loss on September 22 and an astounding 16 strikeouts against the [[Cincinnati Reds]] on September 30 in a16-inning no decision),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gazdziak |first=~ Sam |date=2025-01-15 |title=Obituary: Bob Veale (1935-2025) |url=https://ripbaseball.com/2025/01/15/obituary-bob-veale-1935-2025/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=RIP Baseball |language=en}}</ref> ending the season with a career-high [[win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]] of 18–12 and a 2.74 [[earned run average]] (ERA).<ref name="Bob Veale statistics" />

Veale's emergence as one of the top strikeout pitchers in the league helped earn him a spot on the National League team in the [[1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1965 All-Star Game]].<ref name="Bob Veale statistics" /> He struck out 16 batters on June 1 against the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] to break his own team record.<ref name="Bob Veale at SABR" /> In [[1965 Pittsburgh Pirates season|1965]], he improved his personal best with a career-high 276 strikeouts, but finished a distant second to [[Sandy Koufax]]'s then-Major League record 382 strikeouts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1965-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1965 National League Pitching Leaders |publisher=Baseball-reference.com |access-date=February 1, 2020}}</ref> He ended the season with a 17–12 win–loss record and a 2.84 ERA to help the Pirates improve to a third place finish in the National League.<ref name="Bob Veale statistics" /> As of 2024, his 276 strikeouts in a season remains a Pirates modern-era team record.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DeRosa |first1=Theo |title=Each MLB team's single-season strikeout leader |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/each-mlb-team-s-single-season-strikeout-leader |publisher=[[Major League Baseball]] |access-date=January 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013163248/https://www.mlb.com/news/each-mlb-team-s-single-season-strikeout-leader |archive-date=October 13, 2023 |language=en |format=Archived by the [[Wayback Machine]] |date=October 13, 2023 |quote=Pirates: Bob Veale, 276 (1965)  One of only a few lefties on this list, Veale reached 250 strikeouts in his first full season, 1964. The following year – in 13 2/3 fewer innings – he topped that mark with 276 to set a Pirates record that still holds up. The 1965 campaign was the first of two consecutive All-Star seasons for Veale. Another lefty in Oliver Pérez, with 239 strikeouts in 2004, is the closest pitcher to Veale's record. Runner-up: Veale, 250 (1964)}}</ref>

Veale was an integral member of the Pirates pitching staff during the [[1966 Pittsburgh Pirates season|1966 season]] posting a 16–12 record and a 3.02 ERA in 37 starts and was again named to the National League team for the [[1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1966 All-Star Game]].<ref name="Bob Veale statistics" /><ref name="Bob Veale at SABR" /> The 1966 Pirates team which, included future Baseball Hall of Fame members [[Roberto Clemente]], [[Bill Mazeroski]] and [[Willie Stargell]] as well as the National League batting champion [[Matty Alou]], fought the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants in a tight pennant race and were in first place on September 10, before they faltered to finish the season in third place for a second consecutive year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/1966-schedule-scores.shtml |title=1966 Pittsburgh Pirates Schedule, Box Scores and Splits |publisher=Baseball-reference.com |access-date=February 1, 2020}}</ref> Veale began the [[1967 Pittsburgh Pirates season|1967 season]] by winning his first six starts and seven of his first eight starts. He ended the season with 16 victories against 8 losses but, his ERA rose to 3.64.<ref name="Bob Veale statistics" />

An elbow injury in [[1968 Pittsburgh Pirates season|1968]] forced him to alter his pitching motion and reduced his strikeout rates.<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> Veale had a losing record of 13–14 but, had an impressive 2.05 ERA, the lowest ERA since 1914 by a pitcher with more than 20 starts and a losing record.<ref name="Bob Veale statistics"/> In [[1969 Pittsburgh Pirates season|1969]] Veale had his last 200-plus strikeout season but, in [[1970 Pittsburgh Pirates season|1970]] his ERA rose to 3.92. Veale had maintained a 200-plus inning workload for seven consecutive seasons between 1964 and 1970.<ref name="Bob Veale statistics"/> There were rumors that he might be traded prior to the [[1971 Pittsburgh Pirates season|1971 season]] but instead, Murtaugh moved him to the [[bullpen]].<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/>

The 1971 season turned to be one of the most successful in team history as the Pirates won the [[National League Eastern Division]]. Veale had a 6–0 win–loss record in 37 appearances out the bullpen.<ref name="Bob Veale statistics"/> Although his [[Earned run average|ERA]] was a very high 6.99, he pitched strongly in September as the Pirates made their push for the division title.<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> On September 1, 1971, the Pirates became the first major league team to start a lineup of all minorities.<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> Veale entered the game in the third inning in relief of starter [[Dock Ellis]].<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> The Pirates then defeated the [[1971 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]] three games to one in the [[1971 National League Championship Series]] to face the [[1971 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] in the [[1971 World Series]]. In the only postseason appearance of his career, he faced five batters, allowing two [[inherited runner]]s to score on two [[base on balls|walks]] and one hit as the Orioles won 11–3 in Game 2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=vealebo01&t=p&post=1 |title=Bob Veale post-season log |publisher=Baseball-reference.com |access-date=February 1, 2020}}</ref> The Pirates won the World Series in seven games.<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/>

