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Steven Lee " Buzz" Busby (born September 29, 1949) is an American former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played his entire career for the Kansas City Royals. He batted and threw right-handed.
Busby threw the first two in franchise history for the Royals.
Late in the 1972 season on September 20 against the California Angels, Busby hit a first-inning grand slam only to have it taken back by the first base umpire John Rice, who said time out had been called to eject Jerry May. Nonetheless, Busby went on to hit a double and two singles in the game, while also earning the victory on the mound.
In 1974, Busby enjoyed his best season, winning 22 games and making the American League All-Star team. He also pitched a second no-hitter on June 19, this one against the Milwaukee Brewers at County Stadium. Yielding only a second-inning walk to George Scott, Busby defeated the Brewers 2–0, besting Clyde Wright—himself a no-hit pitcher in 1970. With this no-hitter, Busby became the first pitcher in major-league history to throw no-hitters in each of his first two complete seasons. In 1975, he won 18 games and made the All-Star team again.
Busby had struggled with his control early in his career, but his problems returned to a greater degree in 1976 when he was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff; an injury that at the time ended a pitcher's career. Busby subsequently became the first baseball player to undergo rotator cuff surgery. In an effort to help his arm recover from the surgery, his doctor recommended that Busby be placed on a pitch count. He is often believed to be the first baseball player to be placed on a pitch count, something that Busby has stated is a myth. Before his injury, he is alleged to have thrown close to 200 pitches in a game, which Busby also says is untrue.
The surgery did not save Busby's career. After missing the entire 1977 season and most of 1978, he pitched in 22 games (including 12 starts) the next year, compiling a respectable 6–6 record with a 3.63 ERA, but his walks outnumbered his (64-to-45). In 1980, he even pitched a one-hitter, but otherwise pitched ineffectively, compiling a 6.17 ERA and allowing 80 baserunners in 42.1 innings pitched. He pitched his final game on August 26 and the Royals released him three days later. Busby signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals before the season, but never pitched in the major leagues again.
In an eight-year career, Busby posted a 70–54 record with 659 strikeouts and a 3.72 ERA in 1060.2 innings.
Busby and outfielder Amos Otis were the first two players elected to the Royals Hall of Fame. In 2009, Busby was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. His 70 career victories ranks him ninth on the Royals' all-time list.
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