Bob Clear
Encyclopedia
Elwood Robert Clear was an American
minor league baseball
infielder
, pitcher
and manager
, and a Major League
coach
with the California Angels
. He was born in Denver, Colorado
.
Clear began a long playing career with the 1945
Batavia Clippers, hitting .222 at age 17. Bob moved to the Bakersfield Indians in 1946
, playing third base
and only posting an .838 fielding percentage
while batting .266. The next year, he hit .200 for the Lynchburg Cardinals and .208 for the Decatur Commodores
.
Clear then attempted a pitching career. He went 17-12 with a 3.45 ERA
for the 1948
Willows Cardinals; he was second to Larry Shepard
in wins in the Far West League
. He also was 0-1 with the Fresno Cardinals
.
He spent most of 1949
with the Pocatello Cardinals (11-6, 5.84) and also was back in Lynchburg for one loss. By his 21st birthday, he had been with seven teams. 1950
brought Clear to the Western League
and he went 16-7 with a 3.38 ERA. He was tied for fourth in the circuit in wins, was fourth with 119 walks and the Omaha Cardinals
pitcher led the league with four shutout
s.
With the three top St. Louis Cardinals
minor league affiliates, Clear struggled in 1951
, going 1-2, 8.13 for the Houston Buffaloes
, 0-4 with a 9.82 ERA for the Columbus Red Birds
and 0-1 for the Rochester Red Wings
. After 11 teams by age 24, Clear's career settled down. He went 9-12, with a 3.44 ERA for Houston in 1952 and 4-6, with a 3.35 ERA for the 1953
Buffaloes.
Back in Omaha in 1954
, Bob went 20-11 with a 2.93 ERA, led the Western League in wins, was 5th in ERA, tied for second with 22 complete game
s, tied for third with five shutouts, first with 267 innings and first with 114 walks. For Omaha the next year, Clear fell to 1-10, with a 4.42 ERA.
In 1956
, Clear finally left the Cardinals chain and was with the Sioux City Soos in the Pittsburgh Pirates
farm system. He went 5-4 with a 6.00 ERA for the Soos and took over as player-manager on May 15. As player-manager of the 1957
Douglas Copper Kings, Bob hit .313 and went 20-11 with a 3.63 ERA. He was second in the Arizona-Mexico League
in ERA behind Don Bruns, tied Candido Andrade for the win lead and led with 28 complete games (in 31 starts). Still just 29 years old, he had now played for 13 clubs.
Falling to 1-10, with a 4.42 ERA for Douglas in 1958
, he helped make history on August 19 when he was hitting fifth for Douglas in a game in which all nine starters homered against the Chihuahua Dorados in a 22-6 rout. Presumably, this was his one victory of the year.
He went 13-8, with a 2.81 ERA for the Idaho Falls Russets the next year. He then had arguably his best year yet, going 21-6, with a 2.50 ERA for the Grand Forks Chiefs
, leading the Northern League
in wins and finishing in the top three in ERA. In 1961
, he fell to 4-5, with a 5.05 ERA for Grand Forks. Retiring more or less from pitching, he appeared briefly for the 1965
Kinston Eagles and 1967
Clinton Pilots (1-0, 1.64), wrapping up his career with a 144-117 record for seventeen teams.
He managed in the Pirates chain until 1969
, making stops at Batavia in 1962
, Gastonia 1963
-1964
, Asheville in 1964, Kinston in 1965, back to Gastonia in 1966
, Clinton in 1967-1968
, and Geneva in 1969. Moving to the California Angels chain, he managed the Idaho Falls Angels from 1970
-1973
.
He was the bullpen coach for the California Angels for 12 years, from 1976
through 1987
.
Clear, the uncle of former MLB relief pitcher
Mark Clear
, died in Carson, California
, at the age of 82.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
, pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
, and a Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
with the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. He was born in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
.
Clear began a long playing career with the 1945
1945 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Detroit Tigers over Chicago Cubs *All-Star Game cancelled due to flight restrictions. However, inter-league games were played during the All-Star break.-Other champions:...
Batavia Clippers, hitting .222 at age 17. Bob moved to the Bakersfield Indians in 1946
1946 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox *All-Star Game, July 9 at Fenway Park: American League, 12–0-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Newark Eagles over Kansas City Monarchs...
, playing third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
and only posting an .838 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
while batting .266. The next year, he hit .200 for the Lynchburg Cardinals and .208 for the Decatur Commodores
Decatur Commodores
The Decatur Commodores were a professional minor league baseball team based in Decatur, Illinois. They played, with sporadic interruptions, from 1900 to 1974 in a variety of minor leagues, but spent the majority of their existence in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League , later joining the...
