| Bob Welch | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: November 3, 1956 Detroit, Michigan |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| June 20, 1978 for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 11, 1994 for the Oakland Athletics | |
| Career statistics | |
| Win–Loss record | 211–146 |
| Earned run average | 3.47 |
| Strikeouts | 1,969 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Robert Lynn "Bob" Welch (born November 3, 1956) is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1978–87) and Oakland Athletics (1988–94). He played in college for Eastern Michigan. Welch was best known for his blazing fastball, and he is the last pitcher to win 27 games in a single season. He also had a well-respected split-fingered pitch that was displayed on a baseball card.
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In a 17-year career, Welch compiled a 211-146 record with 1,969 strikeouts and a 3.47 ERA in 3,092 innings.
Welch gained national fame in 1978 when as a 21-year-old rookie he struck out Reggie Jackson with two men on base and two out in the top of the ninth inning of Game 2 of the 1978 World Series.
Welch was the third starting pitcher in the rotation for the 1989 World Series champion Oakland A's, compiling a regular-season record of 17-8 and recording a win in his only start in the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. In an odd twist of fate, however, Welch did not throw a single pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the World Series itself. Just minutes before Welch was to take the mound in Game 3, Candlestick Park and the Bay Area were struck by the Loma Prieta earthquake, which caused extensive damage in the region and forced the postponement of the game. When the Series was resumed 11 days later, A's manager Tony LaRussa opted to re-use his Game 1 starter, Dave Stewart, for Game 3 in place of Welch, and his Game 2 starter, Mike Moore, for Game 4 in place of originally scheduled starter Storm Davis. The strategy worked, as the A's swept the Series in four games. For obvious reasons, the 1989 World Series was also known as the Earthquake Series.
A two-time All-Star, Welch won 14 or more games in eight years, with a career-high 27 in 1990. In that season he received the Cy Young Award and was considered in the MVP vote. The 27 win total was the most by any pitcher since Steve Carlton also won 27 in 1972, and currently stands as the last time a pitcher has won 25 or more games in a season. The last pitcher to win more games in a season was Denny McLain, with 31 wins in 1968.
Welch was the starting and losing pitcher of Games One and Four of the 1990 World Series. The Athletics' other two 1990 World Series starting pitchers were Stewart and Scott Sanderson. Sanderson became one of the three starters due to his win-loss record and to Moore having a losing record in 1990. Welch's personal catcher throughout much of his Oakland Athletics career was [Ron Hassey), while Stewart, Moore and Sanderson, among other pitchers, would have Terry Steinbach as their batterymate.
His book Five O'Clock Comes Early: A Cy Young Award-Winner Recounts His Greatest Victory was co-written with New York Times sports columnist George Vecsey and chronicles Welch's battle with alcoholism.
Welch was the pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks when they won the World Series in 2001.
During the 2006 World Baseball Classic, Welch served as the pitching coach for The Netherlands.
His son Riley Welch was a 34th round selection by the Oakland A's in the 2008 MLB Draft. Riley currently plays baseball for the University of Hawaii.
3rd Most wins in the MLB of the 1980's
| Preceded by Bret Saberhagen |
American League Wins Champion 1990 |
Succeeded by Scott Erickson & Bill Gullickson |
| Preceded by Bret Saberhagen |
American League Cy Young Award 1990 |
Succeeded by Roger Clemens |
| Preceded by Dave Stewart |
American League All-Star Game Starting Pitcher 1990 |
Succeeded by Jack Morris |
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