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Bud Daley
Bud Daley
Bud Daley
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Leavitt Leo "Bud" Daley (October 7, 1932 – October 15, 2024) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1955 to 1964 for the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, and New York Yankees.

Key Information

Biography

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Leavitt was his father's name. Leo was for St. Leo from his mother's Catholicism. He was called Bud because his mother was an only child and she always wanted a child like her cousin, Buddy Walker. As a player Daley made his home in Orange, California. He was successful in public relations and a skilled speaker. In the offseason he once appeared in seventy-two towns in six states.[1]

Daley was a knuckleball pitcher.[2] who threw curves of two different speeds.[1] He became an All-Star pitcher in 1959 and 1960 for the Kansas City Athletics. During that two-year period, Daley won a total of 32 games, and was 3rd in the American League with 16 wins in 1960. In June 1961, he was traded by Kansas City to the New York Yankees, becoming an impact pitcher as the Yanks won the 1961 World Series over the Cincinnati Reds.

Daley was purchased by the Cleveland Indians from the Sacramento Solons of the Pacific Coast League on August 18, 1955. The purchase price was not revealed.[3] Daley received offers from five other major league clubs. He signed with the Indians because of his friendship with Bob Lemon, whose children Daley used to babysit for.[2]

He dropped his first major league start at Briggs Stadium in a 6–2 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Harvey Kuenn hit an 8th-inning home run in a game in which the Tigers reached Daley for nine of ten hits in the first six innings.[4] Daley was optioned to the Indianapolis Indians on July 4, 1956.[5] On September 7 he was one of 7 players recalled from the American Association farm team.[6]

On March 31, 1958, Daley was traded, along with Gene Woodling and Dick Williams, to the Baltimore Orioles, for Larry Doby and Don Ferrarese.[7] On April 18 Daley was traded to the Athletics for pitcher Arnie Portocarrero.[8]

Daley put together a 4-game win streak in 1959. On June 6 he beat the Orioles 5–1, for his 5th win of the season. He conceded five hits to Baltimore, and afterwards, had allowed only a single run in his previous four games.[9] Casey Stengel selected Daley as one of seven pitchers he picked for the American League All-Star team on July 2.[10] Daley pitched a 5-hitter against the Orioles on July 21. The 8–1 win would have been a shutout except for a homer by Walt Dropo, which Daley gave up with two out in the 9th inning.[11] Kansas City earned its 6th straight victory with a 3–0, 4-hitter, thrown by Daley against Boston, on July 25.[12] For the 7th place Athletics Daley achieved a 16–13 record with a 3.17 ERA in 1959.[1] On July 29 Daley was sidelined with an infected knee, which had hurt while sliding. His record was 11–6.[13] He gained his 12th win against the Washington Senators with relief help from Tom Sturdivant.[14] Daley concluded the 1959 season with a 16–13 record.[15]

Bob Cerv hit two home runs which assisted Daley in stopping a four-game winning streak by the Detroit Tigers, in May 1960.[16] He earned his 10th victory of the season in June with an 11-7 decision over the Boston Red Sox. He yielded 7 earned runs, 4 of them on 2 home runs and a run scoring single by Ted Williams.[17] Daley suffered his 16th setback against the Tigers on October 2, in a 6–4 loss. He had an equal number of wins.[18]

He was traded to the New York Yankees after being relegated to the Kansas City bullpen during the 1961 season. The move impaired his effectiveness as a pitcher. Frank Lane was responsible for trading Daley to the Athletics and then to the Yankees.[2]

Daley knew how to throw a spitball, describing the process to Ned Garver when both were with the Athletics. First, Daley would make his thumb and fingers moist. Then, he would hold them by the white part of the baseball, not on the seams. He tried to squeeze it like a watermelon seed as he threw it. This would keep the ball from spinning and often cause it to sink.[19]

Daley died in Riverton, Wyoming, on October 15, 2024, at the age of 92.[20]

Right arm

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Daley's right arm was one inch shorter than his left, and he was unable to fully straighten it.[21][22] It is often rumoured that Daley was born naturally right-handed but developed polio as a child, "withering" his right arm. In fact Daley was born left-handed and his right arm and side were healthy. He did suffer temporary paralysis to his right arm after birth due to forceps pinching a nerve. However, massage and exercise restored the limb to health. Daley's mother, Mrs. E.G. Petzoldt, once said, "No one wanted a baby more than I did. But Buddy was so crippled I didn't want him to live." Although he could barely raise it high enough to comb his hair,[2] Daley himself said that he has been living with it all his life without feeling handicapped a bit.[22] In fact, Daley served as a fifth infielder, was competitive as a batter, shot golf in the low 80s, and was a proficient fisherman.[1]

