Baseball is remembering a life that stretched far beyond the mound.
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Bob Duliba, a Pennsylvania native who pitched for four Major League teams, has died at the age of 91. He reportedly passed away on Saturday in Wilkes-Barre.
Duliba's path to the big leagues started in a pretty unforgettable way.
While pitching at Newport High, he once struck out 18 of the 21 batters he faced — with scouts from the Sr. Louis Cardinals watching. That moment changed everything.
"It was the most fortunate thing to ever have happened to me," Duliba said years later.
He signed with the Cardinals and eventually made his MLB debut in 1959 after serving in the U.S. Marines from 1956 to 1958. He went on to pitch for the Cardinals, Angels, Red Sox and Athletics, finishing his career in 1967.
Over that time, Duliba compiled a 17-12 record with a 3.47 ERA.
But one of the most memorable stories came at the very end.
Duliba was just short of qualifying for his MLB pension when A's owner Charlie Finley stepped in.
"Charlie brought me up... to give me another 29 days so I could be eligible," Duliba recalled. "All I did was throw batting practice. He was a good man."
After baseball, Duliba returned home, coaching at Wilkes University and teaching locally.
A small-town kid who made it, and never forgot where he came from.
