Bob Veale, Legendary Pirates Pitcher and 1971 World Series Champion

The two-time All-Star and record-setting left-hander was known for his powerful fastball and contributions to baseball history.

Bob Veale, a key figure in the Pittsburgh Pirates' 1971 World Series victory, passed away at age 89 in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, surrounded by family.
Veale was a dominant left-handed pitcher in the 1960s, earning All-Star honors in 1965 and 1966 and leading the National League in strikeouts in 1964 with 250.
He holds the Pirates' single-season strikeout record in the modern era with 276 in 1965 and remains second in franchise history for career strikeouts with 1,652.
Veale was part of MLB's first all-Black or Afro-Latino lineup with the Pirates in 1971 and later transitioned to a scouting and coaching career with the Braves and Yankees.
A lifelong advocate for baseball history, Veale helped establish the Negro Southern League Museum and was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.