Pedro Borbon Dies at the Age of 65

Former Big Red Machine relief pitcher Pedro Borbon died at the age of 65 from complications with cancer.

 The Dominican Born righthanded pitcher combined with Clay Carroll to allow manager Sparky Anderson to earn the nickname "Captain Hook".

He came to the Reds in a trade with Jim McGlothlin and Vern Geishert for Chico Ruiz and Alex Johnson.  From 1970 through 1979 Borbon appeared in more games than any other pitcher in the National League.  He is the Reds all-time appearance leader with 531 games.  He saved 76 games for the Reds, good for eighth on the Reds' list.  He was elected to the Reds Hall of Fame in 2010.

 Borbon was a fiery competitor.  After a brawl with the New York Mets in the 1973 playoffs., Borbon mistakenly put on a Mets cap. When he realized his mistake, he angrily threw the cap to the ground after he took a bite out of it.

 He also bit a Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher during a fight. After the fight pitcher Daryl Patterson required shots.

 Borbon tried to make a comeback in his 40's during the strike in which the Major Leagues was going to use replacement players.

 He attended a lot of Reds events in his later years. He raised rare birds as a hobby in the Domincan.

 On a personal note, my father and former major leaguer and a longtime instructor for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Manny Mota were friends. Mota arrived at my house late one night bringing Borbon with him. My brothers were playing a board game APBA baseball when they arrived. Borbon's card gave up a run in relief during my brothers game and Borbon was not too happy about it.