Posted on 06/04/2012 7:42:27 PM PDT by fkabuckeyesrule
CINCINNATI -- Former reliever Pedro Borbon, the Reds' all-time leader in appearances and a member of two World Series championship teams, died on Monday. Borbon was 65 years old.
Borbon was a key figure in the Reds' bullpen from 1970-79 -- when he appeared in more games than any pitcher in the NL. He broke into the Majors in 1969 with the Angels and spent the final two seasons of his career with the Giants and Cardinals.
Over his 10 seasons in Cincinnati, the right-handed Borbon was 62-33 with a 3.32 ERA and 76 saves in a club-record 531 games.
"The entire organization is very sad to hear of the loss of another member of our baseball family," Reds CEO Bob Castellini said in a statement released by the club. "Pedro was an important contributor to the success of the Big Red Machine, and he always will be remembered for his colorful personality and his contributions to that wonderful time period in our history."
As a member of the 1975-76 World Series winners and playoff teams in 1970, 1972 and 1973, he pitched in 20 postseason games during his Reds career and posted a 2.42 ERA.
In 2010, Borbon became the third relief pitcher to be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame, when he joined Clay Carroll (1980) and Wayne Granger (1982).
"On behalf of the Reds Hall of Fame's board of directors and the Reds Hall of Famer fraternity, we are saddened by the news of Pedro's passing and join Reds fans everywhere in keeping his family in our thoughts and prayers," said Rick Walls, the executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame. "We should remember Pedro's contributions to the Reds' legacy and rejoice in the fact that we were able to honor him and his family in 2010 with induction into the Reds Hall of Fame."
Borbon's son, Pedro Borbon Jr., was a Major League pitcher for nine seasons with five different clubs from 1992-2003.
A friend and business advisor of Borbon's, Charles Sotto, confirmed that that Borbon died from complications of cancer and had been in hospice care.
"He was in Cincinnati at the end of April for a local sports show and see he was feeling good," Sotto said on Monday. "It was a pretty quick downslide from then until now."
Borbon was a good draw for many of Sotto's memorabilia shows that often featured members of the Big Red Machine.
"Outside of the starting eight, he was by far the most popular among the pitchers because of some of the things he did," Sotto said. "He was a pleasure to deal with and funny. He liked being around the other guys."
RIP Mr. Borbon. Sorry, but all that keeps coming in my head is the line from the movie Airplane! “Pinch hitting for Pedro Borbon. Manny Mota, Mota.”
Whenever there was a scuffle on the field, Borbon was always in a hurry to get in and take part. Once he was so angry he bit an entire mouth shaped piece out of the bill of his cap. He was a fun guy to have on a team.
RIP from a Cincinnati Reds fan since the Big Red Machine Days.
RIP from a Cincinnati Reds fan since the Big Red Machine Days.
RIP.
Trivia question: Who pinch hit for Pedro in the movie, “Airplane!”?
If memory serves, it was < reverb reverb > Manny Mota < / reverb reverb >.
Correct.
manny mota?
sorry...just saw that it was answered...but I did know that one. :o)
Same here. Loved Borbon. He was known for NEVER wearing an undershirt, even if it was 40 degrees out.
Rest in Peace, sir. Pedro Borbon was the glue that held the Reds bullpen together for many years. I never worried when he came into a game.
It must have worked as the Reds won the World Series in 1990!
RIP.
As a teen in Cincinnati during the mid to late `70s I was totally spoiled by having the Big Red machine as my hometown team. LOVED Pedro. I remember well the curse he placed on the Reds. The very next season they lost a franchise record 102 games.
I also remember when the furniture rental company came to collect their property from Pedro’s abandoned apartment they sued him for damages claiming their were bite mark, damage from chewing and other similar damage to their furniture.
Then there was a bench clearing brawl with the Braves where Pedro was evicted for chewing on the ankle of an opposing player.
Pedro was never boring.
RIP, Pedro. Lots of good childhood memories. Throw a few blooper pitches now and then for me — even if it pisses Sparky right off.
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