Dick Bunker, Norwood’s stylish southpaw for the champion Schenectady Blue Jays in the Eastern League, is back home for the rest of the season.
Bunker was described “as the major cog” for the Blue Jays’ drive this season winning two of the six games in the playoffs, besides posting an excellent 17-8 mound record In the regular campaign. He also holds the second-best ERA of 2.08 in the league.
The rookie pitcher lost his first official start on the mound but finished very strong flashing a curve, fastball, change-up, and a newly developed slider. Bunker played for the All-Stars and was voted “Best” left-hander in the Class A circuit. He is baseball property of the Phillies,
The Blue Jays had three other players from the state of Massachusetts. Charles “Buzz” Bowers, who set a league record for pitching in 61 games, hails from Weston, Mass. George Morgan, an outfielder, Is from Natick, and Bob DePopolo, Jay catcher, lives in Waban.
Bunker left Notre Dame last winter. Baseball coach Jake Kline missed the Norwood Junior who was to have been a brilliant prospect off his sophomore 6-2 pitching record.
As for ’57, it’s up to the Phillies reported E. J. Sherba, Jay’s business manager. In any event, Bunker will move up, probably to their Miami team in the International League which is Triple-A. Better still, with the parent Phillies after Spring training at Clearwater, Florida.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)