Bob Cerv
Encyclopedia
Robert Henry Cerv was an American
baseball
player. Prior to his professional career he was a standout baseball and basketball player at the University of Nebraska.
He signed with the New York Yankees
in 1950, and was a little used reserve outfielder on the powerful Yankee teams of the early 1950s.
Following the 1956 season, he was sold to the Kansas City Athletics, where he became a regular. His best season was 1958, when he hit .305, hit 38 homers, and had 104 RBIs, was elected to the American League All-Star
team, beating out Ted Williams
for the starting spot. He also finished 4th in the MVP voting that year. He did all of this while playing injured part of the season. Cerv also participated in the Home Run Derby
, where he defeated Frank Robinson
. He followed up in 1959 with 20 homers and 87 RBIs. Some say had Cerv not played back-up to such greats as Mickey Mantle
he would have done so much more on the field. Cerv still holds Kansas City's major league record for home runs with 38.
In May, 1960, he was traded back to the Yankees for Andy Carey
, and his playing time was reduced somewhat. Following the 1960 season, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the expansion draft
, but his stay was brief. In May 1961 he was traded back to the Yankees, where he was a substitute and pinch hitter. He was also the housemate of Mickey Mantle
and Roger Maris
during the historic homer race and was featured in the Billy Crystal's movie 61*. In June 1962 he was traded to the Houston Colt .45s, who released him in July.
In his career he had 105 home run
s, including 12 pinch hit homers. He also had a .276 batting average
in his career with 624 hits
in 2261 at bats.
Following his big league career he coached college baseball
at Southeast Missouri State College and John F. Kennedy College
in Wahoo, Nebraska
where he also coached the men's basketball team.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. Prior to his professional career he was a standout baseball and basketball player at the University of Nebraska.
He signed with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in 1950, and was a little used reserve outfielder on the powerful Yankee teams of the early 1950s.
Following the 1956 season, he was sold to the Kansas City Athletics, where he became a regular. His best season was 1958, when he hit .305, hit 38 homers, and had 104 RBIs, was elected to the American League All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team, beating out Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
for the starting spot. He also finished 4th in the MVP voting that year. He did all of this while playing injured part of the season. Cerv also participated in the Home Run Derby
Home Run Derby (TV series)
Home Run Derby is a 1960 television show that was held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles putting the top sluggers of Major League Baseball against each other in nine-inning home run contests...
, where he defeated Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
. He followed up in 1959 with 20 homers and 87 RBIs. Some say had Cerv not played back-up to such greats as Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
he would have done so much more on the field. Cerv still holds Kansas City's major league record for home runs with 38.
In May, 1960, he was traded back to the Yankees for Andy Carey
Andy Carey
Andrew Arthur Carey is a former major league third baseman for the New York Yankees , and three other major league teams from 1960 to 1962...
, and his playing time was reduced somewhat. Following the 1960 season, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the expansion draft
1960 MLB expansion draft
The 1960 MLB Expansion Draft was held by Major League Baseball on December 14, 1960 to fill the rosters of the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Senators...
, but his stay was brief. In May 1961 he was traded back to the Yankees, where he was a substitute and pinch hitter. He was also the housemate of Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
and Roger Maris
Roger Maris
Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
during the historic homer race and was featured in the Billy Crystal's movie 61*. In June 1962 he was traded to the Houston Colt .45s, who released him in July.
In his career he had 105 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, including 12 pinch hit homers. He also had a .276 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in his career with 624 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 2261 at bats.
Following his big league career he coached college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
at Southeast Missouri State College and John F. Kennedy College
John F. Kennedy College
John F. Kennedy College was founded in 1965 in Wahoo, Nebraska, one of six colleges started by small-town businessmen on the model of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. The college was named after President John F. Kennedy. Due to a drop in enrollment and financial difficulties following the end...
in Wahoo, Nebraska
Wahoo, Nebraska
Wahoo is a city in Saunders County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,508 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Saunders County.-History:Wahoo was founded in 1870...
where he also coached the men's basketball team.