Al McBean obit

Former Pirates Pitcher Al McBean Dies in Native Virgin Islands

 

He was not on the list.

Photographer-turned-pitcher Al McBean has died. The former Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander was 85.

McBean died in his native Virgin Islands. No case of death was given.

McBean pitched for the Pirates from 1961-68 then again in 1970. He also spent time with the San Diego Padres (1969) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1969-70), finishing with a 67-50 record, 63 saves and a 3.13 ERA in 409 games, including 76 starts, over 10 seasons.

McBean finished in the top 10 in the National League in games pitched for three straight seasons from 1963-65.

The Pirates signed McBean out of a tryout camp in St. Thomas in 1957. He went to the camp to take photographs for a local newspaper and was convinced by some friends to take part in the tryout in front of scouts.

McBean made his major league debut on July 2, 1961 in the first game of a doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants at Forbes Field. Entered a tied game, the first batter he faced, Ed Bailey, reached on an error by second baseman Bill Mazeroski. A double, wild pitch & single later, the Giants had plated two runs. A four run eighth inning by the Pirates spared McBean from taking the loss in his major league debut.

In his next 6 appearances, McBean pitched 10.2 innings without surrendering a run, and earning the first two wins of his career. His first career start also came against the Giants on September 11. He allowed three earned runs over nine innings, and left with the game tied for the no-decision. For the season, he went 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA & 49 strikeouts.

McBean was converted into a full-time starting pitcher in 1962, and won his first three decisions. He finished with a 15-10 record & 3.70 ERA over the full season.

McBean was 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA when he was converted into a reliever in May 1963. He was dominant in that role, going 11-2 with a 2.12 ERA and earning eleven saves out of the bullpen. After the season, he joined Roberto Clemente's National League Latino All-stars for a game at the Polo Grounds on October 12. McBean followed Juan Marichal's four scoreless innings pitched with four scoreless of his own, and drove in a run with a sixth inning triple to lead the NL to a 5-2 victory.

McBean was even more dominant in 1964. Following a June 27 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, McBean was 3-0 with an 0.69 ERA & eight saves. He earned 21 saves over the season, which was good enough for second place in the NL (to the Houston Colt .45s' Hal Woodeshick). Coupled with his 8-3 record, he was named The Sporting News' NL Fireman of the Year. He was again one of the NL's top relievers in 1965, going 6-6 with a 2.29 ERA & 19 saves.

With Roy Face returning in 1966 from an injury plagued 1965 season, he resumed the closer role. Meanwhile, manager Harry Walker relegated McBean to mop up duty. He appeared in 32 of the Pirates' 70 losses; the Pirates were 15-32 in games he appeared.

McBean was the 50th player selected in the 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft by the San Diego Padres. He made just one appearance with the Padres before being dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers for shortstop Tommy Dean & pitcher Leon Everitt. Again a reliever, McBean went 2-6 with a 3.91 ERA & four saves out of the Dodgers' bullpen. After just one inning pitched with the Dodgers in 1970, McBean was released, and he returned to Pittsburgh. He would make seven appearances, all in relief, before his May 18 release. He would pitch in the Philadelphia Phillies' system into the 1971 season before retiring.