Pirates Strikeout Record Holder Bob Veale Dies at 89

Bob Veale, who holds the Pittsburgh Pirates’ single-season strikeout record for a pitcher in baseball’s Modern Era, has died. He was 89.

AL.com confirmed Veale’s death on Tuesday via Gerald Watkins, the executive director of the Friends of Rickwood Field and a longtime friend of Veale’s. No cause of death was provided.

Veale set the franchise post-1900 record in 1965 when he struck out 276 batters in 266 innings. The bespectacled left-hander led the National League with 250 strikeouts the previous year in his first full year as a starting pitcher. Veale is one of just three pitchers to lead the NL in that category with Hall of Famer Rube Waddell in 1900 and Preacher Roe in 1945.

The Pirates’ overall record is 326 by Ed Morris in 1886, compiled over 555.1 innings.

The 6-foot-6 Veale was one of the hardest-throwing pitchers of his generation. Legendary Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince often said Veale “could throw a strawberry through a locomotive” and threw a “radio ball.”

Veale made his major-league debut for the Pirates in 1962 and pitched with them until his contract was sold to the Boston Red Sox late in the 1972 season. He remained with the Red Sox through the 1974 season before retiring.

Veale had a career record of 120-95, a 3.07 ERA and 21 saves in 397 games (255 starts) over 13 seasons while striking out 1,703 batters in 1,926 innings.

Veale was a two-time All-Star and played on the Pirates’ 1971 World Series-winning team. He made one relief appearance against the Baltimore Orioles in the Fall Classic, allowing one run in 0.2 inning.

The Pirates signed Veale in 1958 from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., seven years before Major League Baseball instituted the amateur draft.

Robert Alan Veale was born on Oct. 28, 1935, in Birmingham, Ala.

The family will hold a private celebration of his life in his honor. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to the Bob Veale Memorial Fund at Benedictine College, formerly Saint Benedict College. Checks can be made out to Benedictine College and sent to Tim Andrews, Benedictine College, Attention: Bob Veale Memorial Fund, 1020 N. 2nd St. Atchison, KS 66002.