| Pat Dobson | |
|---|---|
 Dobson with theNashville Sounds in 1980 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: February 12, 1942 Buffalo, New York, U.S. | |
| Died: November 22, 2006(2006-11-22) (aged 64) San Diego, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 31, 1967, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 19, 1977, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 122–129 |
| Earned run average | 3.54 |
| Strikeouts | 1,301 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Patrick Edward Dobson, Jr. (February 12, 1942 – November 22, 2006) was an American right-handedstarting pitcher inMajor League Baseball who played for theDetroit Tigers (1967–69),San Diego Padres (1970),Baltimore Orioles (1971–72),Atlanta Braves (1973),New York Yankees (1973–75) andCleveland Indians (1976–77). He was best known for being one of four Orioles pitchers towin 20 games in their1971 season.
Dobson was born inDepew, New York. He signed with Detroit in1959. After spending seven years in theminor leagues and winter ball, pitching both inrelief and starting,[1] he made his debut with the big team in the1967 season after starting the season 4–1 with a 1.47 ERA in six starts for the AAAToledo Mud Hens. Dobson would spend the next2+1⁄2 years as a reliever and spot starter for the Tigers including pitching4+2⁄3 innings of relief in the team's 1968 World Series victory over theSt. Louis Cardinals.[2] Unable to claim a spot in the Tigers' rotation ofMickey Lolich,Denny McLain,Earl Wilson, andJoe Sparma, Dobson was traded to San Diego in1969 along with Dave Campbell for a youngJoe Niekro.[3] After going 14–15 with 185strikeouts and a 3.76earned run average as the staff ace for the last-place Padres, he was traded along withTom Dukes to Baltimore forEnzo Hernández,Tom Phoebus,Fred Beene andAl Severinsen on December 1, 1970.[4]
In 1971 Dobson had a winning streak of 12 games (including nine consecutive complete games) and a scoreless inning streak of 23. On September 24, he recorded his 20th win, a 7–0shutout against the Indians. Dobson posted a 20–8, 187, 2.90 season record, and was part of the Orioles' "Big Four" pitching staff along withDave McNally (21–5),Mike Cuellar (20–9), andJim Palmer (20–9). Baltimore went on to win 101 games, with the distinction of having four 20-game winners in a season; only one other team in MLB history, the1920Chicago White Sox, have had four 20-game winners. On November 2, 1971, Dobson threw a 2–0no-hitter against theYomiuri Giants in Tokyo. It was the first no-hit game in the Japanese-American baseball exhibition history. Dobson was anAll-Star in1972. His 2.65 ERA was a major improvement from his 20-win season, but he went 16–18, tying for the AL lead inlosses with YankeeMel Stottlemyre.
In a transaction primarily driven by the Orioles' need for a power-hitting catcher, he was dealt along withDavey Johnson,Johnny Oates andRoric Harrison to theAtlanta Braves forEarl Williams andTaylor Duncan on the last day of theWinter Meetings on December 1, 1972.[5] After starting the 1973 season 3–7, Dobson was sent to the Yankees on June 7 for four minor league players (none of whom panned out). Escaping Atlanta, he again blossomed and finished the season with a 9–8 record for the Yankees. Dobson started the 1974 campaign weakly, achieving only a 6–11 record by mid–season. However, Dobson anchored the Yankees' pitching staff in the second half of the season, finishing with a 19–15 record and a 3.07 ERA, the best numbers that year for a Yankee pitcher. After a slumping 11–14, 4.07 in1975, Dobson was traded to the Indians, and recovered in1976 with a 16–12, 3.48 record. The1977 season proved to be his last, as Dobson compiled a 3–12, 6.16 record. He was released by the Indians during spring training of 1978.
In his 11-season career Dobson had a record of 122–129, with 1,301 strikeouts, a 3.54 earned run average, 74complete games, 14 shutouts, 19saves, and2,120+1⁄3innings pitched in 414 games.
After his playing days, Dobson became a pitching coach for the Brewers, Padres, Royals and Orioles. From 1989 to 1990, he was the manager of theFort Myers Sun Sox of theSenior Professional Baseball Association, leading the team to a 37–35 record and a playoff berth in his first season and an 11–14 record at the time of the league's demise on December 26, 1990. In 1997, Dobson joined theSan Francisco Giants organization and worked as an advance major league scout and assistant to general managerBrian Sabean.[6]
In 2006 Dobson died fromleukemia inSan Diego at the age of 64, one day after being diagnosed with the disease.[6]
· Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Milwaukee Brewerspitching coach 1982–1984 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | San Diego Padrespitching coach 1988–1990 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Kansas City Royalspitching coach 1991 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Baltimore Oriolespitching coach 1996 | Succeeded by |
