Robert Rose (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Robert Richard "Bobby" Rose, born March 15, 1967) is a former major league baseball player from Covina, California
. He played on the California Angels
in the major leagues, and on the Yokohama BayStars
in the Japanese Central League
.
in 1985, and made his major league debut in 1989. He only played 73 games in the majors, and signed with the Yokohama BayStars
after he was involved in a car accident in 1992.
He led the Central League
in RBIs and doubles in his first year (1993), and played in all 130 regular season games from 1993 - 1995. Rose continued his success, showing incredible clutch hitting skills, and greatly contributed to his team's championship in 1998. He won the Central League
golden glove award in 1998 at second base, and played his best season in 1999, hitting 37 home runs with 153 RBIs and a .369 batting average. This remains the highest batting average in Japanese baseball among right-handed hitters, and his 153 RBIs ranks second-most in Japanese baseball history. He also led the league with 192 hits, which was the Central League
season record until Norichika Aoki
renewed it in 2005. He led the league in hits for the second straight season in 2000, and had the second highest batting average in the Central League
, but suddenly announced his retirement in the off-season. The main reason for this abrupt departure seems to be that his family wanted to return to the United States
, and the BayStars also lacked the financial backing needed to renew his massive contract.
Rose signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines
during the 2002 off-season, returning to Japan after two years of inactivity. However, he went hitless during spring training, and announced his second retirement in March, 2003, before the start of the regular season.
He is still remembered as one of the best foreign players in Japanese baseball. He was 71 at-bats shy from passing Leron Lee
in career batting average (at least 4000 at-bats are required to qualify for the record), and hit over .300 for seven of his eight seasons in Japan. He also hit three cycles
during his career (the most in Japanese baseball history).
Covina, California
Covina is a small city in Los Angeles County, California about east of downtown Los Angeles, in the San Gabriel Valley region. The population was 47,796 at the 2010 census, up from 46,837 at the 2000 census...
. He played on 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...
in the major leagues, and on the Yokohama BayStars
Yokohama BayStars
The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Home field is the Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The clubhouse is located near the stadium....
in the Japanese Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
.
Biography
Rose signed with the California AngelsLos 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...
in 1985, and made his major league debut in 1989. He only played 73 games in the majors, and signed with the Yokohama BayStars
Yokohama BayStars
The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Home field is the Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The clubhouse is located near the stadium....
after he was involved in a car accident in 1992.
He led the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
in RBIs and doubles in his first year (1993), and played in all 130 regular season games from 1993 - 1995. Rose continued his success, showing incredible clutch hitting skills, and greatly contributed to his team's championship in 1998. He won the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
golden glove award in 1998 at second base, and played his best season in 1999, hitting 37 home runs with 153 RBIs and a .369 batting average. This remains the highest batting average in Japanese baseball among right-handed hitters, and his 153 RBIs ranks second-most in Japanese baseball history. He also led the league with 192 hits, which was the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
season record until Norichika Aoki
Norichika Aoki
is a Japanese professional baseball player. He is currently an outfielder for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.Aoki is one of only four players to amass 200 or more hits in a single season in Japanese professional baseball...
renewed it in 2005. He led the league in hits for the second straight season in 2000, and had the second highest batting average in the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
, but suddenly announced his retirement in the off-season. The main reason for this abrupt departure seems to be that his family wanted to return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the BayStars also lacked the financial backing needed to renew his massive contract.
Rose signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines
Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
during the 2002 off-season, returning to Japan after two years of inactivity. However, he went hitless during spring training, and announced his second retirement in March, 2003, before the start of the regular season.
He is still remembered as one of the best foreign players in Japanese baseball. He was 71 at-bats shy from passing Leron Lee
Leron Lee
Leron Lee is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played 8 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres....
in career batting average (at least 4000 at-bats are required to qualify for the record), and hit over .300 for seven of his eight seasons in Japan. He also hit three cycles
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
during his career (the most in Japanese baseball history).