Bob Stinson (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Gorrell Robert Stinson III (born October 11, 1945 in Elkin, North Carolina
) is a former switch-hitting catcher
in Major League Baseball
from -. Stinson played for six major league franchises, most notably the Seattle Mariners
.
Stinson was selected in the Major League Baseball Draft by both the Kansas City Athletics and Washington Senators
but did not sign with either club. He was then taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers
on June 7, 1966, as the 15th overall selection in the secondary phase of the draft.
Stinson broke into the Majors on September 23, 1969 with the Dodgers, at the age of 23. In and , he appeared in a total of eight games for the Dodgers. Then on October 5, 1970, Stinson was traded along with Ted Sizemore
to the St. Louis Cardinals
for Dick Allen
. He appeared in 17 games in 1971 for the Cardinals.
A journeyman, Stinson moved on to the Houston Astros
, spending the season in that organization. He then played two seasons each with the Montreal Expos
and Kansas City Royals
.
A new opportunity presented itself when the expansion Seattle club, one of two new American League
teams (along with the Toronto Blue Jays
) that played their inaugural seasons in , selected Stinson from the Royals on November 5, 1976 as the 25th overall pick in the expansion draft. Stinson had been a backup for his Major League career prior to joining the Mariners. With the young Mariners club, Stinson saw regular action for the first time, being designated the primary catcher in 1977 and .
Stinson logged his best overall season in 1978, establishing career highs in games played, at-bats, hits, doubles, home runs, and RBI. In 124 games for Seattle that season, he batted .258 with 11 homers and drove in 55 runs. He also had a .346 on-base percentage and a slugging average of .404.
Yet with the March acquisition of Larry Cox from the Chicago Cubs
, Stinson's playing time slowly began to dwindle. That season, Stinson caught in 91 games to Cox's 99. By , Cox was the Mariners' regular catcher, with Stinson the backup before eventually losing the backup job to 24-year-old Jerry Narron
, future Major League manager and coach. Stinson's final game in a big league uniform was August 1, 1980, after over three and a half seasons with the Mariners. He was released by Seattle seven days later.
Stinson tasted his only postseason action with Kansas City in , appearing in two games of the American League Championship Series
against the New York Yankees
.
In 652 major league games, Stinson had 408 hits in 1634 at-bats for a .250 batting average, with 33 home runs and 180 RBI.
Elkin, North Carolina
Elkin is a town in Surry and Wilkes counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, along the Yadkin River. Elkin shares its name with the surrounding township of Elkin Township...
) is a former switch-hitting 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...
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...
from -. Stinson played for six major league franchises, most notably the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
.
Stinson was selected in the Major League Baseball Draft by both the Kansas City Athletics and Washington Senators
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...
but did not sign with either club. He was then taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on June 7, 1966, as the 15th overall selection in the secondary phase of the draft.
Stinson broke into the Majors on September 23, 1969 with the Dodgers, at the age of 23. In and , he appeared in a total of eight games for the Dodgers. Then on October 5, 1970, Stinson was traded along with Ted Sizemore
Ted Sizemore
Ted Crawford Sizemore was a second baseman for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers , St...
to the 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...
for Dick Allen
Dick Allen
Richard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
. He appeared in 17 games in 1971 for the Cardinals.
A journeyman, Stinson moved on to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, spending the season in that organization. He then played two seasons each with the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
and 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...
.
A new opportunity presented itself when the expansion Seattle club, one of two new 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...
teams (along with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
) that played their inaugural seasons in , selected Stinson from the Royals on November 5, 1976 as the 25th overall pick in the expansion draft. Stinson had been a backup for his Major League career prior to joining the Mariners. With the young Mariners club, Stinson saw regular action for the first time, being designated the primary catcher in 1977 and .
Stinson logged his best overall season in 1978, establishing career highs in games played, at-bats, hits, doubles, home runs, and RBI. In 124 games for Seattle that season, he batted .258 with 11 homers and drove in 55 runs. He also had a .346 on-base percentage and a slugging average of .404.
Yet with the March acquisition of Larry Cox from the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Stinson's playing time slowly began to dwindle. That season, Stinson caught in 91 games to Cox's 99. By , Cox was the Mariners' regular catcher, with Stinson the backup before eventually losing the backup job to 24-year-old Jerry Narron
Jerry Narron
Jerry Austin Narron is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager. He currently serves as the bench coach of the Milwaukee Brewers. During an 8-year playing career, he played from 1979–1987 for three different teams...
, future Major League manager and coach. Stinson's final game in a big league uniform was August 1, 1980, after over three and a half seasons with the Mariners. He was released by Seattle seven days later.
Stinson tasted his only postseason action with Kansas City in , appearing in two games of the American League Championship Series
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
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...
.
In 652 major league games, Stinson had 408 hits in 1634 at-bats for a .250 batting average, with 33 home runs and 180 RBI.