RIP Bob Friend, 1930-2019

[G-Fafif]

Bob Friend, who finished his distinguished career with the 1966 Mets, passes away at 88.

[Edgy MD]

I'm not sure, but I think Friend was the pitchingest Pirate of all time.



His son followed him into pro sports, joining the PGA tour in the nineties.

[G-Fafif]

Friend was just that to his old teammate Ralph Kiner, joining the likes of Harwell, Feller, Berra and Seaver when Ralph was celebrated at Shea in 2007.

[seawolf17]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not sure, but I think Friend was the pitchingest Pirate of all time.

Hot damn. And by a full season's worth of innings. For a team with a long history, that's impressive.



1. Friend - 3480 1/3 IP

2. Wilbur Cooper (1912-24) - 3199 IP

3. Babe Adams (1907-26) - 2991 1/3 IP

4. Vern Law (1950-67) - 2672 IP



(FWIW, their active leader appears to be Jameson Taillon at 428 2/3, so Bob's record is pretty safe.)

[MFS62]

I liked him when I rooted for the Pirates after my team moved from Brooklyn, and he and Law were the stalwarts of that staff.

RIP



Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

Bob Friend was the sixth-oldest living Met at the time of his death, behind Dave Hillman, 91; Frank Thomas and Joe Pignatano, 89; and Roger Craig and Hobie Landrith, 88. Somebody named "Willie Mays" take his place in the sixth slot.



Sammy Taylor moves into the Top Ten, Joe Christopher is not in 20th place, Rick Herrscher takes over the 30th position, and debuting in the Top Forty is Bobby Klaus, 81 years and 39 days old as of today.



http://leaptoad.com/mets/oldestliving.phpUltimate Mets Database: Oldest Living Mets



This is already the fifth Mets-related death I've logged in the UMDB so far in 2019:

Jerry Buchek (January 2), Rick Down (January 5), Mel Stottlemyre (January 12), Tom Hausman (January 16), and Bob Friend (February 3)

[Edgy MD]

I like that. "Mets-related" makes it read like the organization is implicated in these deaths.

[RealityChuck]

One of two Mets pitchers to get a win over Sandy Koufax. I was at that game.



Also notable in that he was traded from the MFY to the Mets in midseason. He may have been the first.