Bob Dillinger

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Bob Dillinger
Runs batted in
213
Stolen bases106
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Robert Bernard Dillinger (September 17, 1918 – November 7, 2009) was an American

MLB) from 1946 through 1951 for the St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox. Dillinger's six years in the major leagues showcased his batting ability (he led the American League in hits in 1948 with 207 and batted over .300 four times) and his speed (he was the Junior Circuit's stolen base champion for three consecutive years, 1947 through 1949, with 82 total thefts), but poor defense and a perceived lackadaisical attitude[1]
resulted in a premature end to his big-league tenure. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).

Early life

Born in

minor-league seasons before his playing career was interrupted by World War II service in the United States Army Air Forces from 1943 through 1945.[3]

Baseball career

In 1946, the first postwar season, Dillinger made the Browns' MLB roster as the backup to veteran third baseman Mark Christman, starting 50 games at the hot corner and batting .307. Just prior to the 1947 campaign, the Browns made room for Dillinger by selling Christman's contract to the Washington Senators.

In his first season as a regular, Dillinger led his team in hits (168) and his league in stolen bases (34). Then, in

inning as a pinch runner for George Kell. He displayed his speed by scoring from first base on a double by Joe DiMaggio to help the AL increase its lead to 8–5. Staying in the game at third base, he came to bat in the seventh inning and singled off Howie Pollet, driving in Dom DiMaggio, and then scored a run himself when he again tallied from first base on a double, this time hit by Dale Mitchell.[4] The American League went on to win, 11–7, with Dillinger scoring two runs and collecting a key run batted in
.

That off-season, however, Dillinger was traded away from the Browns, as he and

waivers on Dillinger and sold his contract to the National League's last-place team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dillinger batted .288 in 58 games for the Bucs, to finish the campaign at .301. He split 1951
between Pittsburgh and the Chicago White Sox, and matched that .301 average in 101 games played. It was his last year in the majors.

He played his last four professional seasons (1952–55) in the Pacific Coast League, where he moved to the outfield and led the league in hitting with a .366 mark in 1953. Dillinger's career as an active player ended when he was given his unconditional release from the Sacramento Solons on May 25, 1955, despite being the team's second-best batter with a .281 average. Upon his departure, he bitterly criticized Tony Freitas whom he called "the worst manager I ever played for in 16 years in the game."[6]

As an excellent

home runs in 3,201 plate appearances. He stole 106 bases, and was caught stealing 50 times.[7] In the field, he experienced problems throwing the ball to first base, and was criticized regularly for lack of effort in fielding ground balls—a charge that Dillinger strongly contested.[8]

Retirement

In retirement, he returned to Southern California and served as a construction inspector for the city of Los Angeles.[1] Bob Dillinger died on November 7, 2009, at age 91 in Santa Clarita, California.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Drooz, Alan (July 31, 1993). ""Bob Dillinger: St. Louis Brown Hit the Big Time and Ran With It"". The Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ "Baseball prospect was former Vandal". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. December 11, 1948. p. 8.
  3. Baseball in Wartime
  4. ^ Retrosheet box score: 1949 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
  5. ^ Spink, J.G. Taylor; Rickart, Paul A.; Lanigan, Ernest J.; Kachline, Clifford: "Review of 1950 Season," Baseball Guide & Record Book 1951. The Sporting News, pp. 95-96
  6. ^ "Bob Dillinger Quits Solons–and Baseball," United Press (UP), Friday, May 27, 1955. Retrieved October 25, 2020
  7. ^ Baseball Reference
  8. ^ Corbett, Warren, Bob Dillinger. Society for American Baseball Research Biography Project

External links

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