Bobby Tolan
Born: 11/19/1945 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1965-09-03 | Final Game: 1979-09-19
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Robert Tolan
Biography
Bobby Tolan was a versatile position player who enjoyed a prominent career in Major League Baseball from 1965 to 1979. Born in 1945, Tolan made his debut during a transformative era in baseball, marked by the emergence of speed and athleticism on the field. Over the course of 1,282 games, he compiled a respectable .265 batting average, amassing 1,121 hits and 86 home runs. Tolan's offensive contributions included 497 RBIs and an impressive 193 stolen bases, showcasing his ability to impact games with both his power and speed.
Tolan's career was distinguished not only by his statistical accomplishments but also by his dynamic playing style. Known for his agility and quickness, he was a key asset in the outfield as well as a formidable presence on the bases. Throughout his time in the majors, he played for several teams, including the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals, and was known for his clutch performances in critical moments. Tolan's legacy endures as a testament to the exciting brand of baseball that characterized the late 1960s and 1970s, and he remains a notable figure in the history of the game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1282 | 4238 | 572 | 1121 | 173 | 34 | 86 | 497 | 193 | 258 | 587 | 0.265 | 0.314 | 0.382 | 0.696 | 957.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | STL | NL | 17 | 69 | 8 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.188 | -435.9 |
| 1966 | STL | NL | 43 | 93 | 10 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 0.172 | -414.4 |
| 1967 | STL | NL | 110 | 265 | 35 | 67 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 32 | 12 | 19 | 43 | 0.253 | 87.2 |
| 1968 | STL | NL | 92 | 278 | 28 | 64 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 42 | 0.230 | -277.9 |
| 1969 | CIN | NL | 152 | 637 | 104 | 194 | 25 | 10 | 21 | 93 | 26 | 27 | 92 | 0.305 | 2158.2 |
| 1970 | CIN | NL | 152 | 589 | 112 | 186 | 34 | 6 | 16 | 80 | 57 | 62 | 94 | 0.316 | 2517.2 |
| 1972 | CIN | NL | 149 | 604 | 88 | 171 | 28 | 5 | 8 | 82 | 42 | 44 | 88 | 0.283 | 884.2 |
| 1973 | CIN | NL | 129 | 457 | 42 | 94 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 51 | 15 | 27 | 68 | 0.206 | -2011.2 |
| 1974 | SDP | NL | 95 | 357 | 45 | 95 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 40 | 7 | 20 | 41 | 0.266 | 68.3 |
| 1975 | SDP | NL | 147 | 506 | 58 | 129 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 43 | 11 | 28 | 45 | 0.255 | -847.8 |
| 1976 | PHI | NL | 110 | 272 | 32 | 71 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 35 | 10 | 7 | 39 | 0.261 | -474.6 |
| 1977 | PHI | NL | 15 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
| 1977 | PIT | NL | 49 | 74 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 0.203 | 0.0 |
| 1979 | SDP | NL | 22 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.190 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 83 | 14 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 0.253 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | NLCS | PHI | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1972 | WS | CIN | 7 | 26 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0.269 |
| 1972 | NLCS | CIN | 5 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0.238 |
| 1970 | NLCS | CIN | 3 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.417 |
| 1970 | WS | CIN | 5 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0.211 |
| 1968 | WS | SLN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 1967 | WS | SLN | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 130 | 77 | 784 | 51 | 4 | 69 |
| OF | 1005 | 919 | 2131 | 50 | 54 | 10 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | SLN | OF | 17 | 17 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | SLN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966 | SLN | OF | 26 | 22 | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | SLN | 1B | 13 | 8 | 107 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| 1967 | SLN | OF | 80 | 47 | 118 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1968 | SLN | 1B | 9 | 7 | 83 | 9 | 0 | 7 |
| 1968 | SLN | OF | 67 | 56 | 116 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| 1969 | CIN | OF | 150 | 149 | 362 | 6 | 10 | 3 |
| 1970 | CIN | OF | 150 | 146 | 349 | 7 | 8 | 0 |
| 1972 | CIN | OF | 149 | 148 | 401 | 9 | 4 | 3 |
| 1973 | CIN | OF | 120 | 116 | 279 | 9 | 10 | 1 |
| 1974 | SDN | OF | 88 | 84 | 161 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1975 | SDN | 1B | 27 | 10 | 106 | 15 | 0 | 7 |
| 1975 | SDN | OF | 120 | 114 | 230 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
| 1976 | PHI | 1B | 50 | 41 | 354 | 13 | 3 | 36 |
| 1976 | PHI | OF | 35 | 20 | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | PHI | 1B | 5 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1977 | PIT | 1B | 20 | 10 | 106 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| 1977 | PIT | OF | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | SDN | 1B | 5 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1979 | SDN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 130 |
| Left Field | 139 |
| Center Field | 561 |
| Right Field | 356 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Hutch Award | |
| 1972 | TSN Comeback Player of the Year | |
| 1970 | TSN All-Star | OF |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 20th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1970 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 16th | 17.0 | 336 | 0 |