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Bob Moose Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher
Bob Moose, 1967-1976
Showing posts with label pirates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pirates. Show all posts
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Saturday, July 30, 2016
BOB MOOSE pictured in 1974 Pittsburgh Pirates team photo
BOB MOOSE pictured in 1974 Pittsburgh Pirates team photo
Friday, January 1, 2016
2016- 40 YEARS AGO
It is hard to believe that it will be FORTY YEARS since Bob Moose passed away (10/9/76). If he was still living, he would be 68, going on 69. Judging by the very positive and large response I receive whenever I post photos and info about Bob on Facebook forums, Bob's memory lives on.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
1971 World Series Game 6 Pirates @ Orioles
1971 World Series Game 6 Pirates @ Orioles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO6nL1WemD0
Check out Bob's reaction around 16 minute mark to umpire's call
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Monday, March 2, 2015
1965 Quill Franklin Regional Senior High School photo of future Pirates pitcher Bob Moose and his final official Bucco portrait, 1976
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Highly recommended baseball blog and great tribute to Bob Moose
http://whentoppshadballs.blogspot.com/2013/07/in-memoriam-part-ii-bob-moose.html?showComment=1395277414220#c7917027495646461708
"IN MEMORIAM" PART II: BOB MOOSE
"IN MEMORIAM" PART II: BOB MOOSE
Pitching his entire career for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bob Moose was an effective starter before arm trouble in 1974 slowed down his career, leading him to work mainly out of the 'pen in 1975 and 1976.
In three of his full seasons as a starter, he posted E.R.A.'s under 3.00, and in 1969 he lead the N.L. in Winning Percentage at .823 with a nifty 14-3 record.
The highlight of his career had to be his September 20, 1969 no-hitter against the eventual World Champ New York Mets.
Tragically, on October 9th, 1976, after a season in which he appeared in 53 games and saved 10, Moose was killed on his 29th birthday in an auto accident while on his way to Bill Mazeroski's golf course in Martin's Ferry, Ohio.
I remember that as a kid, Bob Moose was the first baseball player (maybe even first "celebrity") that I heard of "dying young" or however you want to put it.
My cousin, who was a few years older than my 7 years, came over my house with his baseball cards (which we did anytime we went to each others house back then) and specifically pulled out his Bob Moose card and told me what happened.
I recall just staring at his card and having one of those moments where you just learned something about "life", and having a brief moment of mortality in a way that only a young mind could try and understand.
So for this post, I submit a 1977 "Memoriam" card for the former Pirate starting pitcher, as I remember that day over 35 years ago when "life" and baseball mixed for the first time.
In three of his full seasons as a starter, he posted E.R.A.'s under 3.00, and in 1969 he lead the N.L. in Winning Percentage at .823 with a nifty 14-3 record.
The highlight of his career had to be his September 20, 1969 no-hitter against the eventual World Champ New York Mets.
Tragically, on October 9th, 1976, after a season in which he appeared in 53 games and saved 10, Moose was killed on his 29th birthday in an auto accident while on his way to Bill Mazeroski's golf course in Martin's Ferry, Ohio.
I remember that as a kid, Bob Moose was the first baseball player (maybe even first "celebrity") that I heard of "dying young" or however you want to put it.
My cousin, who was a few years older than my 7 years, came over my house with his baseball cards (which we did anytime we went to each others house back then) and specifically pulled out his Bob Moose card and told me what happened.
I recall just staring at his card and having one of those moments where you just learned something about "life", and having a brief moment of mortality in a way that only a young mind could try and understand.
So for this post, I submit a 1977 "Memoriam" card for the former Pirate starting pitcher, as I remember that day over 35 years ago when "life" and baseball mixed for the first time.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Bob Moose listed in "Top 10 Pirates Pitching Performances" on Root Sports!
Bob Moose listed in "Top 10 Pirates Pitching Performances" on Root Sports! (2013)
Bob Moose was listed for his great 1969 no-hitter, marking the third major time he has appeared on Root Sports: a 2011 commercial/ spotlight about the 1969 no-hitter, "Top 10 Pirates From Pittsburgh" (2013), and this special. I have also caught a Game Six 1971 clip of Moose in 2012, narrated by Steve Blass, as well as a still photo of Moose re: his no-hitter in 2013. Finally, Bob's photo was shown on the jumbotron during the 40th anniversary World Series Anniversary celebrations at PNC Park (on You Tube) and you can catch a glimpse of Moose at the tail end of the rebroadcast of the Game 7 1971 World Series program shown in 2011.
