Hall of Fame pitcher, ex-U.S. Senator Jim Bunning dies at 85

The Philadelphia Phillies announced Saturday that Hall of Fame pitcher and former United States senator Jim Bunning has died at the age of 85.

Bunning's son, David, tweeted that "heaven got its No. 1 starter today."

A nine-time All-Star, Bunning posted a career 224-184 record, 3.27 ERA, and 2,855 strikeouts over 17 seasons, spent primarily with the Phillies (1964-67, 1970-71) and Detroit Tigers (1955-63). He threw a no-hitter for Detroit on July 20, 1958, and a perfect game with the Phillies at Shea Stadium on June 21, 1964. At the time, it was only the third perfect game in National League history, and the Senior Circuit's first since 1880.

Bunning, who also spent time with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers, was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1996. His No. 14 was retired by the Phillies in 2001, almost two decades after he was placed on the club's Wall of Fame.

During his playing career Bunning was also an active supporter of players' rights, and was part of the group that helped found the Major League Baseball Players' Association. Current MLBPA executive director Tony Clark paid tribute to Bunning Saturday with a statement that called him "one of the most important figures in the history of" the union.

"All players - past, present and future - will forever owe Jim a debt of gratitude," Clark wrote.

After baseball, Bunning moved into a successful second career in federal politics. A Republican, he was first elected as a congressman in 1986, and served Kentucky's fourth congressional district until 1998, when he began a 12-year tenure as a United States senator. Bunning, the only baseball Hall of Famer to serve in U.S. Congress, did not seek re-election and retired from his 24-year political career in 2010.

Bunning and his wife had nine children, as well as 35 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, according to Frank Fitzpatrick of Philly.com.