Bob Stanley (born November 10, 1954) in Portland, Maine is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher who played with the Boston Red Sox. Over his 13-year career, Stanley played only for the Red Sox from 1977-89. Bob was a first-round pick of the Boston Red Sox in 1974.
A sinker ball specialist, Stanley is the club all-time saves leader with 132, but to most Red Sox fans, he is simply known as "The Steamer". He is also the all-time leader in appearances with 637 and is a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame since 2000. His best season came in 1983 when he led the Sox with 33 saves and posted a 2.45 ERA.
Stanley was a key member of the 1986 Red Sox team that came within one out of winning the World Series but ultimately fell to the Mets in seven games. In the tenth inning of Game Six, Stanley's two-out wild pitch to Mookie Wilson allowed the Mets to tie the score.
In 1987, working as a starter for the first time since 1979, Stanley was 4-15 with 67 strikeouts and a 5.01 ERA.
On September 25, 1989, Stanley announced his retirement. He compiled a 115-97 career-record with 693 strikeouts, a 3.64 ERA, 21 complete games, seven shutouts, 132 saves, and 1707 innings in 637 games (85 as a starter). With his 115 victories, he joined a select group of Red Sox pitchers with 100 or more victories. Roger Clemens (192), Cy Young (192), Tim Wakefield (130), Mel Parnell (123), Luis Tiant (122), Pedro Martinez (117), Smokey Joe Wood (116), Joe Dobson (106), and Lefty Grove (105), are the others.
Bob Stanley still lives in the Boston area, residing in Wenham. He is currently on the coaching staff of the Connecticut Defenders, the Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
