Bob Keegan

From BR Bullpen

Robert Charles Keegan (Smiley)

Bats Right, Throws Right
Weight 207 lb.
School Bucknell University
Debut May 24, 1953
Final Game July 24, 1958
Born August 4, 1920 in Rochester, NY USA
Died June 20, 2001 in Rochester, NY USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Right-hander Bob Keegan was signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Yankees before the 1946 season. The 25 year old Keegan, a native of Rochester, New York who had also attended Bucknell University, was fresh out of the United States Army Air Corps where he had been a navigator on a B-24 during World War II. The Yankees assigned him to the Binghamton Triplets of the class A Eastern League where he posted a 5-6 record with a 3.87 ERA his first year out.

Keegan would struggle while in the New York Yankee system (1946-51) and have only two seasons above .500 in those years, going 8-6 in 1948 in a split year with the Kansas City Blues and the Newark Bears and 14-9 in 1951 with Kansas City again and the Syracuse Chiefs. It appears that the Syracuse club knew a good thing when they saw it. On April 3, 1952 they purchased Keegan from the Yankees and the right-hander went 20-11 with a 2.64 ERA. The season was hardly over when Syracuse sold Bob to the White Sox for an unknown amount.

Keegan debuted with the White Sox on May 24, 1953. He came in to relieve Gene Bearden early in a game against Detroit. He shut them out the rest of the way and it was his first big league win. After going 7-5 in 1953 he opened the '54 season 12-2 and was picked for the All-Star team. Bob pitched in the eighth inning, giving up a single to Willie Mays and a home run to Gus Bell. Keegan finished 16-9 in '54 but he sputtered the next two seasons (7-12) due to physical problems.

Keegan was back on track in 1957 with a 10-8 mark and a 3.53 ERA and on August 20, 1957, the 37 year old right-hander had the high-light of his career when he no-hit the Washington Senators. It was the first no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in the previous year's World Series and the only one in the big leagues during the 1957 season. Bob would fade in 1958 appearing in only 14 games and going 0-2. 1958 would be his last year of six in the major leagues, all with the Chicago White Sox and he finished out with a 40-36 record and a 3.66 ERA.

Not ready to quit just yet Keegan dropped into the minors with the Rochester Red Wings of the International League in 1959 and went 18-10 with a 3.04 ERA for the fifth place club. His 18 wins led the IL that year. The 39 year old would be back with Rochester in 1960, his final year in pro baseball and wind up with a 6-9 count and a 3.73 ERA. He spent 10 seasons in the minors finishing up with a 96-90 record and a 3.75 ERA.

Keegan died on June 20, 2001, at age 80 in Rochester, New York, where he was a purchasing agent and plant manager for an optical equipment company during his working years.