| Bob Trowbridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1930-06-27)June 27, 1930 Hudson, New York, U.S. | |
| Died: April 3, 1980(1980-04-03) (aged 49) Hudson, New York, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 22, 1956, for the Milwaukee Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 24, 1960, for the Kansas City Athletics | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 13–13 |
| Earned run average | 3.95 |
| Strikeouts | 201 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Robert Trowbridge (June 27, 1930 – April 3, 1980) was an American professionalbaseball player, apitcher who appeared in all or parts of five seasons (1956–60) for theMilwaukee Braves andKansas City Athletics. Aright-hander, he was listed as 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and 180 pounds (82 kg). He was a member of the1957 World Series champion Braves.
Born inHudson, New York, Trowbridge was signed in 1950 by theBoston Braves, and won 16 games in his debut season in the Class CNorthern League. He then spent three full seasons (1951–53) in theUnited States Air Force during theKorean War.[1] Trowbridge resumed his baseball career in 1954, winning 18 games in the Class ASally League.
After he followed that by posting a 13–8record inTriple-A in 1955, Trowbridge made the Braves' MLB roster in1956 out ofspring training. He was used sparingly as arelief pitcher in the season's early weeks and sent back to Triple-A in May to get more work. Recalled at the end of June, he became a "swing man" on the Milwaukee pitching staff, getting fourstarts and 13 relief assignments over the rest of the season. He notched his first MLBcomplete game on August 8 in a six-hit, 10–1 triumph over theSt. Louis Cardinals atMilwaukee County Stadium.[2] As arookie, he posted a career-best 2.66earned run average in 502⁄3innings pitched.
In1957, Trowbridge worked in 32games as a member of the Brave staff, sandwiched around a three-game stint at Triple-A. He won an MLB-career-high seven games and worked in 126innings, another career mark. Trowbridge again was a swing man, with 16 starts and 16 relief appearances. On September 2, he threw a complete gameshutout, a three-hitter against theChicago Cubs atWrigley Field,striking out nine.[3] It would be the only shutout of his big-league career. But his seven victories contributed to theBraves' 1957National Leaguepennant, their first title in nine years and their first inMilwaukee. In the 1957 World Series, he appeared in one inning in relief of Game 3. Inheriting a 7–3 deficit to theNew York Yankees, Trowbridge allowed only two hits, but he issued threebases on balls and surrendered fiveearned runs, three of them coming on ahome run byTony Kubek.[4] It would be his only Fall Classic appearance, but the Braves triumphed in seven games to become world champions.
His first two major league seasons would prove to be Trowbridge's best. He spent all of both1958 and1959 with Milwaukee, but worked in only 43 total games (with four starts), and was not called upon when the Braves made a return trip to theWorld Series in 1958. His final appearance in 1959, and as a Brave, occurred on August 18, five weeks before Milwaukee met theLos Angeles Dodgers in the1959 National League tie-breaker series. The Braves sold Trowbridge's contract during the 1959–60 off-season to the Kansas City Athletics, asecond-division team in theAmerican League, and he finished his MLB career there in1960, making one start and relieving in 21 other games before being sent to Triple-A. He ended his pro career in 1961.
As a major leaguer, Trowbridge compiled a 13–13 record with a 3.95 earned run average and 201 strikeouts in 116 appearances and 3301⁄3 innings pitched, allowing 324 hits and 156 bases on balls. He had four complete games, one shutout and fivesaves.
Trowbridge died in Hudson at the age of 49 from a fatal blood clot in 1980.[1][5]