Steve Barber

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Steve Barber

Stephen David Barber (February 22, 1938 - February 4, 2007) was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1960 to 1974, best known for his years with the Baltimore Orioles. In 1963 he became the first pitcher of the modern Orioles to win 20 games in a season.

Barber was born in Takoma Park, Maryland, and signed with the Orioles in 1957. As a 1960 rookie he had a record of 10-7 and an earned run average of 3.22 (sixth best in the American League), but also led the AL in both walks (113) and wild pitches (10). In 1961 he tied for the AL lead in shutouts with 8, and had a record of 18-12. In 1963 he compiled 20 wins against 13 losses, with a 2.75 ERA, and was named an All-Star for the first time. He was again named an All-Star in 1966, but tendonitis in his elbow prevented him from appearing in the game, and also kept him out of the World Series as the Orioles swept the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in four games for the first title in franchise history. On April 30, 1967, he was removed from a game against the Detroit Tigers with two out in the ninth inning after having given up two runs despite having not surrendered a hit; Stu Miller got the final out to complete the no-hitter, although the Orioles lost 2-1.

Barber spent the rest of his career with several teams, plagued by elbow troubles. He was traded by the Orioles to the New York Yankees in July 1967, and was selected by the expansion Seattle Pilots in an expansion draft after the 1968 season when the Yankees left him unprotected. After the Pilots relocated and became the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970, Barber was released just before the season, but played that year for the Chicago Cubs, and then for the Atlanta Braves after the Cubs released him in June 1970; from 1970 forward, Barber pitched almost exclusively in relief. He remained with the Braves until they released him in May 1972, then joined the California Angels until they traded him back to the Brewers following the 1973 season. The Brewers cut him in 1974 spring training, however, and he appeared in 13 games for the San Francisco Giants, ending his career. He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in August 1974, but never pitched for the team. Over his 15-year career, Barber had a record of 121-106 with 1309 strikeouts, 21 shutouts, 13 saves and a 3.36 ERA in 466 games and 1999 innings pitched.

Barber and his wife moved to the Las Vegas area in 1978. From 1992-2006, he worked as a driver for the Clark County School District, providing transportation for children with disabilities.^[1] Barber died of pneumonia in Henderson, Nevada at age 68.

[edit] Trivia

Barber led the Orioles in victories in 1961, 1963, and 1965.
Barber is described in Jim Bouton's book Ball Four as having an injured arm, but denying any injury the whole season. He is described as having various therapies done on his arm, but as "precautionary measures" because his arm is "stiff" rather than "sore" or "hurt."