Bob Welch became known in a hurry when he threw nothing but fastballs to strike out Reggie Jackson in the ninth inning to save a 4-3 Dodger win in Game Two of the 1978 series (he also lost Game Four in the tenth inning).
Unfortunately, the next time he achieved national fame was when he had to receive alcoholism treatment. He wrote of his experiences in Five O’Clock Comes Early: A Young Man’s Battle With Alcoholism, and has since been active in anti-alcoholism efforts. A mainstay on one of baseball’s top staffs with the Dodgers, Welch once played left and right field in a 21-inning game.
Traded to the A’s after the 1987 season in a three-way deal that also involved the Mets, Welch helped the A’s to the AL pennant with a 17-9 record. He pitched well in Game Three of the WS, allowing one run in five innings, but did not get a decision.
