Bob Veale

Robert Andrew Veale

• Bats Both, Throws Left
• Height 6' 6", Weight 212 lb.
• School Benedictine College
• High School Holy Family High School
• Debut April 16, 1962
• Final Game September 8, 1974
• Born October 28, 1935 in Birmingham, AL USA
• Died January 3, 2025 in Birmingham, AL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"Good pitching always stops good hitting, and vice versa." - Bob Veale, circa summer 1966

Bob Veale was one of the hardest throwers in the National League during the 1960s. In 1964 he struck out 250 and added 276 more in 1965. The Pirates converted him to the bullpen in 1971 and he finished his career with the Boston Red Sox in 1974. Veale had a lifetime record of 120-95 with a 3.07 ERA. He holds the Pirates 20th Century strikeout record for a single season for a lefty and overall with 276 in 1965; Ed Morris had fanned 326 for Pittsburgh 80 years earlier.

Veale coached for the Utica Blue Sox in 1983 and probably 1982 at least.

Notable Achievements

• 2-time NL All-Star (1965 & 1966)
• NL Strikeouts Leader (1964)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 4 (1964-1967)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 7 (1964-1970)
• 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 4 (1964-1966 & 1969)
• Won a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971

Further Reading

• Alex Stumpf: "Bob Veale, 1971 World Series champ with Pirates, dies at 89", mlb.com, January 7, 2025. [1]

Related Sites

• Bob Veale at the SABR Bio Project