Pedro Borbon Dead At 65, Helped Cincinnati Reds Win Two World Series Titles

Former relief pitcher Pedro Borbon of the Cincinnati Reds passed away on Monday, he was 65-years-old. Borbon passed away at his home in Pharr, Texas after battling cancer.

Borbon helped the 1975 and 1976 Reds win back-to-back World Series titles. Borbon played for the Reds over a 10 year span and during the teams back-to-back world series victories he won 13 games.

The relief pitcher also spent time with the Angels, Giants and Cardinals.

According to son Pedro Borbon Jr.:

“He was probably most proud of the World Series championships. He would talk about it often. He was also proud that he never once had a sore arm. He could pitch almost every day.”

That strong arm did not let Borbon down from 1970 through 1978 when he pitched in more MLB games than any other active pitcher over the same period. To this very day Pedro Borbon holds the Cincinnati Reds club record for the most career appearances with 531 games. Pedro also pitched in 20 playoff games with a 2.42 postseason ERA.

In 1995 at the age of 48 Pedro Borbon returned to Major League Baseball during the labor dispute, as a replacement player he struck out the only batter he faced, he also fell down trying to field a bunt and threw wildly to first base which ended his chances at a comeback.

One of Borbon’s biggest claims to fame outside of Major League Baseball came in the 1980 movie “Airplane!” in which an overhead voice proclaims:

“Pinch hitting for Pedro Borbon … Manny Mota.”

Our condolences go out to Pedro Borbon’s family and friends.