Kansas City Royals
In 1968 the Kansas City Royals selected Bunker in the expansion draft, and he was their winningest pitcher in 1969 with a 12-11 record. On April 8 of that year, he threw the very first pitch in Kansas City Royals history. The Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 4-3 in 12 innings, with Drabowsky (whom the Royals had also acquired from Baltimore in the expansion draft) gaining the victory in relief.
After the 1969 season, the arm troubles that limited Bunker to a part-time starter shortened his career. After slumping to 2-11 in 1970, he was released in May, 1971. Bunker had pitched his final major-league game at just 26 years of age.
In his career, Bunker won 60 games against 52 losses, with 569 strikeouts and a 3.51 earned-run average in 1,085⅓ innings pitched. He was also a weak hitter in those days prior to the designated hitter, with only 31 hits in 331 at-bats for a .094 batting average.
Bunker's sinker was his most effective pitch in his short career. Mickey Mantle once referred to Bunker's sinker as the type of pitch "you could break your back on."
Bunker and his wife Kathy are currently Artists in Residence at Palm Key Nature Getaway in Ridgeland, South Carolina. The Bunkers compose children's literature; two of their latest works were released in Spring 2010.
Read more about this topic: Wally Bunker
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