References

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Sources

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  • Swaine, Rick (2004). Beating the Breaks: Major League Ballplayers Who Overcame Disabilities. McFarland & Company. p. 192. ISBN 0-7864-1828-1.
[edit]
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Bud Daley

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Bud Daley was an American professional baseball pitcher known for his Major League Baseball career with the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, and New York Yankees, where he earned two All-Star selections and helped secure two World Series championships. Born Leavitt Leo Daley in Orange, California, he overcame a birth injury that paralyzed his right shoulder, leading him to pitch left-handed and develop a successful career as a reliable starter and reliever. Daley debuted in the majors in 1955 with the Indians but struggled in limited roles before finding success after trades to the Kansas City Athletics, where he became a top starter and earned All-Star honors in both 1959 and 1960. A mid-1961 trade to the New York Yankees shifted him primarily to relief work, and he contributed significantly to their back-to-back World Series titles in 1961 and 1962, including earning a win in the decisive Game 5 of the 1961 series against the Cincinnati Reds. His major league tenure ended in 1964 after an arm injury limited his later seasons. Following retirement, Daley and his wife Dorothy, whom he married in 1952, relocated to Wyoming in 1975, where he worked various jobs, enjoyed golf—winning the Wyoming State Senior Tournament multiple times—and raised a family with four children. He passed away on October 15, 2024, at the age of 92 in Riverton, Wyoming.

Early Life

Birth and Childhood

Leavitt Leo "Bud" Daley was born on October 7, 1932, in Orange, California, to Leavitt Daley Sr. and Helen Daley. His father was an amateur softball and baseball player in the Long Beach area who often caught for him. Daley grew up in the Long Beach, California area.

Arm Condition from Birth

Bud Daley sustained a permanent injury to his right arm during his birth on October 7, 1932, in Orange, California, when forceps used to assist in a difficult delivery slipped and damaged the nerves in his shoulder. This caused temporary paralysis of the arm for about six months, prompting doctors to inform his mother that he would never regain function in it. His mother rejected the prognosis and diligently massaged the withered arm daily with oil for two years, enabling him to move it again. Despite regaining some function, the arm never fully recovered and remained shorter than his left arm with limited range of motion that prevented him from fully straightening it or turning his palm completely. Daley downplayed the impact of the condition throughout his life, stating that it never bothered him except in certain awkward positions, such as fielding balls almost exclusively backhanded because he could not rotate his palm fully. He viewed the impairment not as a handicap but as a factor that naturally directed him toward becoming a left-handed pitcher.

High School Baseball and Professional Signing

Bud Daley attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, where he first participated in organized baseball. He played as a left-handed pitcher and outfielder, demonstrating strong potential despite occasional control issues. In 1950, during his senior year, Daley threw a no-hitter and helped lead his team to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championship under coach Cliff Meyer, earning him the CIF Player of the Year award for his contributions pitching and playing outfield. That season, he compiled an 11–1 record as a pitcher while batting .450 in the outfield. Daley drew interest from 14 of the 16 major league teams before signing with the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent in February 1951 under scout Hollis “Sloppy” Thurston. He chose the Indians partly because future Hall of Famer Bob Lemon, also a Woodrow Wilson High School alumnus, had attended the same school.

Major League Baseball Career

Cleveland Indians (1955–1957)

Bud Daley made his Major League Baseball debut with the Cleveland Indians on September 10, 1955, against the Boston Red Sox. In his first appearance, he pitched one inning in relief, allowing one hit while striking out one batter and surrendering no runs. He appeared in one additional game that season, finishing with a 0-1 record and a 6.43 ERA over seven innings pitched. Daley remained with the Indians through the 1956 and 1957 seasons, though he struggled to secure a consistent role. In 1956, he pitched exclusively in relief across 14 games, posting a 1-0 record with a 6.20 ERA in 20.1 innings. His workload increased in 1957, when he made 10 starts among his 34 appearances, recording a 2-8 record and a 4.43 ERA over 87.1 innings pitched. Overall, during his time with the Cleveland Indians from 1955 to 1957, Daley appeared in 50 games with an aggregate 3-9 record, 4.87 ERA, and 1.613 WHIP across 114.2 innings. On April 1, 1958, he was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Baltimore Orioles, along with Gene Woodling and Dick Williams, in exchange for Larry Doby and Don Ferrarese. He was then traded to the Kansas City Athletics on April 17, 1958.

