Ex-Reds
pitcher Purkey dead at 78 BETHEL PARK, Pa. (AP) -- Bob Purkey, who pitched in three All-Star games and one World Series with the Cincinnati Reds, has died. He was 78. Purkey died Sunday, according to the Paul L. Henney Funeral Home. Purkey had a 129-115 record and a 3.79 ERA over 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Reds, and St. Louis Cardinals, last appearing in a game in 1966. He tossed a complete game in the Reds' 3-2 loss to the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the 1961 World Series. He was used in relief later in the series and had an ERA of 1.64 over 11 innings. The Yankees won the title in five games. Purkey's best season was in 1962, when he went 23-5 with a 2.81 ERA and 18 complete games. Purkey was 103-76 in 217 starts over seven seasons with Cincinnati (1958-64) and was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1974. Purkey was the starting pitcher for the National League in the 1961 All-Star game, opposing Detroit's Jim Bunning, now a U.S. senator from Kentucky. Purkey is survived by his daughter, Candy Holland, and was preceded in death by his wife, Joan, and their son, Bobby Jr. |
Robert T. "Bob" Purkey 3/18/2008 Bob Purkey,
Age 78, of Bethel Park, on Sunday, March 16, 2008; Devoted husband of
the late Joan(Latsko) Purkey, loving father of Candy(Bob) Holland and
the late Bobby Purkey, Jr. Cherished grandfather of Ross and Brian Holland.
Son of the late Edward and Anna Purkey; Brother of Don (Beverly) Purkey
and the late Edward Purkey; Brother in law of John(Barbara) Latsko,
Bill (the late Connie) Latsko, Geri (Charley) Rabe, Nancy (the late
Joe) Latsko and Norma Purkey. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
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