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Bob Bolin was a right-handed starter and reliever in the majors for 13 seasons with the Giants, Brewers and Red Sox. A reliable pitcher, Bolin finished in the top 10 in the National League three times for ERA and twice for shutouts and winning percentage. Bolin made his MLB debut in 1961 and was on the 1962 pennant-winning Giants, appearing in two games in the World Series against the Yankees. Bolin reached double digits in wins for the first time in 1963, when he had a 10-6 record. The sidearmer went a career-best 14-6 in 1965. The following season he set career-highs with 10 complete games and four shutouts despite a pedestrian 11-10 record. Bolin overcame a terrible 1967 season (which saw his ERA balloon to 4.88) to become one of the NL’s best pitchers in 1968. He started 19 of his 34 appearances and had a 10-5 record and 1.99 ERA. It was the second-best ERA in the National League to Bob Gibson's 1.12 ERA. After the 1969 season, the Giants traded Bolin to the expansion Seattle Pilots who relocated to Milwaukee and he was traded to the Red Sox in September of 1970. The Sox kept Bolin in the bullpen for the next three seasons. In his final season of 1973, Bolin had a respectable 2.70 ERA and led the Red Sox with 15 saves. He was released after the season and quit baseball. The resident of Easley, S.C., Bob Bolin died on June 2, 2023 at the age of 84. |
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