Vince
Bob Moose was listed for his great 1969 no-hitter, marking the third major time he has appeared on Root Sports: a 2011 commercial/ spotlight about the 1969 no-hitter, "Top 10 Pirates From Pittsburgh" (2013), and this special. I have also caught a Game Six 1971 clip of Moose in 2012, narrated by Steve Blass, as well as a still photo of Moose re: his no-hitter in 2013. Finally, Bob's photo was shown on the jumbotron during the 40th anniversary World Series Anniversary celebrations at PNC Park (on You Tube) and you can catch a glimpse of Moose at the tail end of the rebroadcast of the Game 7 1971 World Series program shown in 2011.
Vince
Friday, June 7, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Bob Moose listed at number four in Root Sports "The Top 10 Pirates from Pittsburgh" 6/2/13 !
Bob Moose listed at number four in Root Sports "The Top 10 Pirates from Pittsburgh" 6/2/13 !
Bruce Kison and Richie Hebner shed light on Bob's career, including his 1969 no-hitter (some rare video of the actual game is shown, along with some nice still photos of Bob throughout his career). Well done- needless to say, I put it on DVDr :) Vince
Bruce Kison and Richie Hebner shed light on Bob's career, including his 1969 no-hitter (some rare video of the actual game is shown, along with some nice still photos of Bob throughout his career). Well done- needless to say, I put it on DVDr :) Vince
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
HELP!!!! (for a fan)
"Hey Vince, this is Bob's newest fan, Chris!
Just wanted to update you on my hunt... but there's not much to update on. I'm having a tough time getting a hold of the company that produced this Mr. Moose's autograph.
I was wondering if you could do me a HUGE favor, and if you can't then I understand. Is there any way you could post one of the attached images on your blog and ask if anyone is familiar with a similar signature style? Perhaps another fan out there has the same questions as me. If there's no response then the post could be taken down.
Like we agreed, the PSA/DNA authentication doesn't mean much at the end of the day, but after studying up on Bob I desperately want this to be real! Owning a piece of his story would be amazing.
Either way, I appreciate all of your help!"
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Recommended book with chapter on Bob Moose:
Shortened Seasons: The Untimely Deaths of Major League Baseball's Stars and Journeymen by Fran Zimniuch (2007). I read a preview of this book and ordered it today. Some warm recollections from friends and teammates including Jim Rooker and Steve Blass.
Bob Moose courtesy of the baseball page
"A local boy who flashed through the minor leagues by compiling a 29-10 record in 2 ½ seasons, Bob Moose experienced much in his short lifetime. His baseball career featured almost bipolar highs and lows as he pitched a no-hitter, was a member of a World Championship team, threw a wild pitch which ended a championship series with a heartbreaking loss, had his career and possibly life threatened by a blood clot and made a comeback to again prove he belonged in the major leagues before tragically dying in an automobile accident on his 29th birthday.
Moose was born in Export, PA, about 15 miles from Forbes Field. He was a three-sport letterman in high school and is considered the greatest athlete in the history of Franklin Regional. Moose pitched six no-hitters there and was signed by the Pirates in 1965. His quick rise through the farm system culminated with a complete game win in his first start with the Bucs in 1967.
Moose made the team as a 20-year-old reliever in 1968. He pitched well as a rookie, sporting a 2.74 ERA and 126 K’s in 171 innings pitched, but the Pirates did not support him well and his record was just 8-12.
In 1969, Moose had his finest season. He went 14-3 to lead the National League in winning percentage (.824) and he fanned almost a batter per inning. Also, his single game highlight came that year, on September 20, when he pitched a 4-0 no-hitter against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. Such a performance was not completely a surprise given his domination of opposing hitters and the fact he had pitched 7 2/3 hitless innings the year before against the Astros at Forbes Field. Moose’s performance that night was the closes a pitcher ever came to throwing a no-hitter at Forbes. Julio Gotay, a former Pirate, ended the masterful bid with a single.
