Sunday, July 12, 2009

1981 Donruss #393 Bob Walk

Bob Walk only pitched 28 games for the Phillies, but he's best remembered in Philly as the rookie who started Game 1 of the 1980 World Series. When he won the game, he became just the second Philadelphia Phillies' player to win a World Series game, and the first since Grover Cleveland Alexander had won a game in the 1915 World Series.

"Whirly Bird" joined the Phillies' starting rotation in May 1980 and he finished the year at 11-7 with a 4.57 ERA.

In March 1981, Bob was shipped to the Atlanta Braves for Gary Matthews. He pitched three years in Atlanta before signing as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He'd pitch 10 seasons with the Pirates, including three NLCS appearances with the team from 1990 through 1992. Following the 1993 season and after a 14-year career in which he collected 105 wins, Bob retired, eventually joining the Pirates' broadcast booth.

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