By Rob Riches, Sports Talk Philly contributor 
Jim Bunning, the Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and former Congressman that spent six seasons in the Phillies pinstripes, passed away at the age of 85 following a stroke suffered last October.
Jon Deuser, who served as Bunning's chief of staff during his time in the Senate, confirmed the news of his death. The team announced it prior to Saturday's game against Cincinnati, and adorned his plaque in Ashburn Alley and his retired number with black ribbons.
Honoring a great pitcher and an even better man.
We'll miss you, Jim. pic.twitter.com/IDcCNQHfwM
— Phillies (@Phillies) May 27, 2017
Bunning joined the Phillies in 1964, after nine seasons with the Detroit Tigers. On June 21 of that season — Father's Day — he tossed a perfect game against the NY Mets, striking out 10 batters in a 6-0 win. Not only was it the first of two perfect games in Phillies history, it was also the National League's first perfect game in 84 years, and the first perfect game in the regular season since 1922.
Bunning also represented the Phillies in two All-Star Games (1964 and 1966). In 1967, he led the majors in strikeouts, with 253.
The Phillies dealt Bunning to Pittsburgh in 1968, where he spent parts of two seasons before heading to Los Angeles. In 1970, he returned to the Phillies for two seasons, before retiring after the 1971 season. He was elected to the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 1984, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996. The Phillies retired Bunning's number 14 in 2001 — the most recent number the team has retired — and it remains one of six numbers out of circulation for the team.
Bunning spent his next few years out of baseball as a stockbroker, and embarked on a career in local and state politics in his home state of Kentucky in 1977. He moved to Washington to serve in the House of Representatives as a Republican in 1986, and served as a senator for two terms after being elected in 1998. Following his second term, Bunning opted to not pursue re-election and retire from the political arena.
