Bob Skinner
Encyclopedia
Robert Ralph Skinner is a scout
for the Houston Astros
and a former outfielder
-first baseman
, manager
and coach
in American
Major League Baseball
. Skinner, who has spent over 50 years in the game, is the father of former MLB catcher and coach Joel Skinner
.
Bob Skinner, a left-handed hitter who threw right-handed, played most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates
(1954; 1956–63). He spent his last 3½ years as a pinch hitter
and backup outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds
(1963–64) and St. Louis Cardinals
(1964–66). During his best season, 1962
with the Pirates, he batted
.302 and hit 20 home run
s. Over his 12-year career, he batted .277 with 103 homers. Skinner played for two World Series
champions in two tries. Although he hit only .200 for Pittsburgh as a regular during the 1960 World Series
, as a pinch hitter for St. Louis during the 1964 World Series
, Skinner hit safely in two of three at-bats for a .667 average.
In 1967, Skinner retired from playing and became manager of his hometown team, the San Diego Padres
of the AAA Pacific Coast League
, the top farm club of the Philadelphia Phillies
. He led San Diego to an 85-63 record and the 1967 PCL championship, winning Minor League Manager of the Year honors from The Sporting News
. In , he began the year at San Diego but was soon called to the Phillies to replace Gene Mauch
as manager with the Phils in fifth place with a record of 27-27. It was a disastrous move for the Phils; under Skinner, the team plunged to eighth place, with a 48-59 record, and when they performed even worse in , at 44-64, and in fifth place in the new NL East Division, Skinner was replaced by his third-base coach, George Myatt
.
He remained in the game through the 1970s and 1980s, however, as a coach for the National League
Padres
, who came into being in 1969, Pirates, California Angels
and Atlanta Braves
. He also managed Houston's Tucson Toros
PCL franchise from 1989-92 before becoming a Houston scout.
His career record as a manager, including a one-game interim stint with the 1977 Padres, was 93-123 (.431).
In 1976, Skinner was also inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions
into the Breitbard Hall of Fame honoring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off the playing surface.http://www.sdhoc.com/awards/hall-of-fame/baseball/bob-skinner/
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and a former outfielder
Outfielder
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...
-first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
. Skinner, who has spent over 50 years in the game, is the father of former MLB catcher and coach Joel Skinner
Joel Skinner
Joel Patrick Skinner is a former Major League Baseball catcher and former third base coach of the Cleveland Indians. Skinner was dismissed effective with the end of the 2009 season on September 30, 2009. He is the son of Bob Skinner, a National League outfielder in the 1950s and '60s...
.
Bob Skinner, a left-handed hitter who threw right-handed, played most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1954; 1956–63). He spent his last 3½ years as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
and backup outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1963–64) and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1964–66). During his best season, 1962
1962 in sports
1962 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* AFL Championship – Dallas Texans won 20-17 over the Houston Oilers in double overtime* NFL Championship – Green Bay Packers won 16-7 over the New York Giants...
with the Pirates, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.302 and hit 20 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...
s. Over his 12-year career, he batted .277 with 103 homers. Skinner played for two World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
champions in two tries. Although he hit only .200 for Pittsburgh as a regular during the 1960 World Series
1960 World Series
The 1960 World Series was played between the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League and the New York Yankees of the American League from October 5 to October 13, 1960...
, as a pinch hitter for St. Louis during the 1964 World Series
1964 World Series
The 1964 World Series pitted the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals against the American League champion New York Yankees, with the Cardinals prevailing in seven games. St...
, Skinner hit safely in two of three at-bats for a .667 average.
In 1967, Skinner retired from playing and became manager of his hometown team, the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres (PCL)
The San Diego Padres were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1936 through 1968. The team that would eventually become the Padres was well traveled prior to moving to San Diego. It began its existence in 1903 as the Sacramento Solons, a charter member of the PCL...
of the AAA 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...
, the top farm club of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He led San Diego to an 85-63 record and the 1967 PCL championship, winning Minor League Manager of the Year honors from The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
. In , he began the year at San Diego but was soon called to the Phillies to replace Gene Mauch
Gene Mauch
Gene William Mauch was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs , Boston Braves , St...
as manager with the Phils in fifth place with a record of 27-27. It was a disastrous move for the Phils; under Skinner, the team plunged to eighth place, with a 48-59 record, and when they performed even worse in , at 44-64, and in fifth place in the new NL East Division, Skinner was replaced by his third-base coach, George Myatt
George Myatt
George Edward Myatt was an infielder, coach and interim manager in American Major League Baseball. In 1936, Boston Red Sox general manager Eddie Collins traveled to San Diego to scout Myatt in a Pacific Coast League game, but came away more impressed with his 17-year-old teammate, a San Diegan and...
.
He remained in the game through the 1970s and 1980s, however, as a coach for the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
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...
, who came into being in 1969, Pirates, 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...
and 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....
. He also managed Houston's Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
PCL franchise from 1989-92 before becoming a Houston scout.
His career record as a manager, including a one-game interim stint with the 1977 Padres, was 93-123 (.431).
In 1976, Skinner was also inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions
San Diego Hall of Champions
The San Diego Hall of Champions is an American multi-sport museum in San Diego, California. Located in the Federal Building in Balboa Park, the facility recognizes outstanding athletic accomplishments and traditions involving more than forty-two sports...
into the Breitbard Hall of Fame honoring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off the playing surface.http://www.sdhoc.com/awards/hall-of-fame/baseball/bob-skinner/