Bob Oliver
From BR Bullpen
Robert Lee Oliver
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 215 lb.
- School American River College
- Debut September 10, 1965
- Final Game July 3, 1975
- Born February 8, 1943 in Shreveport, LA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Bob Oliver played eight years in the major leagues, almost all in the American League. He hit 94 homers in the majors, with a high of 27 in 1970.
Oliver was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1963, and came up with them for two games in 1965. He was then traded to the Minnesota Twins and picked by the Kansas City Royals in the expansion draft.
He became a regular in the outfield of the 1969 Royals, along with Lou Piniella, another player who had had a cup of coffee years earlier in the majors. He was a year older than Piniella.
After 3+ years with the Royals, he spent parts of 3 seasons with the California Angels, hitting 45 home runs with them in that time. He finished out his major league career playing in nine games with the Baltimore Orioles and 18 with the New York Yankees.
Oliver played over 400 games at first base, over 200 in the outfield (mostly in right field) and over 150 games at third base.
He was the first Royal to get six hits in a game, and the first Royal to hit a grand slam, according to his website. Oliver currently runs a baseball academy - see Bob Oliver Baseball Academy.
Father of Darren Oliver. Nolan Ryan played with both Bob and Darren Oliver.
