Bob Alexander
Encyclopedia
Robert Somerville Alexander (August 7, 1922 – April 7, 1993) was a Canadian
professional baseball
pitcher
. He attended Bethany College
in West Virginia. Alexander was signed by the New York Yankees
in . However, he did not make his major league debut until 1955 with the Baltimore Orioles
. He also played for the Cleveland Indians
and the Toei Flyers
in Japan.
On top of playing baseball, he was also a Aviation Cadet in the United States Navy
.
. In he pitched for the Wellsville Yankees in the Class D PONY League and was 4–3 with a 3.60 ERA.
In he split the season with Wellsville, the Hagerstown Owls of the Inter-State League and the Norfolk Tars
of the Piedmont League
for a combined 6–9 record.
After his service he returned to the Norfolk Tars where he was 6–5 with a 2.64 ERA and also spent time with the Binghamton Triplets
of the Class A Eastern League in . Alexander continued to pitch in the minor leagues with the Denver Bears in the Western League
, where he was 10–12 with a 4.15 ERA in , and the Beaumont Exporters
in the Texas League
where he was 11–16 with a 3.70 ERA in . In he compiled a record of 8–8 with the Louisville Colonels in the American Association
and a record of 12–10 with the Colonels in . He threw a no-hitter
on July 29, against the Milwaukee Brewers
.
in the International League
, where he complied a 15–9 record with a 3.58 ERA. He performed well enough to earn a spot on the spring training
roster with the Dodgers in . He didn't make the club in '52, instead he was back with Montreal for the regular season and was 8–7 with a 4.34 ERA.
Alexander remained with Montreal in 1953 and after the season, he underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow.
of the Pacific Coast League
where he finished with a 10–12 record and 3.22 ERA. At the end of the season, Alexander, who was 32 years old at the time, was purchased by the Baltimore Orioles
.
. He would make a further three relief outings before returning to Portland in July to record a 10–10 record and excellent 2.66 ERA.
pitching staff. Alexander made five relief appearances for the Indians to end his major league career.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
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...
. He attended Bethany College
Bethany College (West Virginia)
Bethany College is a private liberal arts college located in Bethany, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1840, Bethany is the oldest institution of Higher Education in West Virginia.-Location:...
in West Virginia. Alexander was signed by 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 . However, he did not make his major league debut until 1955 with the 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...
. He also played for the 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...
and the Toei Flyers
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,...
in Japan.
On top of playing baseball, he was also a Aviation Cadet in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
New York Yankees
Before entering military service in 1944 he pitched for the Butler Yankees of the Class D Pennsylvania State Association and the Amsterdam Rugmakers in the Class C Canadian-American LeagueCanadian-American League
This article refers to the original incarnation of the Can-Am League, which operated between 1936 and 1951. For the modern league, see Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball...
. In he pitched for the Wellsville Yankees in the Class D PONY League and was 4–3 with a 3.60 ERA.
In he split the season with Wellsville, the Hagerstown Owls of the Inter-State League and the Norfolk Tars
Norfolk Tars
The Norfolk Tars were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1906 to 1955. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, they played in the Virginia League from 1906 to 1918 and from 1921 to 1928, in the Eastern League from 1931 to 1932 and in the Piedmont League from 1934 to 1955, and from 1934...
of the Piedmont League
Piedmont League
The Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the Piedmont plateau region in the eastern United States.- Former :...
for a combined 6–9 record.
After his service he returned to the Norfolk Tars where he was 6–5 with a 2.64 ERA and also spent time with the Binghamton Triplets
Binghamton Triplets
The Binghamton Triplets were a minor league baseball team in Binghamton, New York, affiliated with the New York Yankees ; the team also had brief affiliations with the Kansas City Athletics and the Milwaukee Braves...
of the Class A Eastern League in . Alexander continued to pitch in the minor leagues with the Denver Bears in the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
, where he was 10–12 with a 4.15 ERA in , and the Beaumont Exporters
Beaumont Exporters
The Beaumont Exporters were a franchise in American minor league baseball that played in the Texas League from 1920-49 and 1953-55. The city of Beaumont, Texas, was also represented in the Texas League from 1912-17 and 1919 as the Oilers, from 1950-52 as the Roughnecks, and from 1983-86 as the...
in the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
where he was 11–16 with a 3.70 ERA in . In he compiled a record of 8–8 with the Louisville Colonels in the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
and a record of 12–10 with the Colonels in . He threw a 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"...
on July 29, against 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...
.
Brooklyn Dodgers
In he was acquired by the Brooklyn Dodgers and pitched for the Montreal RoyalsMontreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
in 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...
, where he complied a 15–9 record with a 3.58 ERA. He performed well enough to earn a spot on the spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
roster with the Dodgers in . He didn't make the club in '52, instead he was back with Montreal for the regular season and was 8–7 with a 4.34 ERA.
Alexander remained with Montreal in 1953 and after the season, he underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow.
Portland Beavers
In he was acquired by the Portland BeaversPortland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
where he finished with a 10–12 record and 3.22 ERA. At the end of the season, Alexander, who was 32 years old at the time, was purchased by the 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...
.
Baltimore Orioles
Alexander made his major league debut in a relief appearance for the Orioles on April 11, against the Washington SenatorsMinnesota 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...
. He would make a further three relief outings before returning to Portland in July to record a 10–10 record and excellent 2.66 ERA.
Cleveland Indians
Alexander continued to be a stellar pitcher in the Pacific Coast League and got his final shot at the major leagues in , when the 35 year-old right-hander joined the Cleveland IndiansCleveland 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...
pitching staff. Alexander made five relief appearances for the Indians to end his major league career.