On May 10, [[1972 Pittsburgh Pirates season|1972]], the Pirates released Veale and he agreed to accept an assignment to the Pirates' Triple-A team in Charleston.<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> On September 1, the Boston Red Sox signed Veale and used him as a [[relief pitcher]].<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> He pitched well enough to earn a spot with Boston in 1973, where he had 11 saves and 3.47 ERA. Veale began the next season playing for [[Pawtucket Red Sox|Triple-A Pawtucket]], before joining the Red Sox in May. He pitched in 18 games that season and made his final major league appearance on September 8, [[1974 Boston Red Sox season|1974]], at the age of 38.<ref name="Bob Veale statistics"/>

==Career statistics==
In a thirteen-season major league career, Veale posted a 120–95 record with 1,703 strikeouts and a 3.07 ERA in 1,926 [[innings pitched]], including 20 [[shutout (baseball)|shutouts]] and 78 [[complete game]]s.<ref name="Bob Veale statistics"/> His lifetime ratio of 7.96 [[strikeouts per nine innings]] is still a Pirates career team record, ranks fifth all-time for pitchers with 1,500-plus innings, and 65th overall on the MLB all-time list.<ref name="Pittsburgh Pirates team records">{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp?c_id=pit#sortColumn=so&sectionType=sp&playerType=ALL&statType=pitching&season=2019&season_type=ALL&game_type='R'&elem=%5Bobject+Object%5D&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Player+pitching&league_code='MLB'&page=1&ts=1579454536184 |title=Pittsburgh Pirates team records |work=mlb.com |access-date=January 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/strikeouts_per_nine_career.shtml |title=Career Leaders & Records for Strikeouts per 9 IP |publisher=baseball-reference.com |access-date=January 19, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Bob Veale at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame">{{cite web|url=https://www.ashof.org/inductees/bob-veale/ |title=Bob Veale at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame |date=August 2, 2019 |publisher=ashof.org |access-date=January 19, 2020}}</ref> His 16 strikeouts in a game remains a [[List of Pittsburgh Pirates team records|Pirates team record]]. When he retired in 1974, he was the only Pirate pitcher to have 200 strikeouts in a season.<ref name="Bob Veale at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame"/> Veale ranks second to [[Bob Friend]] in Pirates career strikeouts.<ref name="Pittsburgh Pirates team records"/> <!--He was among {{cspan|the top three strikeout pitchers in the National League three times}}.--> He also led the National League in walks four times<!--, {{cspan|tying a modern record}}-->.<ref name="Bob Veale statistics" />

==Later life==
After his playing career, Veale worked as a minor-league pitching instructor for the [[Atlanta Braves]] and the [[New York Yankees]].<ref name='Bob Veale at SABR'/> He also served as a groundskeeper at [[Rickwood Field]], the oldest baseball stadium in the United States.<ref name=obit/>

In 1990, Veale was inducted into his college's Raven Hall of Fame and in 2006,<ref name=":0" /> Veale was inducted into the [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Bob Veale at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame"/>

==Personal life and death==
Veale married Eredean Sanders, his high school sweetheart, in 1973.<ref name=obit/>

Veale died in Birmingham, Alabama on January 3, 2025, at the age of 89.<ref name=obit>{{cite news |last1=Stephenson |first1=Creg |title=Birmingham's Bob Veale, All-Star pitcher with Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960s, has died at 89 |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2025/01/birminghams-bob-veale-all-star-pitcher-with-pittsburgh-pirates-in-1960s-has-died-at-89.html |work=AL.com |date=January 7, 2025}}</ref><ref name="MLB-obit">{{cite news |last1=Stumpf |first1=Alex |title=Bob Veale, 1971 World Series champ with Pirates, dies at 89 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pirates-pitcher-bob-veale-dies-at-89 |access-date=January 13, 2025 |work=MLB.com |date=January 7, 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/sports/baseball/bob-veale-dead.html |title=Bob Veale, Towering Fireballer for the '60s Pirates, Dies at 89|work=The New York Times |date=January 9, 2025 |first=Richard |last=Sandomir}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career FIP leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Baseballstats |mlb=123684 |espn= |br=v/vealebo01 |fangraphs=1013391 |brm=veale-001rob |retro=V/Pvealb101 }}
* {{SABR Baseball Biography Project|bob-veale}}
* {{IMDb name| 5193143}}

{{Navboxes|list1=
{{1971 Pittsburgh Pirates}}
{{Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day starting pitchers}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Veale, Bob}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:African-American baseball players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Birmingham, Alabama]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Birmingham, Alabama]]
[[Category:Benedictine College alumni]]
[[Category:Benedictine Ravens baseball players]]
[[Category:Benedictine Ravens men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Boston Red Sox players]]
[[Category:Columbus Jets players]]
[[Category:Charleston Charlies players]]
[[Category:Las Vegas Wranglers (baseball) players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Minor league baseball coaches]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:National League strikeout champions]]
[[Category:Pawtucket Red Sox players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players]]
[[Category:Wilson Tobs players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople with visual impairment]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]