Pat Dobson
Encyclopedia
Patrick Edward Dobson, Jr. (February 12, 1942 – November 22, 2006) was an American
right-handed starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Detroit Tigers
(1967–69), San Diego Padres
(1970), Baltimore Orioles
(1971–72), Atlanta Braves
(1973), New York Yankees
(1973–75) and Cleveland Indians
(1976–77). He was best known for being one of four Orioles pitchers to win
20 games in their season.
Born in Depew, New York
in 1942. Dobson signed with Detroit in . After spending seven years in the minor leagues
and in winter ball, pitching mostly in relief
, he made his debut with the big team in the season. Dobson was traded to San Diego in and attracted the attention of the Orioles after going 14-15, with 185 strikeout
s and a 3.76 earned run average
, as the ace staff for the last-place Padres.
In 1971 Dobson had a winning streak of 12 games (including nine consecutive complete games) and a scoreless inning streak of 23. That September 24, he reached his 20th win, a 7–0 shutout
against the Indians. Dobson posted a 20-8, 187, 2.90 season record, and was part of the Orioles' "Big Four" pitching staff along with Dave McNally
(21-5), Mike Cuellar
(20-9) and Jim Palmer
(20-10). Baltimore went on to win 101 games, with the distinction of having four 20-game winners in a season; only one other team in MLB history, the Chicago White Sox
, have had four 20-game winners.
On November 2, 1971, Dobson threw a 2-0 no-hitter
against the Yomiuri Giants
at Tokyo
. It was the first no-hit game in the Japan
ese-American baseball exhibition history.
Dobson was an All-Star
in . His 2.65 ERA was a major improvement from his 20-win season, but he went 16-18, tying for the AL lead in losses
. After the season, he was traded to the Braves along with Davey Johnson
. Dobson was then sent to the Yankees in mid-1973. He started the 1974 campaign weakly, achieving only a 6-11 record by mid-season. However, Dobson anchored the Yankees' pitching staff in the second half of the season, finishing with a 19-15 record and a 3.07 ERA, the best numbers that year for a Yankee pitcher. After a slumping 11-14, 4.07 in , Dobson was traded to the Indians, and recovered in with a 16-12, 3.48. After his 3-12, 6.16 record in , he finished his career.
In his 11-season career Dobson had a record of 122-129, with 1301 strikeouts, a 3.54 earned run average, 74 complete game
s, 14 shutouts, 19 save
s, and 2120 innings pitched
in 414 games.
In 1997, Dobson joined the San Francisco Giants
as an advance scout and assistant to general manager Brian Sabean
.
Dobson died from leukemia
in 2006 in San Diego, California
aged 64. He is survived by 6 children, including Christopher Dobson, Stephanie Dobson, Shannon Christaldi, Patrick Dobson III, Nancy Kost, and Stacy Dobson, and multiple grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
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 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...
(1967–69), 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...
(1970), 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...
(1971–72), 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....
(1973), 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...
(1973–75) and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1976–77). He was best known for being one of four Orioles pitchers to win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
20 games in their season.
Born in Depew, New York
Depew, New York
Depew is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 16,629 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in 1942. Dobson signed with Detroit in . After spending seven years 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...
and in winter ball, pitching mostly in relief
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...
, he made his debut with the big team in the season. Dobson was traded to San Diego in and attracted the attention of the Orioles after going 14-15, with 185 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 3.76 earned run average
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...
, as the ace staff for the last-place Padres.
In 1971 Dobson had a winning streak of 12 games (including nine consecutive complete games) and a scoreless inning streak of 23. That September 24, he reached his 20th win, a 7–0 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....
against the Indians. Dobson posted a 20-8, 187, 2.90 season record, and was part of the Orioles' "Big Four" pitching staff along with Dave McNally
Dave McNally
David Arthur "Dave" McNally was a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher from until . He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and played with them every season except for his final season with the Montreal Expos.McNally has the unique distinction as the only pitcher in Major League...
(21-5), Mike Cuellar
Mike Cuellar
Miguel Ángel Cuellar Santana [KWAY-ar] was a Cuban left-handed starting pitcher who spent fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles and California Angels...
(20-9) and Jim Palmer
Jim Palmer
James Alvin "Jim" Palmer , nicknamed "Cakes", is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in .As of 2008, Palmer and his wife Susan have homes in Palm Beach, Florida, and...
(20-10). Baltimore went on to win 101 games, with the distinction of having four 20-game winners in a season; only one other team in MLB history, the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, have had four 20-game winners.
On November 2, 1971, Dobson threw a 2-0 no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
at Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. It was the first no-hit game in the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese-American baseball exhibition history.
Dobson was an All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
in . His 2.65 ERA was a major improvement from his 20-win season, but he went 16-18, tying for the AL lead in losses
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
. After the season, he was traded to the Braves along with Davey Johnson
Davey Johnson
David Allen "Davey" Johnson is an American Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Washington Nationals. He was the starting second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles when they won four American League pennants and two World Series championships between 1965 and 1972...
. Dobson was then sent to the Yankees in mid-1973. He started the 1974 campaign weakly, achieving only a 6-11 record by mid-season. However, Dobson anchored the Yankees' pitching staff in the second half of the season, finishing with a 19-15 record and a 3.07 ERA, the best numbers that year for a Yankee pitcher. After a slumping 11-14, 4.07 in , Dobson was traded to the Indians, and recovered in with a 16-12, 3.48. After his 3-12, 6.16 record in , he finished his career.
In his 11-season career Dobson had a record of 122-129, with 1301 strikeouts, a 3.54 earned run average, 74 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...
s, 14 shutouts, 19 save
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
s, and 2120 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...
in 414 games.
In 1997, Dobson joined the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
as an advance scout and assistant to general manager Brian Sabean
Brian Sabean
Brian R. Sabean is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the San Francisco Giants, a Major League Baseball franchise. He has held the job since 1997, when he replaced former General Manager Bob Quinn...
.
Dobson died from leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in 2006 in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
aged 64. He is survived by 6 children, including Christopher Dobson, Stephanie Dobson, Shannon Christaldi, Patrick Dobson III, Nancy Kost, and Stacy Dobson, and multiple grandchildren.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- 1968 Detroit Tigers season1968 Detroit Tigers seasonThe Detroit Tigers won the 1968 World Series, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3. The 1968 baseball season, known as the "Year of the Pitcher," was the Tigers' 68th since they entered the American League in 1901, their eighth pennant, and third World Series championship...