Pitched in 3 All-Star games, World Series

Bob Purkey, 78, who pitched in three All-Star games and one World Series with the Cincinnati Reds, died Sunday at a nursing home in Bethel Park, Pa. The cause of death was complications from Alzheimer’s disease, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

A right-handed, knuckle-ball specialist, Purkey posted a 129-115 record and a 3.79 ERA over 13 seasons with the Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. He started his big league career in 1954 and last appeared in a game in 1966.

He tossed a complete game in the Reds’ 3-2 loss to the New York Yankees in the third game of the 1961 World Series, losing on a ninth-inning home run by Roger Maris. Purkey was used in relief later in the series, and had an ERA of 1.64 over 11 innings. The Yankees won the series in five games. Purkey’s best year was 1962, when he had 23 wins and only five losses for the Reds. He also pitched 18 complete games.

A native of Pittsburgh, Purkey was signed to his first professional contract by the Pirates. After retiring from baseball, he worked as a broadcaster for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh and later founded an insurance firm. He retired from the firm 10 years ago.