1976 Topps #486 - Bruce Dal Canton

.

• Bruce Dal Canton pitched in the majors from 1967-1977. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1966 at the age of 25. Bruce had been teaching high school at the time and was signed at an open tryout. Bruce was in the minors for the entire season in 1966 and would be in the minors for parts of the 1967 and 1968 seasons. Dal Canton was with the Pirates briefly in 1967 and was 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA in eight games (two starts).
• After spending most of 1968 in the minors, Dal Canton came back to the Pirates in September and was 1-1 with two saves and a 2.12 ERA in seven games. Bruce had a good year as a relief pitcher in 1969. He was 8-2 with five saves and a 3.34 ERA in 57 games.
• Dal Canton was a reliever and spot starter for the Pirates in 1970. He went 9-4 with one save and a 4.57 ERA in 41 games (6 starts). After the 1970 season Bruce was traded with Jerry May and Freddie Patek to the Kansas City Royals for Jim Campanis, Jackie Hernandez, and Bob Johnson.
• Bruce became a starting pitcher for the Royals in 1971. He started 22 games and was 8-6 with a 3.44 ERA. Bruce missed the entire month of August with an injury.
• Dal Canton split time between the bullpen and the starting rotation in 1972. Bruce was 6-6 with two saves and a 3.40 ERA in 35 games (16 starts). He had what was probably his worst season in 1973. Bruce was 4-3 with three saves and a 4.81 ERA in 32 games (3 starts).
• In 1974 Dal Canton led the AL with 16 wild pitches. He went 8-10 with a 3.13 ERA in 31 games (22 starts). Bruce got off to a rough start in 1975 (0-2, 15.58 ERA in four games) and the Royals had several young pitchers who were ready for the majors. Dal Canton was traded (with Ray Sadecki) to the Atlanta Braves on June 30 for cash, Norm Angelini, and Al Autry. Dal Canton went 2-7 with three saves and a 3.36 ERA in 26 games (nine starts) for the Braves in '75.
• Bruce was mostly a reliever in 1976. In 42 games (1 start) he went 3-5 with one save and a 3.56 ERA. Dal Canton didn't make the Braves ballclub in 1977 and was released on March 30. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox a week later but pitched in only eight games (0-2, 2 saves, 3.75 ERA) in April and  May. Bruce was released by the White Sox in August. He tried to come back with the White Sox' AAA club in 1978 but he didn't make it back to the majors.
• After his playing career Bruce was a pitching coach in the Atlanta Braves organization for 26 years, including a stint as the Braves' pitching coach from 1987-1990.
• Dal Canton was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
• Bruce died of esophageal cancer on October 7, 2008.
• Liked to face: Pete Rose (.000 in 9 AB); Willie Horton (.067 in 15 AB); Mickey Rivers (.071 in 15 AB)
• Hated to face: Chris Chambliss (.583 in 12 AB); Rusty Staub (.500 in 14 AB); Vada Pinson (.435 in 23 AB)