Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Remembering "Bullet Bob" Turley

Gordon Edes, in his article titled Burnett is a short-timer in Game 5 loss, mysteriously fails to mention Bob Turley's outing in game 2 of the 1958 World Series: responsible for 4 runs in 1/3 of an inning in what would be a seven run first inning for the Braves. The Braves pitcher, Lou Burdette, accounted for the final three runs with a home run.

Edes' statement:

Burnett’s pitching line – 2 innings, 6 earned runs, 4 hits, 2 walks, and a hit batsman – ranks among the worst in Series history, in duration and ineffectiveness. Only two pitchers – Russ Ortiz(notes) of the 2002 Giants and Mordecai Brown of the 1906 Cubs – have given up more runs in as short a stint. His start was the shortest by anyone since Roger Clemens(notes) lasted only two innings for Houston in Game 1 in 2005 because of a bad hamstring.

is incorrect. As to duration, Turley lasted 600% less than Burnett and as to ineffectiveness, Turley's effective ERA for the 1/3 of an inning was 108.00, 400% worse than Burnett's 27.00.

From Wikipedia:

A shakier Bob Turley would last only a third of an inning as the Braves lit up the scoreboard with seven (7) first inning runs sparked by a lead-off Bill Bruton home run who hit just three (3) in the season. The inning continued with Schoendienst doubling to right while Eddie Mathews watched a third strike go by for the first out. Hank Aaron walked and dependable Wes Covington singled home a run to right-center. Mid-season pickup Duke Maas relieved Turley to get Frank Torre to fly to right for the second out. Catcher Del Crandall walked loading the bases with Johnny Logan keeping up the onslaught with a two-run scoring single. With the score already 4–1, pitcher Burdette helped his own cause with a three-run homer that left-fielder Elston Howard thought he had a bead on only to crash into the fence. Burdette was just the sixth pitcher (to date) with a World Series home run. Norm Siebern was summoned to take over for Howard and Johnny Kucks came in to pitch to try to stop the bleeding. The tenth batter of the inning, Bruton, lined to short but the damage was done as the Braves were staked to a 7–1 lead.

Turley went on to win game 5, save game 6, and win game 7 of the 1958 World Series, in which the Yankees recovered from a 3-1 deficit.

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