Major League Baseball Player. The right-handed pitcher led the American League with 22 victories, 24 complete games and nine shutouts in 1953. He represented the Washington Senators in the All-Star Game that year and gave up a two-run homer to Cincinnati's Ted Kluszewski in his three-inning stint. Before playing in the big leagues, he was a sergeant with the 82nd Airborne Division and saw action during the Battle of the Bulge. He earned a French citation and five battle stars. He broke in with the New York Yankees in 1948 and was traded with pitchers Tom Ferrick and Fred Sanford and $50,000 to Washington for pitcher Bob Kuzava on June 15, 1951. He remained with the Senators until dealt with first baseman Mickey Vernon, pitcher Johnny Schmitz and outfielder Tom Umphlett to the Boston Red Sox for pitchers Dick Brodowski, Tex Clevelanger and Al Curtis and outfielders Neil Chrisley and Karl Olson on Nov. 8, 1955. He also pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs before closing his career in 1959 with an 87-97 record, 3.79 earned run average and 23 shutouts. Fellow combat veteran Ted Williams said of him, "The guy was a good hard-nosed pitcher, tough for me to handle, I'll tell you that. What a friendly guy. Couldn't be a nicer guy than Bob Porterfield."
Major League Baseball Player. The right-handed pitcher led the American League with 22 victories, 24 complete games and nine shutouts in 1953. He represented the Washington Senators in the All-Star Game that year and gave up a two-run homer to Cincinnati's Ted Kluszewski in his three-inning stint. Before playing in the big leagues, he was a sergeant with the 82nd Airborne Division and saw action during the Battle of the Bulge. He earned a French citation and five battle stars. He broke in with the New York Yankees in 1948 and was traded with pitchers Tom Ferrick and Fred Sanford and $50,000 to Washington for pitcher Bob Kuzava on June 15, 1951. He remained with the Senators until dealt with first baseman Mickey Vernon, pitcher Johnny Schmitz and outfielder Tom Umphlett to the Boston Red Sox for pitchers Dick Brodowski, Tex Clevelanger and Al Curtis and outfielders Neil Chrisley and Karl Olson on Nov. 8, 1955. He also pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs before closing his career in 1959 with an 87-97 record, 3.79 earned run average and 23 shutouts. Fellow combat veteran Ted Williams said of him, "The guy was a good hard-nosed pitcher, tough for me to handle, I'll tell you that. What a friendly guy. Couldn't be a nicer guy than Bob Porterfield."
Bio by: Ron Coons
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