Moose’s fine season and overpowering slider cemented a spot in the rotation in 1970, but he was less effective, going 11-10 with a 3.98 ERA. Still, Danny Murtaugh had enough confidence in the right-hander to start him in Game 3 of the NLCS with the Bucs down, 2-0. Moose pitched well, but allowed homeruns to Tony Perez and Johnny Bench and a walk to Ty Cline with two out in the eighth, which became the winning run.
Moose’s season during the 1971 World Championship campaign started in the rotation, but his work was spotty, possibly due to interruptions as he fulfilled his obligation as a member of the US Marine Corps Reserves. He pitched well down the stretch as Murtaugh used him in long relief and spot starts to win his final four decisions and finished 11-7.
Moose made one relief appearance in the playoffs, coming in for Steve Blass in the club’s opening game 5-4 loss to the Giants, pitching two hitless innings. He also relieved twice in the World Series and was effective following Dock Ellis in Game 1, but gave up five runs in one inning in Game 2. However, with Ellis hurting, Murtaugh chose Moose to start Game 6. He pitched 5+ solid innings, allowing only 1 run; in a game the Bucs lost 3-2 in extra innings.
Moose served as Bruce Kison’s best man the following day as the two helicoptered to Kison’s wedding after the Bucs had won their World Championship, 2-1.
With Bill Virdon replacing Murtaugh in 1972, Moose was placed back in the rotation and went 13-10. He led the staff with 144 strikeouts and posted a fine 2.91 ERA, setting career highs in starts and innings pitched. Moose had, by this stage in his career, improved his control significantly and had developed a fine move to first. His quick move was not enough to stop the running attack of the Big Red Machine. Named to start Game 2 of the NLCS, Moose appeared distracted by the Reds’ speedy base runners and failed to retire a batter, allowing five strait hits before being relieved by Bob Johnson.
Called on to stop the Reds in the ninth inning of the deciding fifth game, Moose entered a tied contest with runners on first and second. He retired the first two batters, but one was on a flyball deep enough to advance pinch runner George Foster to third. With Hal McRae batting for Clay Carroll, Moose threw a pitch, which bounced over catcher Manny Sanguillen to allow the Reds to take the playoffs from the Pirates.
As with most of his teammates, Moose had a substandard 1973 season. He went 12-13 and suffered from arm and knee problems, but it was nothing compared to what he experienced in 1974. Moose started the year in an extremely poor fashion seeming to get little on his pitches. Then his arm started to swell and by the time a blood clot was diagnosed, his arm was twice its usual size. Doctors feared his career might be over and Moose was told he was lucky the clot had not burst, as it could have been fatal. Moose, showing more of the grit, which allowed him to comeback after his infamous wild pitch, began to rehab and made the team in 1975. Further time was needed to recover his effectiveness and Moose went down to AAA and earned a September recall. Moose may have been the Pirates best pitcher that month, allowing only one earned run in 26 innings to serve notice he would be a factor for the team in ’76.
When Dave Giusti was proving ineffective that year, Moose moved into a more prominent role as a reliever and led the team in saves with 10, although by the season’s end Kent Tekulve had taken over the role of closer.
Sadly, shortly after the season while celebrating his 29th birthday, Moose was killed in an automobile accident. The Phillies Dick Allen, also from western Pennsylvania, honored Moose’s memory by wearing an armband as he played in the 1976 NLCS.
Teammate and current Pirate broadcaster Blass still holds warm memories of Moose. “Bob lived his life to the fullest,” Blass said, “We were kind of alike as pitchers, both threw sliders. Bob had great control and as good a pick off move to first as you would see. I still miss him.”
Moose was born in Export, PA, about 15 miles from Forbes Field. He was a three-sport letterman in high school and is considered the greatest athlete in the history of Franklin Regional. Moose pitched six no-hitters there and was signed by the Pirates in 1965. His quick rise through the farm system culminated with a complete game win in his first start with the Bucs in 1967.
Moose made the team as a 20-year-old reliever in 1968. He pitched well as a rookie, sporting a 2.74 ERA and 126 K’s in 171 innings pitched, but the Pirates did not support him well and his record was just 8-12.
