Bob Finley
Born: 11/25/1915 in Ennis, TX, USA
Died: 1/2/1986 in West Covina, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1943-06-13 | Final Game: 1944-10-01
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 200 lbs
Full name: Robert Edward Finley
Biography
Bob Finley, born in 1915, was a professional baseball player who played primarily as a position player during his brief career from 1943 to 1944. Finley appeared in 122 games in Major League Baseball, where he established himself as a competent hitter with a career batting average of .251. He accumulated a total of 91 hits, which included 2 home runs and 28 runs batted in (RBIs). His versatility on the field and ability to contribute to his team's offense, albeit in a limited capacity, made him a valuable player during the war-affected era of baseball, when many stars were serving in the military.
Finley's career unfolded during a time when Major League Baseball was deeply affected by World War II, resulting in a significant number of players enlisting and leaving the game. As a result, many teams relied on younger and lesser-known talents like Finley to fill their rosters. Despite his modest statistical output, his participation in the league during this challenging period highlights the resilience of the sport and the contributions of those who stepped up during a time of need. Finley finished his playing days on October 1, 1944, leaving behind a legacy as part of the era that kept baseball alive in America during the war years.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 122 | 362 | 27 | 91 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 1 | 16 | 35 | 0.251 | 0.292 | 0.309 | 0.602 | -758.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | PHI | NL | 28 | 81 | 9 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0.259 | -110.3 |
| 1944 | PHI | NL | 94 | 281 | 18 | 70 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 12 | 25 | 0.249 | -647.9 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 98 | 0 | 367 | 57 | 15 | 7 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | PHI | C | 24 | 0 | 78 | 23 | 4 | 0 |
| 1944 | PHI | C | 74 | 0 | 289 | 34 | 11 | 7 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 98 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Methodist University | Dallas | TX | 1936, 1937 |