Bob Bruce
Born: 5/16/1933 in New York, NY, USA
Died: 3/14/2017 in Plano, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1959-09-14 | Final Game: 1967-06-24
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 200 lbs
Full name: Robert James Bruce
Biography
Bob Bruce was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1959 to 1967. Born in 1933, Bruce established himself as a reliable arm during a transitional period in the league, which was moving away from the dominance of the deadball era. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 49 wins and 71 losses, with a career earned run average (ERA) of 3.85. Bruce was known for his ability to miss bats, evidenced by his total of 733 strikeouts, which reflected his skill in the art of pitching during a time when the game was evolving with a greater emphasis on power hitting.
Throughout his time in the league, Bruce showcased his versatility on the mound, contributing not only as a starter but also in relief, as indicated by his single save. His career spanned various teams, allowing him to develop a reputation as a steady presence in the rotation. While he may not have achieved the accolades of some of his contemporaries, Bob Bruce's contributions to his teams and the game during the 1960s remain noteworthy, particularly as baseball was undergoing significant changes in strategy and player dynamics. He retired from the game on June 24, 1967, leaving behind a legacy defined by perseverance and skill on the mound.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | 71 | 219 | 167 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 1122.3 | 1146 | 480 | 95 | 340 | 733 | 3.85 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | DET | AL | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9.00 | 0.0 |
| 1960 | DET | AL | 4 | 7 | 34 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 130.0 | 127 | 54 | 56 | 76 | 3.74 | -1832.1 |
| 1961 | DET | AL | 1 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44.7 | 57 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 4.43 | -1037.6 |
| 1962 | HOU | NL | 10 | 9 | 32 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 175.0 | 164 | 79 | 82 | 135 | 4.06 | 366.9 |
| 1963 | HOU | NL | 5 | 9 | 30 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 170.3 | 162 | 68 | 60 | 123 | 3.59 | 3051.2 |
| 1964 | HOU | NL | 15 | 9 | 35 | 29 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 202.3 | 191 | 62 | 33 | 135 | 2.76 | 6650.7 |
| 1965 | HOU | NL | 9 | 18 | 35 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 229.7 | 241 | 95 | 38 | 145 | 3.72 | 2315.6 |
| 1966 | HOU | NL | 3 | 13 | 25 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 129.7 | 160 | 77 | 29 | 71 | 5.34 | -1328.1 |
| 1967 | ATL | NL | 2 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 38.7 | 42 | 21 | 15 | 22 | 4.89 | -338.7 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 223 | 346 | 25 | 52 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 28 | 102 | 0.150 | 0.220 | 0.176 | 0.396 | -1566.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | DET | AL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1960 | DET | AL | 34 | 39 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0.179 | 0.0 |
| 1961 | DET | AL | 14 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.111 | 0.0 |
| 1962 | HOU | NL | 32 | 55 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 14 | 0.200 | -150.0 |
| 1963 | HOU | NL | 32 | 55 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 0.127 | -345.9 |
| 1964 | HOU | NL | 37 | 63 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 0.190 | -351.6 |
| 1965 | HOU | NL | 35 | 74 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 0.122 | -719.0 |
| 1966 | HOU | NL | 25 | 39 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0.077 | 0.0 |
| 1967 | ATL | NL | 12 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 219 | 167 | 95 | 164 | 8 | 7 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | DET | P | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | DET | P | 34 | 15 | 9 | 23 | 1 | 2 |
| 1961 | DET | P | 14 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1962 | HOU | P | 32 | 27 | 14 | 26 | 1 | 2 |
| 1963 | HOU | P | 30 | 25 | 13 | 21 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | HOU | P | 35 | 29 | 11 | 35 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | HOU | P | 35 | 34 | 25 | 36 | 3 | 1 |
| 1966 | HOU | P | 25 | 23 | 15 | 18 | 0 | 1 |
| 1967 | ATL | P | 12 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 219 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alma College | Alma | MI | 1952 |