Wally Bunker - Later Oriole Years

Later Oriole Years

After Bunker's rookie season, arm ailments — most likely torn tendons or ligaments of some kind, which often went undiagnosed in Bunker's era — in subsequent seasons prevented him from enjoying a 1964 sequel. A "sore arm" (which, according to Bunker, he incurred in late September 1964, on a cold night in Cleveland) during the 1965 season reduced him to a part-time starter afterwards. He posted a 10-8 record that year and a 10-6 record in 1966. In the latter year, the Orioles won the World Series in a four-game sweep of the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. In Game 3 of that Series, Bunker outdueled Claude Osteen with a six-hit, 1-0 shutout, which was sandwiched between shutouts by Jim Palmer and Dave McNally as the Orioles set a Series record by not allowing a run for 33 1⁄₃ consecutive innings. (Moe Drabowsky pitched 6 1⁄₃ scoreless innings in relief in Game One to begin the streak.) Following that triumph, Bunker was honored by the San Bruno City Council and served as honorary mayor at a council meeting.