Two years ago today, longtime Cardinals RHP Bob Forsch passed away at age 61. Just a week earlier, Forsch threw out the ceremonial first pitch for game 7 of the 2011 World Series between the Cardinals and Rangers. He pitched 16 seasons in the big leagues, nearly 15 of them for St Louis. He won 163 of his 168 games in a Cardinals uniform and pitched for them in 3 World Series (1982, 1985, 1987). Though he won 20 games for the Cardinals in 1977, his best year was probably the strike shortened 1981 season. He made 20 starts and was 10-5, 3.18 with the lowest WHIP and hits per 9 IP numbers of his career. Forsch was the younger brother of Ken Forsch, who pitched 16 years in the major leagues for the Astros and Angels. Bob is known for throwing two no hitters for the Cardinals, in 1978 and 1983. Here are some other facts about the pitcher who has the third most wins in the history of the St Louis Cardinals.
Bob Forsch was one of the better hitters of his generation. For his career, which included 893 ABs, Forsch hit .213 with 12 HR and 84 RBIs. He hit .308 in 1975, .298 in 1987 and .295 in 1980, having 88, 84 and 71 plate appearances, respectively. He had 45 2Bs during his career, including 7 in 1978. He also managed 8 career triples, with a high of 3 in 1975. He had just 7 postseason plate appearances, but 4 of them came during his 1982 complete game shutout against the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. He went 2-3 in that game with a sacrifice fly as the Cardinals won game 1 7-0. He won the Silver Slugger Award in 1980 and 1987.
In spite of his shutout in 1982, Forsch was not a very good postseason pitcher. Forsch made 12 appearances during the NLCS and World Series in 1982, 1985 and 1987. He finished with a 3-4, 5.79 record in 12 games, 5 starts. He gave up 24 earned runs in 37 1/3 IP. While that does not look horrible, though not good, if you take away his first game, the CGSH against the Braves, he gave up 24 ER in his next 28 1/3 IP from the 1982 WS through the 1987 WS. Forsch lost games 1 and 5 of the 1982 WS, giving up 7 ER in 12 2/3 IP. He got a no decision in game 5 of the 1985 NLDS against the Dodgers, where he gave up 2 runs in 3 1/3 IP. The Cardinals won that game 3-2. He was given the ball in the 1985 World Series with the team up 3 games to 1 against the Royals. He could not make it out of the 2nd inning as the Royals scored 4 against him in a game the Royals won 6-1. Forsch would get into game 7, a 11-0 blowout loss, but did pitch 1 1/3 IP of scoreless relief. In 1987, Forsch was used exclusively in relief. While he would pitch 2 scoreless innings in relief to get the win in game 3, he gave up 4 runs in his 1 inning of relief to get the loss in game 5. In the World Series, he pitched 3 innings of relief in game 1, giving up 4 runs in a loss. He relieved Greg Matthews in game 4, giving up 1 run in 2 2/3 innings. He gave up 2 runs in 2/3 IP in game 6 as the Twins would win games 6 and 7.
While Forsch did not become the best postseason pitcher, he was given the ball in the 2nd to last game of the season in 1974. At the time, the Cardinals needed a win to remain tied for first place with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Forsch took a no hitter into the 7th inning and finished with a 3 hit shutout.
In the 1987 NLCS against the Giants, there was a budding feud growing between Giants OF Jeffrey Leonard and the Cardinals. Leonard was disliked for his HR trots, as well as running the bases with "one flap down." Forsch would hit Leonard in the back, raising the tension between the two teams. However, Forsch denied that he threw at Leonard, claiming he was "just trying to pitch inside."
Like I mentioned before, Forsch ranks 3rd amongst all Cardinals pitchers with his 163 wins. Only Bob Gibson 251 and Jesse Haines 210 had more while wearing a Cardinals uniform. Gibson was the best pitcher to ever put on a Cardinals uniform, pitching in the 1964, 1967 and 1968 World Series. The left handed Haines, who pitched for the Cardinals from 1920-1937, was a 3 time WS Champion (1926, 1931, 1934). Both pitchers are in Baseball's Hall of Fame.
