Bob Bailor
Encyclopedia
Robert Michael Bailor is a former right-handed utility player
in Major League Baseball
, best known for his speed and for being difficult to strike out. He played his high school baseball at Geibel Catholic High School
in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and attended college at California State College in Pennsylvania.
in 1969 but struggled to break into the big league lineup that included Brooks Robinson
, Bobby Grich
, and Mark Belanger
. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
in the 1976 MLB expansion draft
as their first pick and would hit the first leadoff home run
in Blue Jays' history. Primarily playing outfield, he hit .310 for the club in 1977 and was named the Jays Player of the Year in his first two seasons there.
By 1980, Bailor began to struggle at the plate and became primarily a utility
player. After that season, he was traded to the New York Mets
, where he spent three seasons mostly coming off the bench. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
for Sid Fernandez
. After seeing limited playing time in two seasons there, he retired.
During his career, Bailor played significant time at shortstop
, second base, third base
as well as all three outfield positions. He additionally appeared in ten games as a designated hitter
and even in three games as a pitcher for the 1980 Toronto Blue Jays giving up two runs in two and two thirds innings. This flexibility as a position player led to Bailor's reputation as a very versatile player.
. Bailor later went on to manage the Syracuse Chiefs
from 1988 to 1991. From 1992 until 1995, Bailor served as a coach with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, best known for his speed and for being difficult to strike out. He played his high school baseball at Geibel Catholic High School
Geibel Catholic High School
Geibel Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg.-History:...
in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and attended college at California State College in Pennsylvania.
Playing career
Originally an infielder, Bailor was originally signed by the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in 1969 but struggled to break into the big league lineup that included Brooks Robinson
Brooks Robinson
Brooks Calbert Robinson, Jr. is a former American professional baseball player. He played his entire 23-year major league career for the Baltimore Orioles . Nicknamed "The Human Vacuum Cleaner", he is generally acclaimed as the greatest defensive third-basemen in major league history...
, Bobby Grich
Bobby Grich
Robert Anthony "Bobby" Grich is an American former professional baseball second baseman who played for the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels of Major League Baseball...
, and Mark Belanger
Mark Belanger
Mark Henry Belanger was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played almost his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles...
. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in the 1976 MLB expansion draft
1976 MLB expansion draft
The 1976 MLB Expansion Draft was held November 5, 1976. This expansion draft was conducted by Major League Baseball to stock the major league rosters of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners, new major league expansion franchises that were set to start play in the ...
as their first pick and would hit the first leadoff home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in Blue Jays' history. Primarily playing outfield, he hit .310 for the club in 1977 and was named the Jays Player of the Year in his first two seasons there.
By 1980, Bailor began to struggle at the plate and became primarily a utility
Utility
In economics, utility is a measure of customer satisfaction, referring to the total satisfaction received by a consumer from consuming a good or service....
player. After that season, he was traded to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, where he spent three seasons mostly coming off the bench. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
for Sid Fernandez
Sid Fernandez
Charles Sidney Fernandez was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher from to . Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Fernandez was proud of his roots and wore uniform number 50 in honor of Hawaii being the 50th state...
. After seeing limited playing time in two seasons there, he retired.
During his career, Bailor played significant time at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, second base, third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
as well as all three outfield positions. He additionally appeared in ten games as a designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
and even in three games as a pitcher for the 1980 Toronto Blue Jays giving up two runs in two and two thirds innings. This flexibility as a position player led to Bailor's reputation as a very versatile player.
Management
After his playing career, Bailor went on to manage teams at the minor league level. The Toronto Blue Jays organization hired him in 1987 to manage the Dunedin Blue JaysDunedin Blue Jays
The Dunedin Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team based in Dunedin, Florida. They play in the Florida State League, and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball club...
. Bailor later went on to manage the Syracuse Chiefs
Syracuse SkyChiefs
The Syracuse Chiefs are a minor league baseball team based in Syracuse, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals...
from 1988 to 1991. From 1992 until 1995, Bailor served as a coach with the Toronto Blue Jays.