| Bob Stanley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1954-11-10)November 10, 1954 (age 71) Portland, Maine, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 16, 1977, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 5, 1989, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 115–97 |
| Earned run average | 3.64 |
| Strikeouts | 693 |
| Saves | 132 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Robert William Stanley (born November 10, 1954) is an American former professionalbaseballrelief pitcher who spent his entireMajor League Baseball (MLB) career with theBoston Red Sox. He was later the pitching coach for theBuffalo Bisons,Triple-A affiliate of theToronto Blue Jays, through the 2018 season.[1]
Stanley attendedKearny High School inKearny, New Jersey, where he earned all-state honors as a pitcher-shortstop;[2] he came within three outs of pitching aperfect game in May 1973 againstBloomfield High School.[3]
Stanley was selected by theLos Angeles Dodgers in the ninth round of theJune 1973 MLB draft, but did not sign with the team,[4] choosing instead to attend college.[5] During this era, another draft was held in the winter; Stanley was selected by theBoston Red Sox in the first round of the January 1974 secondary draft,[4] and this time elected to sign.[5] He began his professional career with theElmira Pioneers in1974, spent1975 with theWinter Haven Red Sox, and advanced to theBristol Red Sox at theDouble-A level in1976.[6] Stanley made his major league debut with theRed Sox on April 16,1977.[4]
Stanley was named an All-Star in1979, a year in which he pitched in 40 games (30 starts). He won 16 games and lost 12, with anearned run average (ERA) of 3.99. Following two more seasons of mixed usage, Stanley was deployed as a full-time relief pitcher in1982, maintaining a 3.10 ERA over168+1⁄3 innings pitched. As of the beginning of the2022 season, this remains theAmerican League record for innings pitched by a relief pitcher.[7] While he was not named to the All-Star team, Stanley was recognized with down-ballot votes for theCy Young andMost Valuable Player awards. He was named to his second All-Star team the following season,1983, appearing in 64 games and pitching145+1⁄3 innings, while recording 33saves and a 2.85 ERA, and he remained a fixture of the Red Sox bullpen in the years which followed.[8]
Stanley was a key member of the1986 Red Sox team that came within one strike of winning theWorld Series but ultimately fell to theNew York Mets in seven games. Stanley entered Game 6 with the Red Sox one out away from clinching their first World Series since 1918, holding a one-run lead with runners on first and third. Stanley threw awild pitch toMookie Wilson which allowedKevin Mitchell to score the tying run andRay Knight to move to second base, putting him inposition to score the winning run onBill Buckner's fielding error. Stanley and the Red Sox returned toShea Stadium for Game 7, which the New York Mets won by a score of 8–5.[9]
In1987, Stanley was converted to a regularstarting pitcher for the first time since 1979, compiling a 4–15 record with 67strikeouts and a 5.01 ERA.[4] After returning to the bullpen to pitch two more seasons as a reliever, Stanley announced his retirement on September 25,1989. In a 13-year career spent entirely with the Red Sox, he compiled a 115–97win–loss record with 693strikeouts, a 3.64 ERA, 21complete games, sevenshutouts, 132 saves, and 1707innings pitched in 637 games (85 as a starter).[4]
Asinker ball specialist, Stanley is the Red Sox all-time leader inappearances and relief wins, and was inducted to theRed Sox Hall of Fame in 2000. Stanley was also the team's all-time saves leader, a record he held for 20 years, untilJonathan Papelbon tied him on June 29, 2009, and then passed him on July 1, 2009.[10] Stanley is the first, and to date only, player born inMaine to be named to anMLB All-Star Game.[11]
Prior to joining the Blue Jays, Stanley served as a minor league pitching coach in theNew York Mets' andSan Francisco Giants' organizations, including service with theConnecticut Defenders, the Giants'Double-AEastern League affiliate.
On December 23, 2011, Stanley was announced as the pitching coach for the Blue Jays'Triple-A affiliate, theLas Vegas 51s.[12] On January 7, 2013, Toronto announced that Stanley would be the pitching coach for their new Triple-Afarm club, theBuffalo Bisons.[13]
Almost a year later, on January 4, 2014, the Blue Jays announced that Stanley would be replacingPat Hentgen as their bullpen coach.[14] On December 19, Stanley was named the pitching coach for the Double-ANew Hampshire Fisher Cats.[15] On January 19, 2016, Stanley was announced as returning to the Buffalo Bisons.[16] Stanley was confirmed to return for a third season as the Bisons' pitching coach on January 19, 2017.[17]
During his career, Stanley earned the nicknames "the Steamer" and "Bigfoot."[8] He lives in the Seacoast region of southernNew Hampshire. On April 4, 2011, he was named President of theSeacoast Mavericks of theFutures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL). On June 10, 2011, Stanley threw out the first pitch to inaugurate theMartha's Vineyard Sharks of the FCBL.
| Preceded by | Toronto Blue Jaysbullpen coach 2014 | Succeeded by |
