Say, wait a minute! The Indians didn't wear pinstripes in the 1960s, did they? Why, no! No they didn't! Those are Yankee pinstripes, as Bud was traded to Cleveland on November 27, 1964. This is the veteran's last baseball card, as the Tribe released him on April 9. Sad but true.
-Hailing from Orange, CA, Bud signed with the Indians as a teen in 1951.
-Despite a strong minor league record (78-49 in the Cleveland farm system), the knuckleballer struggled in parts of three seasons with his first big league club, going 3-9 with a 4.87 ERA before being dealt in early 1958 to Baltimore, who in turn flipped him to Kansas City.
-Tossed four consecutive complete games from May 23-June 6, 1959. In that span, he was 4-0 with an 0.75 ERA, allowing four runs (three earned) on 26 hits in 36 innings. He struck out 17 and walked three, and even contributed with the bat. In those four games, Bud batted .375 (6-for-16) with 7 RBI. When you're hot, you're hot!
-In 1960, he formed a "Daley Double" battery with A's catcher Pete Daley (no relation).
-Bud was traded to the Yankees during the 1961 season and contributed to back-to-back World Champions in 1961 and 1962, including a 3.59 ERA in 43 games in the latter season.
-He shined in World Series play, allowing six hits and two runs (both unearned) in eight innings spanning three postseason games. When starter Ralph Terry was chased in the third inning of Game Five of the 1961 Series, Bud put out the fire and went the distance, earning the win in the clinching game of the Fall Classic.
-An arm injury midway through the 1964 season prematurely ended his career. He finished with a 60-64 record in parts of ten seasons with a 4.03 ERA.
-He and his wife Dorothy owned B & D Sprinklers, a lawn sprinkler company in Lander, WY. Currently, they are enjoying retirement in Riverton, WY.
-An arm injury midway through the 1964 season prematurely ended his career. He finished with a 60-64 record in parts of ten seasons with a 4.03 ERA.
-He and his wife Dorothy owned B & D Sprinklers, a lawn sprinkler company in Lander, WY. Currently, they are enjoying retirement in Riverton, WY.
If your name was Leavitt Leo Daley you'd go by 'Bud', too.
ReplyDeleteI think he started the first game I ever saw in Memorial Stadium. I know it was the Yankees we played and I know Brooks hit a home run. Might have been this game but I don't remember it being a doubleheader. Dunno.
Bob - Buddy Groom agrees.
ReplyDeleteI have played a lot of golf with Bud. He is a hell of a golfer and shoots his age regularly.
ReplyDeleteI worked with Bud in Orange Calif. in 1970 or so. It was a chemical company where we worked together. Bud was one of the best people I've ever met let alone working with. Don't know if you remember that 21 year old kid named Mike but I remember you and it was fun working with you. Happy retirement! I'm enjoying mine!
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