Former Pirates pitcher Bob Purkey dies at age 78

Robert T. "Bob" Purkey, who pitched for the Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds -- including during the Reds' 1961 trip to the World Series -- died Sunday in an Upper St. Clair nursing home. He was 78.

Purkey, raised in Mt. Washington and a long-time resident of Bethel Park, was a knuckleballer who played in the major leagues from 1954 to 1966. He began and ended his career with the Pirates, but spent 1958 to 1964 with the Reds.

With the 1961 World Series against the New York Yankees tied at 1-1, Purkey pitched the fateful ninth inning of Game 3 in which Roger Maris hit a home run that clinched the game. The Yankees went on to win the series.

A long-time insurance agent in Bethel Park, Purkey, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died at Sunrise Assisted Living, son-in-law Bob Holland said. His wife, Joan (Latsko) Purkey, 75, also a Sunrise resident, died Feb. 12.