RetroSimba

From 1974 through 1980, the Cardinals’ Bob Forsch made 17 starts against Houston and the Astros’ Ken Forsch made eight starts against St. Louis, but the brothers never started in the same game against one another.

Bob Forsch and Ken Forsch did pitch in the same game four times _ in each, Bob was a starter and Ken was a reliever _ and it was Bob who usually got the upper hand.

Ken Forsch entered the majors with Houston in 1970. Bob Forsch, four years younger than Ken, made his big-league debut with the Cardinals on July 7, 1974. Two weeks later, Bob faced Ken in a major-league game for the first time.

In his book “Tales From The Cardinals Dugout,” Bob Forsch wrote he and his brother almost faced one another as starting pitchers in Game 1 of the 1982 World Series. Ken Forsch then was with the Angels, who played the Brewers in the best-of-five American League Championship Series. The Brewers won Game 5, earning the AL pennant, but if the Angels had won, “Kenny … was scheduled to pitch the opener in the World Series,” Bob Forsch wrote. “I was scheduled to start Game 1 for the Cardinals.”

Here are the four games in which Bob Forsch and Ken Forsch pitched:

Cardinals 9, Astros 1, July 21, 1974, at St. Louis

In his fourth big-league appearance, Bob Forsch earned his second win and pitched his second complete game.

Ken Forsch pitched the seventh and eighth innings and gave up three runs.

In the eighth, Bob Forsch batted against his brother for the first time in the big leagues. With Mike Tyson on third and one out, Bob Forsch hit a grounder to shortstop Roger Metzger, who threw to the plate to retire Tyson. The next batter, Jose Cruz, hit an inside-the-park home run off the center-field wall, scoring Bob Forsch from first. Boxscore

Describing his at-bat, Bob Forsch wrote, “I hit what I thought was a sizzling ground ball to the shortstop … I didn’t want to strike out. I was just so glad I hit the ball … and that my brother didn’t hit me first.”

The game was the finale of a four-game series. Before the first game, Bob Forsch was shagging balls in the outfield during batting practice when Ken Forsch walked onto the field, greeted his brother, congratulated him on reaching the major leagues and shook hands with him. Wrote Bob Forsch:

When batting practice was over, we left the field. Bob Gibson came over and told me, “That’ll cost you $25 (for fraternizing with an opponent). Don’t talk to anyone on the other team.”

This was my own flesh and blood. And Gibby obviously knew it. I mean, Kenny had his uniform on with “FORSCH” on the back. Nobody spoke up and defended me. Hey, I was a rookie. And who’s going to go against Bob Gibson?

Astros 8, Cardinals 7, June 15, 1975, at St. Louis

Bob Forsch was lifted for pinch-hitter Ron Fairly in the eighth inning, with the Cardinals ahead, 7-4. But the Astros loaded the bases against Al Hrabosky in the ninth. After Mike Garman relieved Hrabosky, Cliff Johnson greeted Garman with a grand slam, depriving Forsch and St. Louis of a win.

Ken Forsch relieved Astros starter Doug Konieczny in the fifth and pitched three scoreless innings.

In the top of the sixth, Ken Forsch batted against his brother for the only time in their big-league careers. He struck out, ending the inning. In the bottom half, Bob Forsch faced his brother and grounded into an inning-ending forceout. Boxscore

Cardinals 8, Astros 4, May 18, 1977, at Houston

Bob Forsch started and was lifted for pinch-hitter Don Kessinger after five innings, with the score 3-3. Ken Forsch relieved in the eighth, entering with St. Louis ahead, 5-4, and gave up three unearned runs on five hits in his one inning of work. He did strike out the side, including Lou Brock and Ted Simmons. Boxscore

Cardinals 3, Astros 1, Aug. 6, 1977, at Houston

In the first game of a Saturday night doubleheader, Bob Forsch pitched eight innings and got his 14th win of the season. Butch Metzger earned the save with a perfect ninth.

Ken Forsch entered in the ninth for Astros starter Mark Lemongello and retired the Cardinals in order. Boxscore

On April 1, 1981, Ken Forsch was traded by the Astros to the Angels for infielder Dickie Thon. Ken Forsch finished his big-league playing career with the Angels in 1986.

In a fitting twist, the only big-league team Bob Forsch played for besides the Cardinals was the Astros. On Aug. 31, 1988, Bob Forsch was dealt to Houston for utilityman Denny Walling. Bob Forsch closed out his big-league career with Houston in 1989. His overall record with the Astros was 5-9 with a 5.56 ERA.