In 1969, Moose had his finest season. He went 14-3 to lead the National League in winning percentage (.824) and he fanned almost a batter per inning. Also, his single game highlight came that year, on September 20, when he pitched a 4-0 no-hitter against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. Such a performance was not completely a surprise given his domination of opposing hitters and the fact he had pitched 7 2/3 hitless innings the year before against the Astros at Forbes Field. Moose’s performance that night was the closes a pitcher ever came to throwing a no-hitter at Forbes. Julio Gotay, a former Pirate, ended the masterful bid with a single.
Moose’s fine season and overpowering slider cemented a spot in the rotation in 1970, but he was less effective, going 11-10 with a 3.98 ERA. Still, Danny Murtaugh had enough confidence in the right-hander to start him in Game 3 of the NLCS with the Bucs down, 2-0. Moose pitched well, but allowed homeruns to Tony Perez and Johnny Bench and a walk to Ty Cline with two out in the eighth, which became the winning run.
Moose’s season during the 1971 World Championship campaign started in the rotation, but his work was spotty, possibly due to interruptions as he fulfilled his obligation as a member of the US Marine Corps Reserves. He pitched well down the stretch as Murtaugh used him in long relief and spot starts to win his final four decisions and finished 11-7.
Moose made one relief appearance in the playoffs, coming in for Steve Blass in the club’s opening game 5-4 loss to the Giants, pitching two hitless innings. He also relieved twice in the World Series and was effective following Dock Ellis in Game 1, but gave up five runs in one inning in Game 2. However, with Ellis hurting, Murtaugh chose Moose to start Game 6. He pitched 5+ solid innings, allowing only 1 run; in a game the Bucs lost 3-2 in extra innings.
Moose served as Bruce Kison’s best man the following day as the two helicoptered to Kison’s wedding after the Bucs had won their World Championship, 2-1.
With Bill Virdon replacing Murtaugh in 1972, Moose was placed back in the rotation and went 13-10. He led the staff with 144 strikeouts and posted a fine 2.91 ERA, setting career highs in starts and innings pitched. Moose had, by this stage in his career, improved his control significantly and had developed a fine move to first. His quick move was not enough to stop the running attack of the Big Red Machine. Named to start Game 2 of the NLCS, Moose appeared distracted by the Reds’ speedy base runners and failed to retire a batter, allowing five strait hits before being relieved by Bob Johnson.Called on to stop the Reds in the ninth inning of the deciding fifth game, Moose entered a tied contest with runners on first and second. He retired the first two batters, but one was on a flyball deep enough to advance pinch runner George Foster to third. With Hal McRae batting for Clay Carroll, Moose threw a pitch, which bounced over catcher Manny Sanguillen to allow the Reds to take the playoffs from the Pirates.
As with most of his teammates, Moose had a substandard 1973 season. He went 12-13 and suffered from arm and knee problems, but it was nothing compared to what he experienced in 1974. Moose started the year in an extremely poor fashion seeming to get little on his pitches. Then his arm started to swell and by the time a blood clot was diagnosed, his arm was twice its usual size. Doctors feared his career might be over and Moose was told he was lucky the clot had not burst, as it could have been fatal. Moose, showing more of the grit, which allowed him to comeback after his infamous wild pitch, began to rehab and made the team in 1975. Further time was needed to recover his effectiveness and Moose went down to AAA and earned a September recall. Moose may have been the Pirates best pitcher that month, allowing only one earned run in 26 innings to serve notice he would be a factor for the team in ’76.
When Dave Giusti was proving ineffective that year, Moose moved into a more prominent role as a reliever and led the team in saves with 10, although by the season’s end Kent Tekulve had taken over the role of closer.
Sadly, shortly after the season while celebrating his 29th birthday, Moose was killed in an automobile accident. The Phillies Dick Allen, also from western Pennsylvania, honored Moose’s memory by wearing an armband as he played in the 1976 NLCS.
Teammate and current Pirate broadcaster Blass still holds warm memories of Moose. “Bob lived his life to the fullest,” Blass said, “We were kind of alike as pitchers, both threw sliders. Bob had great control and as good a pick off move to first as you would see. I still miss him.”
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