Bob Oliver
Encyclopedia
Robert Lee Oliver is a former first baseman
and outfielder
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates
(1965), Kansas City Royals
(1969–72), California Angels
(1972–74), Baltimore Orioles
(1974) and New York Yankees
(1975). He batted and threw right-handed.
and spent two more seasons in the minor leagues
.
. Playing on a young team that also included fellow rookies Pat Kelly and Lou Piniella
(the eventual American League
Rookie of the Year
), Oliver batted
.254 with 13 home run
s and 43 runs batted in
in 118 games played
. That year, Oliver achieved two firsts in Royal history: 1) He was the first Royal to collect six hits in a nine-inning game (only two other Royals, Kevin Seitzer
in and Joe Randa
in , have since accomplished this feat) with a 6-for-6 performance in a May 4 victory over the California Angels
, and 2) he hit the Royals' first-ever grand slam
, the shot coming off Jim Bouton
in the first game of a July 4 doubleheader
against the American League
's other 1969 expansion team, the Seattle Pilots
.
was a breakout year for Oliver; he established career highs in home runs (27) and RBIs (99) and runs scored (83). He enjoyed two more solid seasons in (during which he was traded to the California Angels), batting .269 with 20 home runs and 76 RBI, and , batting .265 with 18 home runs and 89 RBI while splitting his time as a utility player. The Baltimore Orioles acquired Oliver for the 1974 stretch drive, he appeared in nine games for Baltimore. During the 1974 his contract was purchased by the New York Yankees. In his career, Oliver batted .256 with 94 home runs and 419 runs batted in, in 847 games played.
is currently a relief pitcher
with the Texas Rangers
. Both father and son were one-time teammates of Nolan Ryan
—Bob from 1972 to 1974, and Darren as a rookie with the Rangers in 1993, Ryan's final major league season.
in . He has also worked at two baseball schools in California's Sacramento County
: operating his own Baseball Academy in Sacramento
, as well as working as a hitting instructor at Dusty Baker
's Baseball Camp in Rancho Cordova
. http://www.dustybakerbaseballcamp.com/doc.asp?id=19
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
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...
who played for 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...
(1965), Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
(1969–72), 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...
(1972–74), Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1974) and 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...
(1975). He batted and threw right-handed.
Minor leagues
Oliver lettered in baseball and basketball at Highlands High School in North Highlands, CA, a suburb of Sacramento. After graduating in 1961, Oliver played baseball at American River College where he was heavily scouted. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates before the season, Oliver played in the Pirates' farm system for four seasons (with a late call-up in , during which he made his major league debut). He was traded to the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
and spent two more seasons in the minor leagues
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...
.
Major Leagues
Oliver made the majors for good in , having been selected by the Kansas City Royals in the previous October's expansion draft1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft
The 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft was conducted to stock up the rosters of four expansion teams in Major League Baseball which would begin play in the 1969 season....
. Playing on a young team that also included fellow rookies Pat Kelly and Lou Piniella
Lou Piniella
Louis Victor Piniella is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
(the eventual American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
), Oliver 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 :...
.254 with 13 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 and 43 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 118 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
. That year, Oliver achieved two firsts in Royal history: 1) He was the first Royal to collect six hits in a nine-inning game (only two other Royals, Kevin Seitzer
Kevin Seitzer
Kevin Lee Seitzer is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, and Cleveland Indians.-Career:...
in and Joe Randa
Joe Randa
Joseph Gregory Salvatore Randa is a former Major League Baseball player. He was primarily a third baseman during his career. His nickname is "The Joker" due to his resemblance to the comic book character in Batman and his ever-present smile, especially during his plate appearances...
in , have since accomplished this feat) with a 6-for-6 performance in a May 4 victory over 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...
, and 2) he hit the Royals' first-ever grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
, the shot coming off Jim Bouton
Jim Bouton
James Alan "Jim" Bouton is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He is also the author of the controversial baseball book Ball Four, which was a combination diary of his season and memoir of his years with the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, and Houston Astros.-Amateur and college...
in the first game of a July 4 doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
's other 1969 expansion team, the Seattle Pilots
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...
.
was a breakout year for Oliver; he established career highs in home runs (27) and RBIs (99) and runs scored (83). He enjoyed two more solid seasons in (during which he was traded to the California Angels), batting .269 with 20 home runs and 76 RBI, and , batting .265 with 18 home runs and 89 RBI while splitting his time as a utility player. The Baltimore Orioles acquired Oliver for the 1974 stretch drive, he appeared in nine games for Baltimore. During the 1974 his contract was purchased by the New York Yankees. In his career, Oliver batted .256 with 94 home runs and 419 runs batted in, in 847 games played.
Son in "the Bigs"
Oliver's son DarrenDarren Oliver
Darren Christopher Oliver is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher.Oliver was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 3rd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft, and has had three separate stints with the club.-Early life:...
is currently a 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...
with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. Both father and son were one-time teammates of Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
—Bob from 1972 to 1974, and Darren as a rookie with the Rangers in 1993, Ryan's final major league season.
Life after the Majors
Oliver managed the Sacramento SteelheadsSolano Steelheads
The Solano Steelheads were a minor league baseball team operating out of Vacaville, California. They played in the independent Western Baseball League, and were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball team....
in . He has also worked at two baseball schools in California's Sacramento County
Sacramento County, California
Sacramento County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Sacramento, which is also the state capital. As of 2010 the county had a population of 1,418,788....
: operating his own Baseball Academy in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, as well as working as a hitting instructor at Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker
Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. is a former player and current manager in Major League Baseball, currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder, mostly with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers...
's Baseball Camp in Rancho Cordova
Rancho Cordova, California
Rancho Cordova is a city in Sacramento County, California, USA, that incorporated in 2003. It is part of the Sacramento Metropolitan Area. The population was 64,776 at the 2010 census. Rancho Cordova is the Sacramento area's largest employment sub-center, with a daily influx of over 45,000...
. http://www.dustybakerbaseballcamp.com/doc.asp?id=19