Bob Trice
Encyclopedia
Robert Lee Trice was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for the Philadelphia Athletics
(1953–1954) and Kansas City Athletics
(1955). A native of Newton, Georgia
, the right-hander stood 6'3" and weighed 190 lbs.
Trice was brought to Philadelphia in 1953 after winning 21 games for the Ottawa A's of the International League
. When he made his major league debut (September 13, 1953 at Connie Mack Stadium
), he became the first black player in Athletics history. He appeared in three games for the A's that season, winning 2 and losing 1. He lost his first start, 5-2, to Don Larsen
and the St. Louis Browns
, but then defeated the Washington Senators
in each of his other two starts.
His finest major league effort came on April 24, 1954 against the New York Yankees
. He pitched a 1-0 complete game
shutout
that day in front of a home crowd of 4,920.
Career totals for 27 games played
(26 as a pitcher) include a 9-9 record, 21 games started
, 9 complete games, 1 shutout, and 3 games finished
. He allowed 98 earned runs in 152 innings pitched
, giving him a lifetime ERA of 5.80. He had a strong bat for a pitcher...at the plate he was 15-for-52 (.288) with 1 home run
, 6 runs batted in, 8 runs scored
, and a slugging percentage of .423.
Trice died at the age of 62 in Weirton, West Virginia
.
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 Philadelphia 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....
(1953–1954) and Kansas City 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....
(1955). A native of Newton, Georgia
Newton, Georgia
Newton is a city in Baker County, Georgia, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 851. The city is the county seat of Baker County.-Geography:Newton is located at ....
, the right-hander stood 6'3" and weighed 190 lbs.
Trice was brought to Philadelphia in 1953 after winning 21 games for the Ottawa A's of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. When he made his major league debut (September 13, 1953 at Connie Mack Stadium
Connie Mack Stadium
Shibe Park, known later as Connie Mack Stadium, was a major league baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When it opened April 12, 1909, it became baseball's first steel-and-concrete stadium. In different eras it was home to "The $100,000 Infield", "The Whiz Kids" and "The 1964 Phold"...
), he became the first black player in Athletics history. He appeared in three games for the A's that season, winning 2 and losing 1. He lost his first start, 5-2, to Don Larsen
Don Larsen
Donald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series...
and the St. Louis Browns
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...
, but then defeated the Washington Senators
Minnesota 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...
in each of his other two starts.
His finest major league effort came on April 24, 1954 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 pitched a 1-0 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...
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....
that day in front of a home crowd of 4,920.
Career totals for 27 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,...
(26 as a pitcher) include a 9-9 record, 21 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, 9 complete games, 1 shutout, and 3 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
. He allowed 98 earned runs in 152 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, giving him a lifetime ERA of 5.80. He had a strong bat for a pitcher...at the plate he was 15-for-52 (.288) with 1 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...
, 6 runs batted in, 8 runs scored
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...
, and a slugging percentage of .423.
Trice died at the age of 62 in Weirton, West Virginia
Weirton, West Virginia
Weirton is a city located in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, United States. Most of the city is in Hancock County, with the remainder in Brooke County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 20,411...
.