Bob Turley

From BR Bullpen

Robert Lee Turley (Bullet Bob)

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 2", Weight 215 lb.

Debut September 29, 1951
Final Game September 21, 1963
Born September 19, 1930 in Troy, IL USA

[edit] Biographical Information

"I sat down with this eight-year-old perched on my knee and his mother took the picture. Now it's about 40 years later and here's Billy Crystal telling me, `Bob, that's my favorite picture. It's on my desk today.'" - Bob Turley, about being a Yankee hero to a child

Pitcher Bob Turley played 12 seasons in the major leagues and appeared in five World Series, winning four games in Series play. He won the 1958 Cy Young Award, and he had good records in a number of other seasons, going 17-13 in 1955, 8-4 in 1956, 13-6 in 1957 and 9-3 in 1960. "Bullet Bob" was often among the leaders in strikeouts per nine innings.

Turley also was good at figuring out what the opposing pitcher was going to throw. He would tip off his teammates at bat by whistles. Mickey Mantle and Gil McDougald were especially interested in getting the secret messages.

He struck out 22 in a 16-inning Texas League game in 1951. It is the TL record. The 9-inning record is held by Dave Righetti. He would miss the next year due to military service.

Turley was the first pitcher from the American League to win the Cy Young Award, with the 1958 Yankees. He was also the World Series' Most Valuable Player that year.

Turley was a Boston Red Sox coach in 1964.

After baseball he sold mutual funds and insurance, and was a co-founder of Primerica.

One source: Baseball Digest, August 2002.

[edit] Notable Achievements

3-time AL All-Star (1954, 1955 & 1958)
ML Cy Young Award Winner (1958)
1958 World Series MVP
AL Wins Leader (1958)
AL Strikeouts Leader (1954)
AL Complete Games Leader (1958)
15 Wins Seasons: 2 (1955 & 1958)
20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1958)
200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1954, 1955 & 1958)
200 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1955)
Won four World Series with the New York Yankees (1956, 1958, 1961 & 1962) (he did not play in the 1961 and 1962 World Series).