Bob Friend
| Birthdate | 11/24/1930 |
| Death Date | 2/3/2019 |
| Debut Year | 1951 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Mets, Pirates, Yankees |
| Position | Pitcher |
The Pittsburgh Pirates franchise leader in strikeouts and innings pitched, Bob Friend also gave up the first of Pete Rose’s 4,256 career hits.
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Friend gave up Pete Rose's 1st MLB hit and faced Jackie Robinson in his final at bat
Friend gave up Pete Rose's 1st MLB hit and faced Jackie Robinson in his final at bat
He pitched to Jackie Robinson in the Dodger star’s final at bat and later surrendered Pete Rose’s first career hit.
Bob Friend enjoyed a 16-year big league career in which he was a 20-game winner and a three-time All Star. He pitched to Jackie Robinson in the Dodger star’s final at bat and later surrendered Pete Rose’s first career hit.
Shown here is a questionnaire signed and filled out entirely in Bob Friend’s hand. Friend reminisces about both Rose and Robinson as well as his own career.
Bob Friend was a three-time All Star for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Bob Friend was a three-time All Star for the Pittsburgh Pirates
This autographed card commemorates Friend’s 1958 All Star season. Friend won a career-high 22 games that season to lead the league.
From 1956-1960 Friend made three All Star teams, winning a total of 83 games over that span. Friend’s appearance in the ’58 mid-summer classic didn’t go as planned — in 2 1/3 innings he gave up a pair of runs on four hits and was the pitcher of record in the National League’s 4-3 loss.
Bob Friend was the first ERA leader from a last-place team
Bob Friend was the first ERA leader from a last-place team
The Pittsburgh Pirates franchise leader in strikeouts and innings pitched, Friend was also the first pitcher to lead the league in ERA while playing for a last place team.
Shown here is a pair of autographed Bob Friend Topps cards, one from 1957 the other from 1961. The Pittsburgh hurler passed his athletic genes to his son, Bob Jr. who was a professional golfer on the PGA Tour.
Friend and Pittsburgh pitchers sign this 1959 Topps offering
Friend and Pittsburgh pitchers sign this 1959 Topps offering
“Buc Hill Aces” is the title of this card that features four Pirate pitchers, Ron Kline, Bob Friend, Vern Law, and Roy Face. Each has signed this 1959 baseball card produced by Topps Chewing Gum.
The quartet was the mainstay of the Pittsburgh staff as the Kline, Friend, and Law combined for 49 of the team’s 83 victories. Face pitched entirely out of the bullpen earning 20 saves in 57 appearances.
Bob Friend's career year came in 1958
Bob Friend's career year came in 1958
Bob Friend had a career year in 1958, the year this Topps “Mound Aces” card was produced. With 22 wins, Friend earned the second of his three Al Star berths.
Pictured with Friend is White Sox hurler Billy Pierce. The Chicago pitcher won 20 games in both 1956 and 1957 and was an All Star each season. The next year he appeared on this card with the Pittsburgh star.
