Former U.S. Sen. Bunning, Hall of Famer, dies at 85

Former U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, a Hall of Fame pitcher who parlayed his sports fame into a political career as an uncompromising advocate for conservative causes, has died. He was 85.

Bunning’s death Friday was confirmed by Jon Deuser, who served as chief of staff when the Kentucky Republican was in the Senate. Deuser said Saturday he was notified about the death by Bunning’s family.

Known as a nononsense pitcher who threw hard and knocked batters down when necessary, the big right-hander belonged to a rare group of major-league pitchers to throw a perfect game in the modern era.

He retired from baseball in 1971, after 17 seasons, mostly with Detroit and Philadelphia. He was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1996.

Bunning served 12 years in the U.S. House, followed by two terms in the Senate. He was a fierce protector of state interests such as tobacco, coal and its military bases. Bunning decided not to seek re-election to the Senate in 2010. Republican Rand Paul rode a tea party wave that year to win the seat.

His ornery nature prompted Republican leaders to push him to retire as a senator. As his political party soured on him, Bunning pushed back. At one point, he threatened to sue the party’s national campaign arm if it backed a primary challenger. But in July 2009 he dropped his reelection bid, accusing his GOP colleagues of doing “everything in their power to dry up my fundraising.”

Bunning suffered a stroke last fall. Deuser said Bunning was in hospice care when he died.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, his longtime colleague from Kentucky, remembered Bunning on Saturday as someone who led a “long and storied life.”

“From his days in the major leagues to his years as my colleague in the Senate — and the many points in between, from the City Council to the House of Representatives — Jim rarely shied away from a new adventure,” McConnell said in a statement.

Bunning’s competitive side also was evident during his political career. In February 2010, he singlehandedly held up a $10 billion spending bill in Congress because it would add to the deficit.

“The main qualities it takes for professional athletes and politicians is to have a very thick hide, a thick skin, and to be able to meet and greet people,” he said.

Bunning also used his political status to speak out about the game he loved.

He declared that athletes who use steroids should be kept out of the Baseball Hall of Fame and have their records nullified. He co-authored legislation calling for stiff punishment for professional athletes caught using steroids. The proposal, which sought a lifetime ban for a third positive test, would have applied to baseball, football, basketball and hockey players.