Bob Moose
The right-handed starter who threw a no-hitter and helped the Pirates win in the early 1970s.
Bob Moose was a right-handed starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1967 to 1976, remembered for his solid contributions on the mound—including a no-hitter in 1969—rather than for chaos or wildness. A steady presence in the rotation, Moose started 136 of his 218 career appearances, helping anchor a Pirates staff during one of the franchise's most successful eras. In a clubhouse that already valued swagger, Moose provided reliable, workmanlike pitching.
This entry profiles Moose as a figure of Pittsburgh baseball lore: a player whose legacy is defined by his role in the Pirates' sustained success in the early 1970s, including World Series championship in 1971 and multiple division titles. He occupies a place in Pirates history as a dependable starter who contributed to the team's winning identity during a period of glory, not transition.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Right-handed starting pitcher
- Affiliation
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Throwing hand
- Right
- Reputation
- Solid, reliable starter; threw a no-hitter in 1969
- Playing style
- Workmanlike, control-oriented starting pitching
Lore & Background
From 1967 to 1976, the Pirates were a powerhouse, winning the World Series in 1971 and the National League East in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, and 1975. Bob Moose arrived as a right-handed starting pitcher, and from his debut it was clear this was a pitcher who could be counted on. His delivery was smooth, his command was solid, and his attitude was one of quiet professionalism. Opposing batters knew they would have to earn their hits.
Moose became a fixture of Pirates games not because of wildness or spectacle, but because of his consistency and a memorable no-hitter on September 20, 1969, against the New York Mets. He started 136 of his 218 career appearances, providing innings and stability for a team that was already loaded with talent. His career walk rate (3.5 BB/9) and hit-by-pitch totals (18 in 10 seasons) were not notably high for the era, reflecting a pitcher who relied on control, not chaos.
His legacy is measured in starts, innings, and a no-hitter. Pirates fans of that era recall the no-hitter and his role on championship-caliber teams. In a franchise that prides itself on character and winning, Moose was a key part of that success.
Reader's Guide
Bob Moose arrived in Pittsburgh as a left-handed relief arm in the early 1970s, a free-agent signing who brought exactly what the Pirates needed: chaos with a pulse. He was not a setup man in the modern sense; he was a go-to guy when the manager wanted the inning to be something. His signature was not a pitch type but a temperament—wild, loose, almost confrontational. You never knew if the next delivery would be a strike or a cannonball aimed at the batter's ribs.
His stats, such as they were, told a story of high variance. Wild pitches, hit batters, and the occasional gem of a strikeout were all part of the same unpredictable package. He did not command respect through control; he commanded attention through sheer audacity. In the clubhouse, Moose was the guy who made the long bus rides entertaining, who turned a routine bullpen session into a comedy routine, who made the younger players nervous and the veterans laugh.
His legacy goes beyond the box score. Moose is the Pirates in their most irreverent, unpolished form—the team that wins not because it is the most disciplined but because it is the most itself. He is inseparable from the word 'Pirates' because he embodied the franchise's deepest identity: a little wild, a little dangerous, and impossible to ignore.
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