Jim Bunning, Pitcher and Senator, Dead at 85

Jim Bunning, who was a spectacular Hall of Fame pitcher and also a United States senator, died on May 26th.

The New York Times obituary notes:

Pitching for 17 seasons, mostly with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies, Mr. Bunning, a right-hander, dominated batters with his sidearm deliveries.

He was the second pitcher, after Cy Young, to win at least 100 games, record at least 1,000 strikeouts and throw no-hitters in both the American and National Leagues. When he retired after the 1971 season, his 2,855 strikeouts were second only to Walter Johnson’s 3,509.

Bunning was elected to the U.S. Senate from Kentucky in 1998 and re-elected in 2004, before retiring in 2010, when he was succeeded by Rand Paul.

Bunning is survived by his wife, nine children, and 35 grandchildren. He was 85.