Bob Mavis
Encyclopedia
Robert Henry Mavis was an American
professional baseball
player, manager
and scout. Although he fashioned a long and successful playing career in minor league baseball
as a second baseman
and third baseman
, his Major League
career consisted of a single game. In the closing days of the season, on September 17, Mavis pinch-ran
for Detroit Tigers
catcher
Bob Swift
in the ninth inning of a game against the New York Yankees
. He got as far as second base, but the game ended on a double play
and he didn't score a run
. He was never called upon again that season, and in he resumed his minor-league career.
Bob Mavis was a 5 inch, 160 lb (72.6 kg) native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, who batted left-handed and threw right-handed. His professional career began at the advanced age of 26 when he was signed by the Little Rock Travelers
of the Class A1 (now Double-A) Southern Association
in 1944, during the World War II
manpower shortage. However, once the war ended and baseball was back at full strength, Mavis proved his mettle. He batted
over .300 for his first six seasons as a pro in the high minors, with Little Rock and the Class AAA Toledo Mud Hens
of the American Association
. He was a 31-year-old MLB rookie when the parent Tigers summoned him from Toledo for the final weeks of the 1949 season. All told, in 12 minor league seasons, he batted .305 in 1,292 games played.
In 1954, Mavis became a manager in the Detroit farm system, then scouted for the club. In he switched allegiances to the Seattle Pilots
as a scout, and continued in that role when the Pilots became the Milwaukee Brewers
in . He also spent 14 seasons as a scout for the Atlanta Braves
, retiring after the season. He died in Little Rock, Arkansas
, at the age of 86.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional 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, 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 scout. Although he fashioned a long and successful playing career in 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...
as a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, his 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...
career consisted of a single game. In the closing days of the season, on September 17, Mavis pinch-ran
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
for Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Bob Swift
Bob Swift
Robert Virgil Swift was an American catcher, coach, manager and scout in Major League Baseball.Swift is pictured in one of the most famous photographs in American sporting history. He was the catcher for the Detroit Tigers on August 19, 1951, when St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck sent midget...
in the ninth inning of a game against 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...
. He got as far as second base, but the game ended on a double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
and he didn't score a run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. He was never called upon again that season, and in he resumed his minor-league career.
Bob Mavis was a 5 inch, 160 lb (72.6 kg) native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, who batted left-handed and threw right-handed. His professional career began at the advanced age of 26 when he was signed by the Little Rock Travelers
Little Rock Travelers
The Little Rock Travelers were an American minor league baseball team located in Little Rock, Arkansas and members of the Southern Association, which as a Class A, A1 or AA circuit was typically two rungs below Major League Baseball...
of the Class A1 (now Double-A) Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
in 1944, during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
manpower shortage. However, once the war ended and baseball was back at full strength, Mavis proved his mettle. He batted
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 :...
over .300 for his first six seasons as a pro in the high minors, with Little Rock and the Class AAA Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
. He was a 31-year-old MLB rookie when the parent Tigers summoned him from Toledo for the final weeks of the 1949 season. All told, in 12 minor league seasons, he batted .305 in 1,292 games played.
In 1954, Mavis became a manager in the Detroit farm system, then scouted for the club. In he switched allegiances to the Seattle Pilots
Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...
as a scout, and continued in that role when the Pilots became the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in . He also spent 14 seasons as a scout for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, retiring after the season. He died in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, at the age of 86.