Books and articles about Steve Barber

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One of the Orioles' "Baby Birds" (a group of promising young pitchers), Barber came up as a flame-thrower with a reputation for wildness. He led the AL in walks his rookie year, but by 1963 had settled down to become Baltimore's first modern-day ML 20-game winner. Tendinitis in his elbow sidelined him for the second part of 1966, and Barber missed pitching in the All-Star Game and World Series. He went 8-1/3 innings in his first start of 1967 before giving up a hit to Jim Fregosi, and threw a combined no-hitter with Stu Miller against Detroit two weeks later (Baltimore lost that game 2-1). He was traded to the Yankees in mid-'67. Problems with his elbow and his pitching mechanics limited his success with five more teams. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 30, 1961: Jim Gentile, Gus Triandos, and Ron Hansen hit consecutive home runs in the 7th inning for the Orioles, as they beat Detroit 4–2 to split a twin bill. The O's had one hit in the 1st six innings off Paul Foytack. The Tigers win the opener, 8–2, after going scoreless in six innings against young Steve Barber. » July 16, 1961: New York edges 3rd place Baltimore, beating Steve Barber 2–1. Mickey Mantle drives home both runs. » May 5, 1962: Angels rookie Bo Belinsky pitches a no-hitter against the Orioles, the organization from which the cocky lefty was drafted last year. Belinsky has nine strikeouts and beats Steve Barber 2–0. » April 8, 1963: With John F. Kennedy in attendance at the opener in Washington D.C., young Steve Barber starts the season for the O's against the Washington Senators. In the Nats lineup is Barber's high school teammate, Tom Brown, who goes on to football. Jim Gentile and Boog Powell homer for the Birds, who win 3–1. » June 4, 1963: Oriole ace Steve Barber tops New York, 3–1. Mickey Mantle accounts for the only New York score with an opposite field homer into the RF bleachers. » June 25, 1964: Steve Barber's 3-hit 3–1 win gives the Orioles a 3-game sweep of the Yankees and first place in the American League. » July 16, 1964: Steve Barber regains first place for the Orioles with a successful 6–1 outing against the Yankees and Jim Bouton. » August 7, 1964: Steve Barber and Harvey Haddix beat the Yankees 2–0 to boost the Orioles back into first place. » October 3, 1965: "Sudden" Sam McDowell (17–11) loses a 2–1 decision to Baltimore's Steve Barber, but the 22-year-old Tribe southpaw wraps up the AL lead in ERA (2.18) and strikeouts (325). Rocky Colavito plays his 162nd consecutive errorless game (274 chances), a ML season record. » April 30, 1967: Orioles Steve Barber and Stu Miller combine to pitch a no-hitter but lose 2–1 to the first-place Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader. Barber walks 10 in his eight 2/3 innings, but in the 9th two runs come in on a wild pitch and an error. Miller walks none. In his first start of the year, Barber held the Angels hitless for eight 1/3 innings. Just two hits today matches the American League record for fewest safeties by two clubs in one game. Three catchers are used by Baltimore, a major-league record of sorts for a no-hitter. » August 16, 1969: Seattle's Sicks Stadium shakes when 250-pound Boog Powell legs out an inside-the-park homer in the 9th against ex-teammate Steve Barber. It really isn't that vital, as Baltimore romps 15–3.