.
Clear then attempted a pitching career. He went 17-12 with a 3.45 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
for the 1948
1948 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania...
Willows Cardinals; he was second to Larry Shepard
Larry Shepard
Lawrence William Shepard was a manager in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1968 to 1969. During his playing days, Shepard was a right-handed pitcher who played minor league baseball from 1941 through 1956, with time out for military service during World War II...
in wins in the Far West League
Far West League
The Far West League was a "Class C" league in Minor League Baseball that had eight teams and operated from 1948-1951.-Cities represented:*Eugene, OR – Eugene Larks *Klamath Falls, OR – Klamath Falls Gems...
. He also was 0-1 with the Fresno Cardinals
Fresno Cardinals
The Fresno Cardinals were a minor league baseball team that played in the California League from 1941-1956. The team was owned by the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League and was based in Fresno, California....
.
He spent most of 1949
1949 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 12 at Ebbets Field: American League, 11-7-Caribbean leagues:*Cuba - Almendares Scorpions*Panama - Spur Cola*Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Indians...
with the Pocatello Cardinals (11-6, 5.84) and also was back in Lynchburg for one loss. By his 21st birthday, he had been with seven teams. 1950
1950 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Philadelphia Phillies *All-Star Game, July 11 at Comiskey Park: National League, 4-3 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Carta Vieja *College World Series: Texas...
brought Clear to the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
and he went 16-7 with a 3.38 ERA. He was tied for fourth in the circuit in wins, was fourth with 119 walks and the Omaha Cardinals
Omaha Cardinals
The Omaha Cardinals was the name of the minor league baseball club based in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, from 1947 through 1959. It played in the Class A Western League through 1954 and in the AAA American Association from 1955-59 as an affiliate of its major league namesake, the St...
pitcher led the league with four shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s.
With the three top St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
minor league affiliates, Clear struggled in 1951
1951 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:Baseball's Shot Heard 'Round the World gives the New York Giants the National League Pennant in the third game of a best-of-three-games tiebreaker series over the Brooklyn Dodgers.-Major League Baseball:...
, going 1-2, 8.13 for the Houston Buffaloes
Houston Buffaloes
The Houston Buffaloes or Buffs were an American minor league baseball team that was founded in 1888, played in the Texas League in the years 1888-90, 1892, 1895-99, and 1907-1958 ; in the South Texas League in the years 1903-06; and in the American Association from 1959-61...
, 0-4 with a 9.82 ERA for the Columbus Red Birds
Columbus Red Birds
The Columbus Red Birds was the name of a top-level minor league baseball team that played in Columbus, Ohio, in the American Association from 1931 through 1954. The Columbus club, a member of the Association continuously since 1902, was previously known as the Columbus Senators — a typical...
and 0-1 for the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
. After 11 teams by age 24, Clear's career settled down. He went 9-12, with a 3.44 ERA for Houston in 1952 and 4-6, with a 3.35 ERA for the 1953
1953 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 14 at Crosley Field: National League, 5-1-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce *College World Series: Michigan...
Buffaloes.
Back in Omaha in 1954
1954 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* World Series: New York Giants over Cleveland Indians * All-Star Game, July 13 at Municipal Stadium: American League, 11-9-Other champions:* Caribbean World Series: Caguas Creoles [Criollos de Caguas]...
, Bob went 20-11 with a 2.93 ERA, led the Western League in wins, was 5th in ERA, tied for second with 22 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, tied for third with five shutouts, first with 267 innings and first with 114 walks. For Omaha the next year, Clear fell to 1-10, with a 4.42 ERA.
In 1956
1956 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers ; Don Larsen, MVP*All-Star Game, July 10 at Griffith Stadium: National League, 7-3-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cienfuegos *College World Series: Minnesota...
, Clear finally left the Cardinals chain and was with the Sioux City Soos in the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
farm system. He went 5-4 with a 6.00 ERA for the Soos and took over as player-manager on May 15. As player-manager of the 1957
1957 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Milwaukee Braves over New York Yankees ; Lew Burdette, MVP*All-Star Game, July 9 at Busch Stadium: American League, 6-5-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Marianao *College World Series: California...
Douglas Copper Kings, Bob hit .313 and went 20-11 with a 3.63 ERA. He was second in the Arizona-Mexico League
Arizona-Texas League
The Arizona-Texas League was a low-level circuit in American minor league baseball that existed from 1928-32, 1937-41, 1947-50 and 1952-54. The Arizona-Texas loop merged with the Sunset League to form the Southwest International League in 1951...
in ERA behind Don Bruns, tied Candido Andrade for the win lead and led with 28 complete games (in 31 starts). Still just 29 years old, he had now played for 13 clubs.
