Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Bob Friend

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Bob Friend
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Memories of
Bob Friend

Bob Friend
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 333 of 1252 players

Robert Bartmess Friend
Born: November 24, 1930 at Lafayette, Ind.
Died: February 3, 2019 at Pittsburgh, Pa. Obituary
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 6.00 Weight: 195

Bob Friend was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on November 24, 2006, December 15, 2009, January 15, 2018, October 6, 2018, and April 5, 2019.

First Mets game: June 18, 1966
Last Mets game: September 24, 1966

Share your memories of Bob Friend

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Scott
October 15, 2002
Bob Friend had a quality pitching career with the Pirates. By the time he came to the Mets he was over the hill. What else is new about the 60's Mets?

Bob P
March 4, 2005
A great paradox in baseball says you must be a pretty good pitcher to lose 20 games. Otherwise you wouldn't be in the rotation long enough to pick up 20 losses.
Though he never lost twenty in a season, that might sum up Bob Friend's career. He spent fifteen years with the Pirates, led the NL in losses twice and gave up more hits than any other pitcher in the NL twice. But he also led the league in games started three times (1956-57-58) and led the league in innings pitched twice. He led the NL in ERA in 1955 while the Pirates finished last. He was also tied with Warren Spahn for the league lead in wins with 22 in 1958.
Friend also goes down in history as giving up the first hit of Pete Rose's career on April 13, 1963.
Friend split his final season (1966) between the Yankees and the Mets. Aside from that, he has a couple of other moments in New York baseball history. Bob was the winning pitcher in the first game played at Shea Stadium in 1964, and was also the winning pitcher in the last game the New York Giants played at the Polo Grounds in 1957.

Jim Andreano
July 16, 2006
Bob's last win was a memorable one. It came on August 30, 1966, when the Mets defeated Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers, 10-4. Friend replaced an ineffective Tug McGraw on the second inning, and went 7.2 innings to get the win. Back then, "long relief" meant long relief.
Sandy Koufax's lifetime record against the Mets was 17-2. Ironically, in his other loss, the starting pitcher was also Tug McGraw, in Tug's rookie year in 1965.

Dave Shaw
July 21, 2006
I attended the 8/30/66 win over L.A., Bob's last major league victory. He also delivered his only hit in 29 AB's for the Mets.

Susan
October 30, 2008
Bob is my great uncle and a great man!

Jack Pesserilo
April 24, 2009
Bob was not one the great pitchers of his era. However in his four years against the Mets I think the Mets beat him only once.