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| Bob Bolin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1939-01-29)January 29, 1939 Hickory Grove, South Carolina, U.S. | |
| Died: June 2, 2023(2023-06-02) (aged 84) Easley, South Carolina, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 18, 1961, for the San Francisco Giants | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 30, 1973, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 88–75 |
| Earned run average | 3.40 |
| Strikeouts | 1,175 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Bobby Donald Bolin (January 29, 1939 – June 2, 2023) was an American professionalbaseballpitcher who appeared in 495games inMajor League Baseball over 13 seasons (1961–1973) for theSan Francisco Giants (1961–1969),Milwaukee Brewers (1970) andBoston Red Sox (1970–1973). A right-hander, Bolin was born inHickory Grove, South Carolina, and was listed as 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall and 185 pounds (84 kg).
Bolin entered pro ball after signing with theNew York Giants on November 10, 1956, at the age of 17 out ofRock Hill High School. He spent four seasons moving up through the Giants'farm system until making the San Francisco roster in the spring of 1961.
Bolin began and ended his 13-year career as arelief pitcher, but from 1964 to 1970 hestarted for the majority of his appearances. He reached double figures invictories four times, and triple figures instrikeouts six times, as a Giant. In 1968, Bolin had the second-bestearned run average (ERA) in theNational League, 1.99, behind onlyBob Gibson's record-setting mark of 1.12. Bolin finished in the NL's top ten three times for ERA,WHIP, andhit batsmen, and twice forshutouts,strikeouts per nine innings pitched,winning percentage andbases on balls allowed.
As a relief pitcher, Bolin set a career-high with a club-leading 15saves[1] for the1973 Red Sox, but Boston released him at the conclusion ofspring training in 1974, ending Bolin's career.
In all, Bolin pitched in 495 major league games (164 starts), with 32complete games, tenshutouts and 161games finished. He posted a careerwon–lost mark of 88–75, with 50 saves and an ERA of 3.40, permitting 1,387hits and 597 bases on balls (along with 1,175 strikeouts) in 1,576innings pitched. As a member of the 1962National League champion Giants (for whom Bolin went 7–3 with six saves), he appeared in two games of the1962 World Series against theNew York Yankees, allowing four hits and twoearned runs in 22⁄3 innings pitched.[2]
Bolin died June 2, 2023, at the age of 84.[3]