I'm not a Major leaguer but I did know a man that had a profound impact on me: "My career buddy ..." We've known each other since high school. He pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an All-Star in 1956 and 1958. He was an excellent marketer and eventually went on to become a major leaguer.
Friend pitched for Pittsburgh Pirates
My best friend in baseball pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates back in the 1960s. Friend was awarded three NL Cy Young Awards during his career and was named the league’s best pitcher four times. He was the first pitcher with a sub-three ERA. Friend also led NL strikeouts per walked issued. He pitched more than 200 innings six times in his career, including five seasons when he topped 200 innings.
Bob Friend pitched in minor league ball before making his big-league debut in 1950. He won three games that season for the Pirates and was a key part of their 1960 championship team. Friend was born in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1930. He grew up playing basketball, football, golf, and baseball. He was a star athlete at West Lafayette High School and signed with the Pirates prior to the 1950 season.
Friend was an All-Star from 1956, 1958, and 1960.
Friend pitched in the National League for three seasons and was an All-Star in each of those years. He was the league leader in games started and innings pitched. His best season came in 1958 when he had a record of 22-14 and tied Warren Spahn as the league's leader in wins. After going 18-12 through the regular season, Friend made the All-Star roster in 1960. He also had a bad record against the New York Yankees, in the World Series.
Friend was born Robert Bartmess Friend in 1930 and raised in West Lafayette, Ind. He started piano lessons at the age of five and intended to become a concert pianist. He was also a West Lafayette High School star football and baseball player. He was signed before the 1950 season by the Pirates.
Friend was an All-Star in 1960
Friend had a very good command and was extremely durable. He didn't have to go on the disability list. 1958 was his best season. He went 22-14 and tied Warren Spahn as the league's leader in wins. He was an All-Star again in 1960, when his record was 18-12. He was unable to pitch well against the Yankees in World Series.
After spending one season with the minors Friend joined the Pirates as a player in 1951. The Pirates were seventh in that series. However, Friend was traded for the following season. He became the team’s all-time leader for innings pitched, strikes outs, and games played. In 1963, he gave up the first of Pete Rose's 4,256 hits. Friend teamed up in 1960 with Bob Cooper (an A-list hurler who played for the Pirates between the 1910s and the 1920s).