Bob Trowbridge

From BR Bullpen

Robert Trowbridge

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.

Debut April 22, 1956
Final Game July 24, 1960
Born June 27, 1930 in Hudson, NY USA
Died April 3, 1980 in Hudson, NY USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Right-hander Bob Trowbridge was signed by the Boston Braves as an amateur free agent before the 1950 season. He was assigned to the Eau Claire Bears of the class C Northern League and the twenty year old wasted no time in getting into high gear, putting together a 16-8 record with a 2.97 ERA while pitching 203 innings during his first pro season. Trowbridge would spend the next three years (1951-53) in the United States Military Services. While in the service Trowbridge pitched for the Nellis Air Force base team, compiling a record of 60-6 while striking out over 1200 batters.

Bob was still in high gear when he returned to the minors, pitching for both the Jacksonville Braves and the Atlanta Crackers in 1954 having a combined record of 18-9 with a 2.90 ERA. 1955 would see him with the Toledo Mud Hens of the American Association going 13-8 with a 3.66 ERA. All these good numbers would put Bob in the "Show" for the next five seasons (1956-60).

Trowbridge , who was 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 19 games for the Milwaukee Braves in 1956, was knocked out of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in July after being hit by a line drive off the bat of Lee Walls. A few weeks later he returned to pick up his first big league victory against Pittsburgh in relief of Bob Buhl, who was forced to leave after suffering a fracture to his right index finger when he too was hit by a line drive off the bat of Walls.

The righthander was used as both a starter and in relief in going 7-5 for the World Champions in 1957. Two of his wins came down the stretch in September, including his only shutout, a 4-0 three-hitter over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Bob would get into only one game during the series, the third game in which the Yankees blew out the Braves 12-3 and Trowbridge gave up five earned runs in a disastorus seventh inning. However his team hung together and went on to beat the Bronx Bombers 4 games to 3 to be the first team to win a World Series after relocating.

After 1957 Trowbridge became a mediocre pitcher, winning only one game in each of his last three major league seasons and finishing up his five year big league career with the Kansas City Athletics in 1960 with a career 13-13 in 116 games with a 3.95 ERA. Bob had a fine seven year (1950-61) minor league record, putting up 52 wins against 33 losses with a 3.29 ERA.

From 1961 until his death from a heart attack on April 3, 1980, at age 49 in his native Hudson, New York, Trowbridge worked in security for a State of New York correctional facility.