Bob Welch | |||
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Pitcher | |||
Born: November 3, 1956 Detroit, Michigan |
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Died: June 9, 2014 Seal Beach, California |
(aged 57)|||
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MLB debut | |||
June 20, 1978, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
August 11, 1994, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
MLB 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 (November 3, 1956 – June 9, 2014) was an American professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1978–87) and Oakland Athletics (1988–94). Prior to his professional career, he attended Eastern Michigan University, where he played college baseball for the Eastern Michigan Hurons baseball team. He helped lead the Hurons, coached by Ron Oestrike, to the 1976 College World Series, losing to Arizona in the Championship Game.
Welch was a two time MLB All-Star, and he won the American League Cy Young Award as the league's best pitcher in 1990. He was a member of three World Series champion teams. He is the last pitcher to win at least 25 games in a single season (27 in 1990).
In a 17-year career, Welch compiled a 211–146 record with 1,969 strikeouts and a 3.47 ERA in 3,092 innings. His 137 wins during the 1980s was third among major league pitchers during that decade, following Jack Morris and Dave Stieb.
Welch gained national fame with Los Angeles 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 against the New York Yankees.