Bobby Darwin
From BR Bullpen
Arthur Bobby Lee Darwin
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.
- Debut September 30, 1962
- Final Game August 18, 1977
- Born February 16, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Before the 1962 season Bobby Darwin was signed by the Los Angeles Angels as an amateur free agent. His first season of professional baseball would see him with the class C California League San Jose Bees. The 19 year old pitcher would appear in 26 games, win 11 of them and lose 6 for a 4.12 ERA.
A Southern California native, Darwin made his major league debut with the expansion Los Angeles Angels in the final game of the 1962 season. Darwin pitched poorly, yielding eight hits and four walks in three and one third innings and was charged with the loss.
On May 15, 1963 he was selected off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles from the Los Angeles Angels as a first year waiver pick.
Clearly overmatched by the big league hitters, he was sent back to the minors for more seasoning. In the following years, 1963 through 1969, Bobby pitched for Honolulu, Stockton, Elmira and Spokane. Over this time he appeared in 153 games, winning 31 and losing 44 and had a 4.50 ERA.
On December 2, 1968 he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Baltimore Orioles in the 1968 rule 5 draft.
Bobby made it back to the major leagues in 1969 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but once again failed to impress as a pitcher, registering a 9.00 ERA in three major league games with the Dodgers.
Shortly thereafter, Darwin decided to end his career on the pitching mound and begin his career at the plate. Instead of trying to challenge hitters he was going to challenge pitchers.
It didn't take long for Darwin to make the adjustment. He was back in the big leagues by the middle of the season with the 1971 Los Angeles Dodgers. In 11 games, he collected five hits in 20 at bats, including his first major league home run, a pinch-hit three-run blast off Chicago Cubs left-hander Juan Pizarro.
On October 22, 1971, the Dodgers traded Darwin to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder-catcher Paul Powell.
His career blossomed with the Twins as a right-handed hitting outfielder. During a three-year stretch from 1972 to 1974, he belted 22, 18 and 25 homers, while knocking in 80, 90 and 94 runs. On the rough side he also led the American League in strikeouts with 145, 137 and 127 those same years.
On June 14, 1975 he was traded by the Minnesota Twins to the Milwaukee Brewers for Johnny Briggs.
Darwin went on to play for the Brewers and on June 3, 1976 they traded him along with Tom Murphy to the Boston Red Sox for Bernie Carbo.
He was traded by the Red Sox on May 28, 1977 to the Chicago Cubs for Ramon Hernandez. Darwin appeared in 25 games for the Wichita Aeros and finished up his baseball career when he was released by the Cubs on August 23.
His grandson, Andrew Darwin, was selected in the 2008 amateur draft.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 2 (1972 & 1974)
[edit] Sources
The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Third Edition
SABR Minor League Database
baseball-reference.com
Baseball Library.com
