| Bob Chesnes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1921-05-06)May 6, 1921 Oakland, California, U.S. | |
| Died: May 23, 1979(1979-05-23) (aged 58) Everett, Washington, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 6, 1948, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 1950, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 24–22 |
| Earned run average | 4.66 |
| Strikeouts | 130 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Robert Vincent Chesnes (May 6, 1921 – May 23, 1979) was an American professionalbaseball player, a right-handedpitcher who worked in 61games pitched in theMajor Leagues from 1948 through 1950 for thePittsburgh Pirates. The native ofOakland, California, stood 6 feet (1.83 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg).
Chesnes entered organized baseball in 1940 as aninfielder in the Class DNortheast Arkansas League. He began his conversion to full-time pitcher the following season. Then, after 1942, his professional career was interrupted by three years of service (1943–45) in theUnited States Coast Guard during World War II.[1]
Returning to baseball in 1946, he posted three highly successful consecutive seasons, including a stellarrookie year inMajor League Baseball. Aftergoing 18–6 with a 1.52earned run average in the Class CPioneer League in 1946, Chesnes was promoted all the way to the Triple-ASan Francisco Seals of thePacific Coast League for 1947. There he won 22 games and lost eight, leading the PCL inwinning percentage (.733) as well as in earned run average with a 2.32 mark. That off-season, the Pirates acquired Chesnes from the unaffiliated Seals for $100,000 and four players (includingoutfielderGene Woodling andcatcherDixie Howell).
Chesnes made his MLB debut on his 27th birthday inrelief against theNew York Giants, but soon became astarting pitcher in the Pittsburgh rotation. He won 14 of 20decisions with 15complete games and a solid earned run average of 3.57, as the Pirates climbed into theNational League'sfirst division. His 14 victories led the Bucs, and theswitch-hitting former infielder alsobatted a strong .275 in 98at bats, best among Pirate pitchers. But Chesnes' final two seasons in Pittsburgh were plagued by arm miseries.[2] He went only 10–16 during 1949–50 and his ERA ballooned to a composite 5.81. Chesnes spent part of 1950 and all of 1951 in theminor leagues before leaving the game.
All told, he allowed 377hits and 189bases on balls with 130strikeouts in 3782⁄3innings pitched during his MLB career, with oneshutout and onesave. As a hitter, Chesnes had a lifetime batting average of .256, with twohome runs and 15runs batted in.