Pat Dobson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pat Dobson |
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Dobson with the Nashville Sounds in 1980
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: February 12, 1942 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
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| Died: November 22, 2006 (aged 64) San Diego, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 31, 1967, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 19, 1977, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 122–129 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.54 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,301 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Patrick Edward Dobson, Jr. (born February 12, 1942 – died November 22, 2006) was an American baseball player. He was a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Pat played for several teams from 1967 to 1977. He is famous for being one of four pitchers on the Baltimore Orioles to win 20 games in the 1971 season.
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Pat Dobson's Baseball Journey
Pat Dobson was born in Depew, New York. He signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1959. Pat spent seven years playing in the minor leagues. He pitched as both a reliever and a starter.
Starting in the Major Leagues
Dobson made his big league debut with the Tigers in 1967. Before joining the Tigers, he had a great start to the season. He won 4 games and lost 1, with a very low 1.47 ERA. This was for the AAA Toledo Mud Hens team.
For the next two and a half years, Pat was a reliever and sometimes a starter for the Tigers. He even pitched in the 1968 World Series. The Tigers won the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Moving to New Teams
Pat was traded to the San Diego Padres in 1969. He became the main pitcher for the Padres, who were in last place. He won 14 games and had 185 strikeouts. His earned run average (ERA) was 3.76.
In December 1970, Pat was traded again. He went to the Baltimore Orioles. This trade helped him join one of the best pitching teams in baseball.
The Amazing 1971 Season
The year 1971 was special for Pat Dobson. He had a winning streak of 12 games. Nine of these were "complete games," meaning he pitched the whole game himself. He also had a streak of 23 innings without giving up any runs.
On September 24, he won his 20th game of the season. It was a 7–0 shutout against the Cleveland Indians. Pat finished the season with 20 wins and 8 losses. His ERA was 2.90.
He was part of the Orioles' "Big Four" pitching staff. The other pitchers were Dave McNally (21 wins), Mike Cuellar (20 wins), and Jim Palmer (20 wins). The Orioles won 101 games that year. It was rare for a team to have four pitchers win 20 games in one season. Only one other team in MLB history, the 1920 Chicago White Sox, had done this.
After the MLB season, Pat Dobson threw a "no-hitter" in Japan. This means no player on the other team got a hit. It was against the Yomiuri Giants in Tokyo. This was the first no-hitter in Japanese-American baseball exhibition history.
Later Years as a Pitcher
Pat was chosen as an All-Star in 1972. His ERA improved to 2.65 that year. However, he ended up with 16 wins and 18 losses. He tied for the most losses in the American League.
In December 1972, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves. He started the 1973 season with 3 wins and 7 losses. Then, in June, he was traded to the New York Yankees. With the Yankees, he played much better. He finished the season with 9 wins and 8 losses.
In 1974, Pat had a tough start. But he became a key pitcher for the Yankees in the second half of the season. He finished with 19 wins and 15 losses. His 3.07 ERA was the best for a Yankees pitcher that year.
After a slower season in 1975, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. He did well in 1976, with 16 wins and 12 losses. The 1977 season was his last. He was released by the Indians in 1978.
In his 11 years in baseball, Pat Dobson had 122 wins and 129 losses. He had 1,301 strikeouts and a 3.54 ERA. He also pitched 74 complete games and 14 shutouts.
Life After Playing Baseball
After his playing career, Pat Dobson became a pitching coach. He coached for teams like the Brewers, Padres, Royals, and Orioles. From 1989 to 1990, he managed a minor league team called the Fort Myers Sun Sox.
In 1997, Pat joined the San Francisco Giants. He worked as a scout, helping to find new players. He also helped the general manager.
Pat Dobson passed away in San Diego, California in 2006. He was 64 years old.
See also
- 1968 Detroit Tigers season
