Maurice Van Robays
Encyclopedia
Maurice Rene Van Robays nicknamed "Bomber," was a Major League Baseball
player who was born and died in Detroit, Michigan
. Primarily an outfielder, Van Robays spent six seasons in the majors, all with the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He was 6'0" tall and weighed 190 lbs, and he wore glasses, unusual for a ballplayer of the time.
Originally signed by his hometown Detroit Tigers
, Van Robays replaced Hall of Famer Lloyd Waner
as the Pirates' starting right fielder
late in 1939. The next season, he finished third in the National League
in RBI with 116, benefitting from the on-base efforts of teammates like Arky Vaughan
and Vince DiMaggio
. At the end of the year, Van Robays drew eight points in league MVP
voting, finishing twenty-fourth despite a relatively low .316 OBP
and .402 slugging percentage. He returned as a starter the next season, but subsequently moved into a bench role, and he never played in the majors again after a poor 1946 season, though he did help lead the Oakland Oaks
to a Pacific Coast League
championship in 1948.
Van Robays is credited with naming the "eephus pitch
," developed by teammate Rip Sewell
. In a 1942 exhibition game, Sewell threw a high, arching lob to the plate, and when the pitch finally arrived, Dick Wakefield
swung and missed. After the game, manager Frankie Frisch
asked Sewell what he called the pitch, and Van Robays replied "that's an eephus pitch." When Sewell asked him what an eephus was, Van Robays said, "Eephus ain't nuthin'." From then on, Sewell called it the eephus pitch. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/features/experts/05_02_01.stm
He was buried in Detroit's Mount Olivet Cemetery
.
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...
player who was born and died in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. Primarily an outfielder, Van Robays spent six seasons in the majors, all 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...
. He was 6'0" tall and weighed 190 lbs, and he wore glasses, unusual for a ballplayer of the time.
Originally signed by his hometown 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...
, Van Robays replaced Hall of Famer Lloyd Waner
Lloyd Waner
Lloyd James Waner , nicknamed "Little Poison", was a Major League Baseball center fielder. His small stature at 5'9" and 132 lb made him one of the smallest players of his era. Along with his brother, Paul Waner, he anchored the Pittsburgh Pirates outfield throughout the 1920s and 1930s...
as the Pirates' starting right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
late in 1939. The next season, he finished third in 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...
in RBI with 116, benefitting from the on-base efforts of teammates like Arky Vaughan
Arky Vaughan
Joseph Floyd "Arky" Vaughan was a professional baseball player. He played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball between 1932 and 1948 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Dodgers, primarily a shortstop...
and Vince DiMaggio
Vince DiMaggio
Vincent Paul "Vince" DiMaggio was a Major League Baseball center fielder. During a 10-year baseball career, he played for the Boston Bees , Cincinnati Reds , Pittsburgh Pirates , Philadelphia Phillies , and New York Giants...
. At the end of the year, Van Robays drew eight points in league MVP
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
voting, finishing twenty-fourth despite a relatively low .316 OBP
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
and .402 slugging percentage. He returned as a starter the next season, but subsequently moved into a bench role, and he never played in the majors again after a poor 1946 season, though he did help lead the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
to a 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...
championship in 1948.
Van Robays is credited with naming the "eephus pitch
Eephus pitch
An Eephus pitch in baseball is considered a junk pitch with very low speed. The delivery from the pitcher has very low velocity and usually catches the hitter off-guard. Its invention is attributed to Rip Sewell of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1940s. According to manager Frankie Frisch, the...
," developed by teammate Rip Sewell
Rip Sewell
Truett Banks "Rip" Sewell was a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played 13 years in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates...
. In a 1942 exhibition game, Sewell threw a high, arching lob to the plate, and when the pitch finally arrived, Dick Wakefield
Dick Wakefield
Richard Cummings "Dick" Wakefield , was a left fielder in Major League Baseball for 9 seasons with the Detroit Tigers , New York Yankees , and New York Giants...
swung and missed. After the game, manager Frankie Frisch
Frankie Frisch
Francis “Frankie” Frisch , nicknamed the "Fordham Flash" or "The Old Flash", was a German American Major League Baseball player of the early twentieth century....
asked Sewell what he called the pitch, and Van Robays replied "that's an eephus pitch." When Sewell asked him what an eephus was, Van Robays said, "Eephus ain't nuthin'." From then on, Sewell called it the eephus pitch. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/features/experts/05_02_01.stm
He was buried in Detroit's Mount Olivet Cemetery
Mount Olivet Cemetery (Detroit)
Mt. Olivet Cemetery is a cemetery at 17100 Van Dyke Avenue in the city of Detroit in Wayne County, Michigan. It opened in 1888 and is owned and operated by the Mount Elliott Cemetery Association, a not-for-profit Catholic organization. At , it is the largest cemetery in Detroit.Notable people...
.