Kansas City Athletics (1958–1961)

Bud Daley was acquired by the Kansas City Athletics on April 17, 1958, in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Arnie Portocarrero. He spent his first season with the team primarily as a reliever, appearing in 26 games with a 3–2 record and 3.31 ERA over 70.2 innings pitched. Daley transitioned to a full-time starting role in 1959 and delivered one of his strongest seasons, finishing 16–13 with a 3.16 ERA across 216.1 innings and 29 starts while completing 12 games. He earned selection to the American League All-Star team and appeared in the first All-Star Game, where he struck out Ernie Banks on knuckleballs and retired Orlando Cepeda on a foul fly. In 1960, Daley again served as a reliable starter for the Athletics, recording 35 starts while posting a 16–16 record and 4.56 ERA over 231 innings pitched. He received his second consecutive All-Star selection and opted to pitch in the first All-Star Game, held in Kansas City, where he entered to a prolonged standing ovation, allowed only one walk in the ninth inning, and struck out two batters in a scoreless appearance. Daley's time with the Athletics ended on June 14, 1961, when he was traded to the New York Yankees in exchange for pitcher Art Ditmar and first baseman Deron Johnson.

New York Yankees (1961–1964)

On June 14, 1961, Bud Daley was acquired by the New York Yankees from the Kansas City Athletics in exchange for pitcher Art Ditmar and infielder Deron Johnson. Upon joining the Yankees midseason, he was used primarily as a starter for the remainder of 1961, making 17 starts in 23 appearances and compiling an 8–9 record with a 3.96 ERA over 129.2 innings pitched. Daley transitioned to a swingman role in subsequent seasons, increasingly functioning as a reliever with occasional spot starts. In 1962, he appeared in 43 games for the Yankees, starting just six, and posted a 7–5 record with a 3.59 ERA in 105.1 innings while recording four saves. His 1963 campaign was limited to a single relief appearance on April 10 due to an arm injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. In 1964, he made 13 appearances, including three starts, finishing with a 3–2 record and a 4.63 ERA over 35 innings. Daley's final major league game occurred on July 26, 1964, against the Detroit Tigers, where he pitched six innings, allowed three earned runs on five hits with eight walks and three strikeouts, and earned the win.

Career Statistics and Pitching Style

Over the course of his 10-year Major League Baseball career from 1955 to 1964, Bud Daley compiled a record of 60 wins and 64 losses with a 4.03 earned run average (ERA). He appeared in 248 games, starting 116, and pitched 967.1 innings while recording 549 strikeouts and 10 saves. His career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) totaled 6.5, and his ERA+ stood at 97. Daley was primarily a knuckleball pitcher, relying on the pitch as a key weapon, especially in high-leverage situations. He famously used it during the 1959 All-Star Game, striking out Ernie Banks with three consecutive knuckleballs after catcher Sherm Lollar called for the pitch. Daley also incorporated curveballs into his repertoire, particularly favoring them in certain counts as directed by catchers like Elston Howard.

Achievements and Postseason

All-Star Selections

Bud Daley was selected to the American League All-Star team four times, earning roster spots for both All-Star Games in 1959 and both in 1960 while with the Kansas City Athletics. These selections came during his most productive seasons as a starter for Kansas City. A particularly memorable highlight occurred during the first All-Star Game of 1960 on July 11 at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. Entering in the ninth inning from the center-field bullpen, Daley received a standing ovation from the hometown crowd of 30,619 fans as he walked to the mound. He later described the prolonged applause, which lasted from the time he opened the gate until he reached the mound, as one of the greatest thrills of his entire baseball career.

World Series Participation and Championships

Bud Daley participated in the World Series twice during his tenure with the New York Yankees, contributing to the team's championships in 1961 and 1962. In the 1961 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, which the Yankees won four games to one, Daley made two relief appearances and posted a 1–0 record with a 0.00 ERA over 7.0 innings pitched while allowing five hits, two unearned runs, no walks, and three strikeouts. He earned the win in Game 5, pitching 6⅔ innings in relief and permitting five hits and two unearned runs (from a home run following an error) as the Yankees clinched the series with a 13–5 victory. In the 1962 World Series against the San Francisco Giants, which the Yankees won four games to three, Daley appeared in one relief outing and pitched 1.0 inning with no decision, a 0.00 ERA, one hit allowed, one walk, and no strikeouts. Across his postseason career in these two World Series, Daley compiled a 1–0 record, 0.00 ERA, and 8.0 innings pitched in three relief appearances. He earned two World Series rings as a champion with the Yankees in 1961 and 1962.

