Bob Chesnes
| Bob Chesnes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: May 6, 1921 Oakland, California, U.S. | |
| Died: May 23, 1979 (aged 58) Everett, Washington, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 6, 1948, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 1950, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 24–22 |
| Earned run average | 4.66 |
| Strikeouts | 130 |
| Teams | |
Robert Vincent Chesnes (May 6, 1921 – May 23, 1979) was an American
player, a right-handed pitcher who worked in 61 games pitched in the Major Leagues from 1948 through 1950 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The native of Oakland, California
, stood 6 feet (1.83 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg).
Chesnes entered organized baseball in 1940 as an infielder in the Class D Northeast Arkansas League. He began his conversion to full-time pitcher the following season. Then, after 1942, his professional career was interrupted by three years of service (1943–45) in the United States Coast Guard during World War II.[1]
Returning to baseball in 1946, he posted three highly successful consecutive seasons, including a stellar
San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League for 1947. There he won 22 games and lost eight, leading the PCL in winning percentage (.733) as well as in earned run average with a 2.32 mark. That off-season, the Pirates acquired Chesnes from the unaffiliated Seals for $100,000 and four players (including outfielder Gene Woodling and catcher Dixie Howell
).
Chesnes made his MLB debut on his 27th birthday in
at bats, best among Pirate pitchers. But Chesnes' final two seasons in Pittsburgh were plagued by arm miseries.[2] He went only 10–16 during 1949–50 and his ERA ballooned to a composite 5.81. Chesnes spent part of 1950 and all of 1951 in the minor leagues
before leaving the game.
All told, he allowed 377
runs batted in
.
References
- ^ "Baseball in Wartime - Those Who Served A to Z". BaseballinWartime.com. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- ^ "Pirates Ship Chesnes To Farm Club". Meriden Record. Meriden, Connecticut. Associated Press (AP). June 5, 1950. p. 4. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Bob Chesnes at Find a Grave