Oddly enough, Forsch was asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the last minute. Longtime Cardinals manager and Hall of Famer Whitey Herzog was asked to throw out the pitch, but he was not given the clearance by his doctors due to his health. Just a week later, Forsch died of a chest aneurysm. RIP
Bob Forsch was one of the better hitters of his generation. For his career, which included 893 ABs, Forsch hit .213 with 12 HR and 84 RBIs. He hit .308 in 1975, .298 in 1987 and .295 in 1980, having 88, 84 and 71 plate appearances, respectively. He had 45 2Bs during his career, including 7 in 1978. He also managed 8 career triples, with a high of 3 in 1975. He had just 7 postseason plate appearances, but 4 of them came during his 1982 complete game shutout against the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. He went 2-3 in that game with a sacrifice fly as the Cardinals won game 1 7-0. He won the Silver Slugger Award in 1980 and 1987.
In spite of his shutout in 1982, Forsch was not a very good postseason pitcher. Forsch made 12 appearances during the NLCS and World Series in 1982, 1985 and 1987. He finished with a 3-4, 5.79 record in 12 games, 5 starts. He gave up 24 earned runs in 37 1/3 IP. While that does not look horrible, though not good, if you take away his first game, the CGSH against the Braves, he gave up 24 ER in his next 28 1/3 IP from the 1982 WS through the 1987 WS. Forsch lost games 1 and 5 of the 1982 WS, giving up 7 ER in 12 2/3 IP. He got a no decision in game 5 of the 1985 NLDS against the Dodgers, where he gave up 2 runs in 3 1/3 IP. The Cardinals won that game 3-2. He was given the ball in the 1985 World Series with the team up 3 games to 1 against the Royals. He could not make it out of the 2nd inning as the Royals scored 4 against him in a game the Royals won 6-1. Forsch would get into game 7, a 11-0 blowout loss, but did pitch 1 1/3 IP of scoreless relief. In 1987, Forsch was used exclusively in relief. While he would pitch 2 scoreless innings in relief to get the win in game 3, he gave up 4 runs in his 1 inning of relief to get the loss in game 5. In the World Series, he pitched 3 innings of relief in game 1, giving up 4 runs in a loss. He relieved Greg Matthews in game 4, giving up 1 run in 2 2/3 innings. He gave up 2 runs in 2/3 IP in game 6 as the Twins would win games 6 and 7.
While Forsch did not become the best postseason pitcher, he was given the ball in the 2nd to last game of the season in 1974. At the time, the Cardinals needed a win to remain tied for first place with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Forsch took a no hitter into the 7th inning and finished with a 3 hit shutout.
In the 1987 NLCS against the Giants, there was a budding feud growing between Giants OF Jeffrey Leonard and the Cardinals. Leonard was disliked for his HR trots, as well as running the bases with "one flap down." Forsch would hit Leonard in the back, raising the tension between the two teams. However, Forsch denied that he threw at Leonard, claiming he was "just trying to pitch inside."
Like I mentioned before, Forsch ranks 3rd amongst all Cardinals pitchers with his 163 wins. Only Bob Gibson 251 and Jesse Haines 210 had more while wearing a Cardinals uniform. Gibson was the best pitcher to ever put on a Cardinals uniform, pitching in the 1964, 1967 and 1968 World Series. The left handed Haines, who pitched for the Cardinals from 1920-1937, was a 3 time WS Champion (1926, 1931, 1934). Both pitchers are in Baseball's Hall of Fame.
Oddly enough, Forsch was asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the last minute. Longtime Cardinals manager and Hall of Famer Whitey Herzog was asked to throw out the pitch, but he was not given the clearance by his doctors due to his health. Just a week later, Forsch died of a chest aneurysm. RIP
RSS Feed
