Bobby Klaus
Encyclopedia
Robert Francis Klaus is a former right-handed Major League Baseball
infielder who played from 1964 to 1965 for the Cincinnati Reds
and New York Mets
. He is the brother of the late MLB infielder Billy Klaus
.
Prior to playing professional baseball, Klaus attended University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
. Klaus was 5'10" and weighed 170 pounds.
Originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Cincinnati Redlegs
in 1959, Klaus made his big league debut on April 21, 1964 against Jimmy Wynn
and the rest of the Houston Colt .45s
as a pinch hitter for pitcher Jim O'Toole
. He did not get an official at-bat in his first game, because a runner on base was caught trying to advance.
Klaus did poorly as a brief replacement for Pete Rose
in 1964 with the Reds, batting .183 in 40 games. He was purchased by the Mets on July 19 of that year, and with them he played in 56 games, compiling a .244 batting average. Overall, in 96 games in his rookie season, he batted .225.
1965 would end up being Klaus' final season in the big leagues. In 119 games with the Mets, he collected 55 hits in 288 at-bats for a .191 batting average. He showed a fair eye at the plate, with his walk total nearly matching his strikeout total - he had 45 and 49 respectively.
He played his final big league game on October 3, 1965 against the Philadelphia Phillies
. He ended his career on a sour note - he collected no hits in five at bats in his final game.
In his big league career, he played in 215 total games, collecting 123 hits in 590 at-bats for a .208 batting average. He hit 25 doubles, four triples and six home runs, scored 65 runs and drove 29 in, stole five bases and was caught 10 times, and walked 74 times and struck out 92 times. He committed 21 errors in the field for a .973 fielding percentage.
Statistically, he is most similar to Buddy Biancalana
.
Although his big league career ended after the 1965 season, he still stuck around in pro baseball for a while, and was part of some notable transactions. On February 22, 1966, he was traded by the Mets with Wayne Graham
and Jimmie Schaffer
to the Phillies for Dick Stuart
.
On December 2, 1968, he was drafted by the San Diego Padres
from the Phillies in the rule 5 draft
.
Finally, on March 28, 1969, he was traded by the Padres with Ron Davis
to the Pittsburgh Pirates
for Tommie Sisk
and Chris Cannizzaro
.
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...
infielder who played from 1964 to 1965 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....
and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. He is the brother of the late MLB infielder Billy Klaus
Billy Klaus
William Joseph Klaus was a shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the Boston & Milwaukee Braves , Boston Red Sox , Baltimore Orioles , Washington Senators and Philadelphia Phillies . He played the end of the 1963 season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons...
.
Prior to playing professional baseball, Klaus attended University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
. Klaus was 5'10" and weighed 170 pounds.
Originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Cincinnati Redlegs
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....
in 1959, Klaus made his big league debut on April 21, 1964 against Jimmy Wynn
Jimmy Wynn
James Sherman Wynn , nicknamed the "Toy Cannon," is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. During a 15-year baseball career, he played from 1963-1977 for five different teams: the Houston Colt .45s/Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Milwaukee Brewers...
and the rest of the Houston Colt .45s
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...
as a pinch hitter for pitcher Jim O'Toole
Jim O'Toole
James Jerome O'Toole is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the early 1960s.-College and minor league:...
. He did not get an official at-bat in his first game, because a runner on base was caught trying to advance.
Klaus did poorly as a brief replacement for Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
in 1964 with the Reds, batting .183 in 40 games. He was purchased by the Mets on July 19 of that year, and with them he played in 56 games, compiling a .244 batting average. Overall, in 96 games in his rookie season, he batted .225.
1965 would end up being Klaus' final season in the big leagues. In 119 games with the Mets, he collected 55 hits in 288 at-bats for a .191 batting average. He showed a fair eye at the plate, with his walk total nearly matching his strikeout total - he had 45 and 49 respectively.
He played his final big league game on October 3, 1965 against 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 ended his career on a sour note - he collected no hits in five at bats in his final game.
In his big league career, he played in 215 total games, collecting 123 hits in 590 at-bats for a .208 batting average. He hit 25 doubles, four triples and six home runs, scored 65 runs and drove 29 in, stole five bases and was caught 10 times, and walked 74 times and struck out 92 times. He committed 21 errors in the field for a .973 fielding percentage.
Statistically, he is most similar to Buddy Biancalana
Buddy Biancalana
Roland Americo "Buddy" Biancalana is a retired Major League Baseball shortstop.Biancalana played for two teams in his career: the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros . He attended Redwood High School in Larkspur and was drafted by the Royals in the first round of the 1978 June Regular Phase...
.
Although his big league career ended after the 1965 season, he still stuck around in pro baseball for a while, and was part of some notable transactions. On February 22, 1966, he was traded by the Mets with Wayne Graham
Wayne Graham
Wayne Leon Graham is a former major-league baseball player and the college baseball coach of the Rice Owls baseball team in Houston, Texas.-Playing career:...
and Jimmie Schaffer
Jimmie Schaffer
Jimmie Ronald Schaffer is an American former Major League Baseball catcher with an eight-year career from 1961 to 1968. He played for the St...
to the Phillies for Dick Stuart
Dick Stuart
Richard Lee Stuart was a Major League Baseball first baseman from 1958 to 1966 and 1969. In 1967 and 1968, he played in Japan for the Taiyo Whales. Throughout his baseball career, Stuart was known as a fine hitter, but a subpar fielder, garnering the unique nickname of "Dr. Strangeglove" for his...
.
On December 2, 1968, he was drafted by the 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...
from the Phillies in the rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
Finally, on March 28, 1969, he was traded by the Padres with Ron Davis
Ron Davis (outfielder)
Ronald Everette Davis is a former right-handed Major League Baseball outfielder who played in 1962 and from 1966 to 1969 for the Houston Colt .45s/Houston Astros, St...
to 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...
for Tommie Sisk
Tommie Sisk
Tommie Wayne Sisk is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1962 to 1970 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox....
and Chris Cannizzaro
Chris Cannizzaro
Christopher John "Chris" Cannizzaro was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Mets , Pittsburgh Pirates , San Diego Padres , Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers...
.