Jim Tobin
Encyclopedia
James Anthony Tobin, known as Abba Dabba, (December 27, 1912, Oakland, California
—May 19, 1969, Oakland) was a right-handed major league baseball pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates
, Boston Bees/Braves and Detroit Tigers
from 1937 to 1945. In 1944 with the Boston Braves he pitched two no-hitters (one a five-inning game).
Tobin was born in Oakland, California, where the hometown Oakland Oaks
of the Pacific Coast League
picked him up. They sent him to their Bisbee-Douglas farm team in the Arizona-Texas League
. The New York Yankees
signed him shortly thereafter. He played for them in Binghamton and Wheeling in 1933 and 1934. The Yankees sent him back to Oakland in 1935, where he compiled an 11-8 record before tearing the cartilage in his left knee. Appendicitis kept him off the Yankee roster the following year, and he went 16-8 for the Oaks.
Rather than return to the Oaks in 1937, he arranged a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates
, with whom he made his major league debut on April 30, 1937
.
In 1940, Tobin joined the Boston Braves
, where manager Casey Stengel
made him a relief pitcher. On May 13, 1942
, by then a starter, Tobin became the only pitcher in modern major-league history to hit three home runs in one game (Guy Hecker
hit three homers in a game in the nineteenth century).
Still with the Braves in 1944, Tobin began throwing a knuckleball, and that season he his two no-hitters. The first was April 27, 1944, when he beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0. The second was a five-inning game on June 22, 1944, in which the Philadelphia Phillies
fell 7-0 (officially, this game is no longer considered a true no-hitter, as it lasted fewer than nine innings).
In another interesting event in 1944, Tobin drew a walk against Cincinnati Reds
pitcher Clyde Shoun
in the third inning of what would otherwise have been a perfect game for Shoun (who settled instead for a no-hitter).
Tobin was with the Tigers in 1945, when they won the American League pennant, but he did not appear in the World Series
. He played his final major league game on September 23, 1945
.
He was back in the Pacific Coast League the following year, pitching for the Seattle Rainiers
and the San Francisco Seals. He was released in 1947, but the Oaks re-signed him in August 1948. That year he pitched the last out against the Sacramento Solons
in a game that clinched the pennant for the Oaks.
Tobin was the brother of Boston Red Sox
third baseman Johnny Tobin
.
Jim went 105-112 in the majors with a 3.44 ERA. He completed 156 of 227 career starts.
In the minors, Tobin won 81 games and lost 51.
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
—May 19, 1969, Oakland) was a right-handed major league baseball pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Boston Bees/Braves and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
from 1937 to 1945. In 1944 with the Boston Braves he pitched two no-hitters (one a five-inning game).
Tobin was born in Oakland, California, where the hometown Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
picked him up. They sent him to their Bisbee-Douglas farm team in the Arizona-Texas League
Arizona-Texas League
The Arizona-Texas League was a low-level circuit in American minor league baseball that existed from 1928-32, 1937-41, 1947-50 and 1952-54. The Arizona-Texas loop merged with the Sunset League to form the Southwest International League in 1951...
. The New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
signed him shortly thereafter. He played for them in Binghamton and Wheeling in 1933 and 1934. The Yankees sent him back to Oakland in 1935, where he compiled an 11-8 record before tearing the cartilage in his left knee. Appendicitis kept him off the Yankee roster the following year, and he went 16-8 for the Oaks.
Rather than return to the Oaks in 1937, he arranged a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, with whom he made his major league debut on April 30, 1937
1937 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over New York Giants *All-Star Game, July 7 at Griffith Stadium: American League, 8-3-Awards and honors:*MLB Most Valuable Player Award**American League: Charlie Gehringer, Detroit Tigers, 2B...
.
In 1940, Tobin joined the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, where manager Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
made him a relief pitcher. On May 13, 1942
1942 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over New York Yankees *All-Star Game, July 6 at Polo Grounds: American League, 3-1-Other champions:*Negro Leagues World Series: Kansas City Monarchs over Homestead Grays...
, by then a starter, Tobin became the only pitcher in modern major-league history to hit three home runs in one game (Guy Hecker
Guy Hecker
Guy Jackson Hecker was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was born in Youngsville, Pennsylvania. His debut game took place on May 2, 1882. His final game took place on September 30, 1890. During his career he played for the Louisville Eclipse and Pittsburgh Pirates...
hit three homers in a game in the nineteenth century).
Still with the Braves in 1944, Tobin began throwing a knuckleball, and that season he his two no-hitters. The first was April 27, 1944, when he beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0. The second was a five-inning game on June 22, 1944, in which the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
fell 7-0 (officially, this game is no longer considered a true no-hitter, as it lasted fewer than nine innings).
In another interesting event in 1944, Tobin drew a walk against Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
pitcher Clyde Shoun
Clyde Shoun
Clyde Mitchell Shoun was an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, he was born in Mountain City, Tennessee, and known as "Hardrock", due to his fastball....
in the third inning of what would otherwise have been a perfect game for Shoun (who settled instead for a no-hitter).
Tobin was with the Tigers in 1945, when they won the American League pennant, but he did not appear in the World Series
1945 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 2:Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 3:Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan...
. He played his final major league game on September 23, 1945
1945 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Detroit Tigers over Chicago Cubs *All-Star Game cancelled due to flight restrictions. However, inter-league games were played during the All-Star break.-Other champions:...
.
He was back in the Pacific Coast League the following year, pitching for the Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
and the San Francisco Seals. He was released in 1947, but the Oaks re-signed him in August 1948. That year he pitched the last out against the Sacramento Solons
Sacramento Solons
The Sacramento Solons were a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Pacific Coast League during several periods . The current Sacramento River Cats began play in 2000...
in a game that clinched the pennant for the Oaks.
Tobin was the brother of Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
third baseman Johnny Tobin
Johnny Tobin
John Patrick Tobin, known as Johnny or Jackie , was a professional baseball player. He played one season in Major League Baseball for the 1945 Boston Red Sox, primarily as a third baseman....
.
Career stats
While Tobin played only one major league game at a position other than pitcher, he pinch-hit over 100 times in his major league career. The fine-hitting hurler batted .230/.303/.345 in the majors. He totaled 35 doubles, 17 homers and 102 RBI in 796 at-bats.Jim went 105-112 in the majors with a 3.44 ERA. He completed 156 of 227 career starts.
In the minors, Tobin won 81 games and lost 51.
See also
- 1945 Detroit Tigers season1945 Detroit Tigers seasonThe Detroit Tigers was the team's 45th since they entered the American League in 1901. The team won the American League pennant, then went on to win the 1945 World Series, defeating the Chicago Cubs 4 games to 3. It was the second World Series championship for the Tigers...
- MLB all-time leaders in home runs by pitchersMLB all-time leaders in home runs by pitchersThis is a list of the all-time leaders in home runs hit by Major League Baseball pitchers, with the pitcher being defined as a player who pitches in at least three games in the given year...
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters