Bob Stoddard
Encyclopedia
Robert Lyle Stoddard is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for the Seattle Mariners
, Detroit Tigers
, San Diego Padres
and Kansas City Royals
. Stoddard attended Fresno State University and he threw and batted right-handed.
Stoddard, who was 6'1" and 200 (some sources say he was 190 or 210) pounds, was drafted four times. He was drafted in the 19th round of the 1975 draft by the Milwaukee Brewers
, in the 3rd round of the 1976 draft by the Oakland Athletics
. In 1976, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves
in the third round too, this time in a different draft (there are multiple drafts held each year). He wasn't drafted at all in 1977, and in 1978-when he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 10th round-he finally decided to sign.
Stoddard had spent less than four seasons in the minor leagues when he made his Major League debut on September 4, 1981, at the age of 24. He experienced two successful seasons in 1981 and 1982, posting ERAs
of 2.60 and 2.41 in each of those two seasons, respectively. In 1983, his statistics went "downhill"-his win-loss record was a mediocre 9-17. After that season, his ERA reached under 3.00 only once more. His final game was September 19, 1987.
After retiring Stoddard opened a batting cage facility in Bellevue, Washington
called STODS http://www.stods.com
He currently resides in Kirkland, Washington
.
Rusty Tillman
.
Bob now has 3 beautiful children also living in Kirkland, Washington.
.
"Stoddard was a failed starting pitcher who was unsuccessfully converted to relief by the Mariners. He had short tours of duty with three teams in his last three seasons."
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...
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...
who played for 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...
, 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...
, San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
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...
. Stoddard attended Fresno State University and he threw and batted right-handed.
Stoddard, who was 6'1" and 200 (some sources say he was 190 or 210) pounds, was drafted four times. He was drafted in the 19th round of the 1975 draft by 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 the 3rd round of the 1976 draft by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. In 1976, he was drafted by 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....
in the third round too, this time in a different draft (there are multiple drafts held each year). He wasn't drafted at all in 1977, and in 1978-when he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 10th round-he finally decided to sign.
Stoddard had spent less than four seasons in the minor leagues when he made his Major League debut on September 4, 1981, at the age of 24. He experienced two successful seasons in 1981 and 1982, posting ERAs
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...
of 2.60 and 2.41 in each of those two seasons, respectively. In 1983, his statistics went "downhill"-his win-loss record was a mediocre 9-17. After that season, his ERA reached under 3.00 only once more. His final game was September 19, 1987.
After retiring Stoddard opened a batting cage facility in Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
called STODS http://www.stods.com
He currently resides in Kirkland, Washington
Kirkland, Washington
Kirkland is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Seattle on the Eastside . The population was 48,787 at the 2010 census makes it the 9th largest city in King County and the 20th largest city in the state...
.
Major transaction
On April 18, 1986, Stoddard was traded to the San Diego Padres with a minor leaguer named Kevin Russ for outfielderOutfielder
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...
Rusty Tillman
Rusty Tillman (baseball)
Kerry Jerome "Rusty" Tillman is a former right-handed Major League Baseball who played in 1982 for the New York Mets, in 1986 for the Oakland Athletics and in 1988 for the San Francisco Giants in 1988....
.
Bob now has 3 beautiful children also living in Kirkland, Washington.
Hitting
Stoddard didn't get much of a chance to hit, but in one career at-bat, he struck outStrike Out
Strike Out, , North American Harness racing championStrike Out was born in 1969 at Castleton Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and is by Bret Hanover out of the mare Golden Miss....
.
Fielding
Stoddard was a fairly steady fielder, committing only two errors in his career, both in 1983.Other information
- In 1987, Stoddard earned $65,000.
- An excerpt from Baseball Library:
"Stoddard was a failed starting pitcher who was unsuccessfully converted to relief by the Mariners. He had short tours of duty with three teams in his last three seasons."
- Stoddard started a baseball league after he retired based in Bellevue and Mukilteo, Washington, called Stod's Baseball League.
- He also owns two batting cages in Bellevue and Mukilteo, Washington called "Stods" or "Stods Batting and Pitching Cages"