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Turley used a no-windup delivery, turning to the simplified motion to improve his control. He led the AL in bases on balls in 1954, 1955, and 1958. Bullet Bob threw in the 93-mph range and was the league's strikeout king with the 1954 Orioles, fanning 10 or more 17 times. He went to the Yankees as part of an 18-player deal that winter and compiled a 17-13 record in 1955.

Turley pitched in five Yankee World Series. In 1956 he shut out the Dodgers through nine innings of Game Six, only to lose 1-0 when Jackie Robinson singled in the winning run in the tenth inning on a fly misjudged by Enos Slaughter. In 1958 Turley won the Cy Young Award, leading the AL with a 21 wins, a .750 winning percentage, and 19 complete games. Though he was pounded by Milwaukee in the first inning of WS Game Two, he shut them out in Game Five and won the Series finale with six-plus relief innings in Game Seven.

Turley lost his fastball in 1959 and turned to a curveball. Bone chips were found in his elbow, requiring surgery. He never again won more than nine games. A master at picking up opposing hurlers' pitches, he helped his Yankee teammates, particularly Mickey Mantle, by whistling to let them know what was coming. (GDW)