Falling to 1-10, with a 4.42 ERA for Douglas in 1958
1958 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Milwaukee Braves ; Bob Turley, MVP*All-Star Game, July 8 at Memorial Stadium: American League, 4-3-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Marianao *College World Series: USC...
, he helped make history on August 19 when he was hitting fifth for Douglas in a game in which all nine starters homered against the Chihuahua Dorados in a 22-6 rout. Presumably, this was his one victory of the year.
He went 13-8, with a 2.81 ERA for the Idaho Falls Russets the next year. He then had arguably his best year yet, going 21-6, with a 2.50 ERA for the Grand Forks Chiefs
Grand Forks Chiefs
The Grand Forks Chiefs were a minor league baseball team from Grand Forks, North Dakota. They played from 1934 to 1964, with a couple breaks in between.*Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota*League: Northern League 1934–1935, 1938–1942, 1946–1963...
, leading the Northern League
Northern League (baseball, 1902-71)
This article refers to the original incarnations of the Northern League, which operated between 1902 and 1971. For the more recent league, see Northern League ...
in wins and finishing in the top three in ERA. In 1961
1961 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Cincinnati Reds ; Whitey Ford, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Candlestick Park: National League, 5-4 *All-Star Game , July 31 at Fenway Park: 1–1 tie...
, he fell to 4-5, with a 5.05 ERA for Grand Forks. Retiring more or less from pitching, he appeared briefly for the 1965
1965 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over Minnesota Twins ; Sandy Koufax, MVP*All-Star Game, July 13 at Metropolitan Stadium: National League, 6-5; Juan Marichal, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Arizona State...
Kinston Eagles and 1967
1967 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 11 at Anaheim Stadium: National League, 2-1 ; Tony Pérez, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Arizona State...
Clinton Pilots (1-0, 1.64), wrapping up his career with a 144-117 record for seventeen teams.
He managed in the Pirates chain until 1969
1969 in baseball
-Expansion:Four expansion teams joined Major League Baseball for this season: the San Diego Padres, the Kansas City Royals, the Seattle Pilots, and the first MLB team in Canada, the Montreal Expos. To accommodate the additional teams, the two leagues were split into two divisions of East and West...
, making stops at Batavia in 1962
1962 in baseball
The 1962 season is perhaps most notable for the dismal 40–120 record of the New York Mets, the third-worst winning percentage and the record for most games lost since 1900.-Major League Baseball:...
, Gastonia 1963
1963 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers beat New York Yankees ; Sandy Koufax, MVP*All-Star Game, July 9 at Municipal Stadium: National League, 5–3; Willie Mays, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: USC...
-1964
1964 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over New York Yankees ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 7 at Shea Stadium: National League, 7–4; Johnny Callison, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Minnesota...
, Asheville in 1964, Kinston in 1965, back to Gastonia in 1966
1966 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Los Angeles Dodgers ; Frank Robinson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at Busch Stadium: National League, 2–1 ; Brooks Robinson, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Ohio State...
, Clinton in 1967-1968
1968 in baseball
-The Year of the Pitcher:In Major League Baseball, the trend throughout the 1960s was of increased pitching dominance, caused by enforcing a larger strike zone beginning in 1963...
, and Geneva in 1969. Moving to the California Angels chain, he managed the Idaho Falls Angels from 1970
1970 in baseball
-Major Leagues:*World Series MVP: Brooks Robinson*All-Star Game, July 14 at Riverfront Stadium: National League, 5-4 ; Carl Yastrzemski, MVP-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Navegantes del Magallanes *College World Series: USC...
-1973
1973 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Oakland Athletics over New York Mets ; Reggie Jackson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 24 at Royals Stadium: National League, 7–1; Bobby Bonds, MVP-Other champions:...
.
He was the bullpen coach for the California Angels for 12 years, from 1976
1976 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cincinnati Reds over New York Yankees ; Johnny Bench, MVP*All-Star Game, July 13 at Veterans Stadium: National League, 7-1; George Foster, MVP-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Naranjeros de Hermosillo...
through 1987
1987 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Minnesota Twins over St. Louis Cardinals ; Frank Viola, MVP**American League Championship Series: Gary Gaetti, MVP**National League Championship Series: Jeff Leonard, MVP...
.
Clear, the uncle of former MLB relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
Mark Clear
Mark Clear
Mark Alan Clear is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the California Angels , Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers . He batted and threw right-handed....
, died in Carson, California
Carson, California
Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city....
, at the age of 82.