Bob Christian
From BR Bullpen
Robert Charles Christian
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10", Weight 180 lb.
- School Grossmont College
- Debut September 2, 1968
- Final Game May 24, 1970
- Born October 17, 1945 in Chicago, IL USA
- Died February 20, 1974 in San Diego, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Bob Christian packed a lot of baseball action into a short life. He played three years in the majors, several years in the minors and a couple of years in Japan.
Bob was signed as a free agent in 1964 by the New York Yankees, and spent one year in their minor league organization, hitting .319. The Detroit Tigers obviously liked what they saw, because they picked him away from the Yankees after the season in the first-year player draft.
He spent 1965 to 1968 in the Tigers' organization, moving up from A to AA to AAA ball, and playing, at various times, third base, second base and outfield. He came to the majors in 1968 for the first time, hitting .333 (1-for-3). He played one game in right field but also a game at first base, a position he had rarely played in the minors. The Tigers, of course, won the 1968 World Series so Christian had a share of their success.
The Chicago White Sox liked what they saw of Christian, and purchased him on September 30, 1968, before the World Series had even started. He played for their Tucson team in both 1969 and 1970, and also was in the majors both years, playing left field and one game in right. In 1969, getting 129 at-bats, he hit .217 on a team that hit .247. In 1970 he hit .267 on a team that hit .253, and he slugged .467. The SLG was better than anyone on the team except Bill Melton, who was Christian's age.
Thereafter he played two seasons for Toei in Japan.
He died of leukemia in 1974 at age 28, leaving behind a wife and child.
