Bob Bruce

Robert James Bruce began his professional career in 1953 in the minor league system of his hometown Tigers. Bob won 18 games in the Class D Wisconsin State League in his first season and began a steady rise through the Detroit farm system. He missed part of 1956 and all of 1957 while serving in the United States Army, and debuted with Detroit at the tail end of 1959, working in two games. In 1960, Robert James Bruce spent the entire season with the Tigers, appearing in 34 games (making 15 starts during the latter half of the season) and posting a 3.74 earned run average in 130 innings pitched. However, a shoulder injury[2] suffered early in the 1961 campaign derailed  Robert James Bruce as he sought to cement a place in the Tigers' starting rotation. He worked in only 44​2⁄3 innings for Detroit, and was briefly sent to Triple-A Denver.

On December 1, 1961, he was traded to the Houston Colt .45s, a first-year expansion team, for veteran pitcher Sam "Toothpick" Jones.

Robert James Bruce became a mainstay of the Houston starting rotation during the team's early years, tying Turk Farrell for the team lead in wins (with ten) in the Colt .45's inaugural 1962 season, and becoming the first Houston pitcher to win 15 games, in 1964.[3]

On April 19, 1964, Bruce struck out three batters on nine pitches in the eighth inning of a 6–2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, becoming the seventh National League pitcher and the 12th pitcher in major league history to accomplish the nine-strike/three-strikeout half-inning, only one day after Sandy Koufax achieved the same feat. That season, Bruce also reached career bests in complete games (nine), shutouts (four), and earned run average (2.76, tenth in the National League). He threw the last pitch in Colt Stadium on September 27, 1964, then—on April 12, 1965—he threw the first pitch in the history of the Astrodome, as the Opening Day starting pitcher for the renamed Astros. He was Houston's hard-luck losing pitcher that day, surrendering a two-run, third-inning home run to Dick Allen, as the visiting Philadelphia Phillies prevailed, 2–1.[4]

His last two seasons with Houston, 1965 and 1966, were disappointing. In the former year, he lost 18 of 27 decisions while posting seven complete games and a decent 3.76 earned run average. But in 1966, his record was a poor 3–13 and his ERA rose to 5.34, a career worst, in 129​²⁄₃ innings pitched. During the off-season, the Astros included him in a trade to the Atlanta Braves for Eddie Mathews, the future Baseball Hall of Fame third baseman then in the twilight of his career. Bruce got into only 12 games for the 1967 Braves before being sent to Triple-A Richmond, and then retired after the 1967 season.

In an MLB career that encompassed all or parts of nine years, Bruce compiled a 49–71 win–loss record, with 26 complete games (in 167 starts), six shutouts and one save. In 1,122​¹⁄₃ innings pitched, he struck out 733, allowing 1,146 hits and 340 bases on balls. His career ERA was 3.85.

After leaving baseball, Bruce became a successful real estate developer, salesman and property manager in both Michigan and Texas.[1][2] He died at age 83 in Plano, Texas.

• Pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)