Media Appearances

Television Sports Broadcasts

Bud Daley appeared as himself in televised coverage of the World Series while pitching for the New York Yankees. In the 1961 World Series TV mini-series, he was credited as Self - New York Yankees Pitcher in two episodes. He had a similar credit as Self - New York Yankees Pitcher in one episode of the 1962 World Series TV series broadcast. These appearances were non-acting roles tied directly to his participation as a player in those postseason games.

Other Media Credits

Bud Daley appeared as himself in the uncredited role in the 1960 documentary short film Golfing with Sam Snead. The nine-minute color production, directed by Jack Kuhne and filmed in Boca Raton, Florida, features golf legend Sam Snead providing instructional tips on improving one's game, with demonstrations involving celebrity pupils including heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Marciano and Daley. This brief, non-speaking appearance represents his only known credit in non-broadcast media.

Post-Playing Career

Professional Occupations After Retirement

After his release by the Cleveland Indians in spring 1965, Bud Daley announced his retirement from professional baseball and returned to Orange, California, where he continued his work in the insurance business that he had pursued during baseball offseasons. He remained in the insurance field for some time and also coached youth baseball during this period. In 1975, while working in sales for a packaging company, Daley was laid off. He and his wife Dorothy then opened an upholstery business together. Daley continued his career in sales in subsequent years. Later, his interest in golf developed into full-time employment as a golf course superintendent.

Life in Wyoming

In 1975, Bud Daley relocated to Wyoming, settling in the Lander area of Fremont County where he resided for 49 years. His passion for golf developed into a professional role when he became the golf course superintendent at the Lander Golf and Country Club. Daley lived in Lander, Wyoming, and was also associated with the nearby Riverton area during his decades in the region.

Personal Life

Family and Marriage

Bud Daley married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Olson, in 1952. The couple remained married for 72 years, having recently celebrated their anniversary. They had four children: Ed, Debbie, Laurie, and Jeff. Three of the children—Ed, Debbie, and Laurie—were born while Daley was still playing in the minor leagues. Following his retirement from baseball, Daley and his wife operated an upholstery business together in Wyoming.

Interests and Hobbies

Bud Daley developed a strong interest in golf after retiring from professional baseball and relocating to Wyoming in 1975. He was an avid golfer who won the Wyoming State Senior Tournament numerous times. He enjoyed the game as a hobby and became a skilled player, attaining single-digit handicap status. Friends and family described him as a very good golfer who remained passionate about the sport throughout his life, with his enthusiasm for golf helping to fill the void left by his departure from baseball. This interest eventually led him to serve as golf course superintendent at the Lander Golf and Country Club. One of his notable personal thrills in the game was achieving his first hole-in-one.

Death

Final Years and Passing

Bud Daley spent his final years residing in Lander, Wyoming. His health declined in the approximately three months leading up to his death. He passed away on October 15, 2024, at Help for Health Hospice in Riverton, Wyoming, at the age of 92. Per his wishes, no formal funeral services were held.

Legacy

Bud Daley is remembered as a resilient left-handed pitcher who overcame a birth-related arm injury to forge a notable Major League career, culminating in key contributions to the New York Yankees' success during their early 1960s dynasty. The injury, caused by a forceps delivery pinching a nerve in his right shoulder, resulted in temporary paralysis and permanent limited motion—he could not fully straighten the arm or rotate his palm completely—yet Daley adapted by fielding most balls backhanded and insisted the condition never truly handicapped him. His perseverance amid physical challenges has been recognized in baseball literature focused on players who overcame disabilities, including the book Beating the Breaks: Major League Ballplayers Who Overcame Disabilities by Rick Swaine. Daley is particularly recalled for his mastery of the knuckleball, which he wielded effectively in prominent settings such as the 1959 All-Star Game, where he struck out Ernie Banks with consecutive knuckleballs. Daley's most celebrated achievements came as a member of the Yankees, where he earned two World Series championships in 1961 and 1962 and secured the victory in the clinching Game 5 of the 1961 series against the Cincinnati Reds. He was selected to four All-Star teams, underscoring his status among the American League's premier pitchers during his peak years. Though he never received induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Daley's combination of overcoming adversity, distinctive pitching style, and role in championship triumphs ensures his enduring place in the sport's history.
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