After years as a Yankee farmhand battling injuries and criticism of his unorthodox delivery, Keegan made it to the majors as a 32-year-old rookie with the White Sox in 1953. In 1954 he was 12-3 by mid-season and was named to the All-Star team. A knee injury handicapped his next two seasons, but in 1957 he came back to win ten games, including a no-hitter. Keegan credited a slowed delivery for his renewed success. He was called Smiley because, according to Billy Pierce, "it always looked like he was smiling, even when he wasn't." (DB)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»May 5, 1954: The Senators Roy Sievers draws a bases-loaded walk to beat the White Sox 1–0. Bob Porterfield, who tossed nine shutouts last year, beats Bob Keegan.
»May 8, 1957: At Comiskey, Boston slugger Ted Williams hits three home runs, all off Bob Keegan, and drives in all the runs as the Red Sox stop Chicago, 4–1.
»July 23, 1957:
Mickey Mantle hits for the cycle, and adds a SB, against Chicago's Bob Keegan. The Yankees win 10-6.
»August 20, 1957:
Using a new slow delivery, 35-year-old Bob Keegan of the White Sox pitches a 6-0 no-hitter over Washington, walking just 2. Chuck Stobbs loses his 16th game en route to a league-leading 20 losses.
The Sox lose the first game 5-4, but pick up a half game on New York.
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