Bob Klinger

Born: 6/4/1908 in Allenton, MO, USA

Died: 8/19/1977 in Villa Ridge, MO, USA

MLB Debut: 1938-04-19 | Final Game: 1947-09-23

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: Robert Harold Klinger

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Biography

Bob Klinger was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1938 to 1947. Born in 1908, Klinger played during a transformative period in Major League Baseball, characterized by the transition from the deadball era to a more offensive-minded approach. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 66 wins and 61 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.68. Klinger demonstrated his effectiveness on the mound with a total of 357 strikeouts and 23 saves, showcasing his ability not only as a starter but also as a reliable reliever. Klinger's playing style was marked by his competitive spirit and versatility, traits that endeared him to fans and teammates alike. His contributions to the game were significant, particularly in an era when pitchers were increasingly relied upon to handle multiple roles within the bullpen. Klinger remains a notable figure in baseball history, remembered for his resilience and skill during a time of rapid change in the sport.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
66	61	265	130	48	7	23	1089.7	1153	445	46	358	357	3.68	0

Career ERA 3.68 vs. league average 3.92 across their career seasons — 6.3% better than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1938	PIT	NL	12	5	28	21	10	1	1	159.3	152	53	42	58	2.99	4.35 (+31%)	2092.5
1939	PIT	NL	14	17	37	33	10	2	0	225.0	251	109	81	64	4.36	4.28 (-2%)	170.6
1940	PIT	NL	8	13	39	22	3	0	3	142.0	196	85	53	48	5.39	4.21 (-28%)	742.3
1941	PIT	NL	9	4	35	9	3	0	4	116.7	127	51	30	36	3.93	3.94 (avg)	1179.1
1942	PIT	NL	8	11	37	19	8	1	1	152.7	151	55	45	58	3.24	3.57 (+9%)	1171.7
1943	PIT	NL	11	8	33	25	14	3	0	195.0	185	59	58	65	2.72	3.50 (+22%)	1147.3
1946	BOS	AL	3	2	28	1	0	0	9	57.0	49	15	25	16	2.37	3.59 (+34%)	-44.1
1947	BOS	AL	1	1	28	0	0	0	5	42.0	42	18	24	12	3.86	3.97 (+3%)	-1574.8

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
265	348	28	71	5	0	0	21	0	20	41	0.204	0.247	0.218	0.466	-1218.1

Career AVG .204 vs. league average .263 across their career seasons — 22.5% below league average.

Career OBP .247 vs. league average .333 across their career seasons — 25.8% below league average.

Career SLG .218 vs. league average .372 across their career seasons — 41.3% below league average.

Career OPS 0.466 vs. league average 0.705 across their career seasons — 34.0% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1938	PIT	NL	28	60	5	10	0	3	2	13	0.167	.272 (-39%)	.341 (-43%)	.392 (-58%)	.734 (-51%)	-520.0
1939	PIT	NL	37	84	9	17	0	6	5	12	0.202	.274 (-26%)	.342 (-28%)	.393 (-49%)	.735 (-39%)	-556.6
1940	PIT	NL	39	42	3	6	0	0	1	2	0.143	—	—	—	—	0.0
1941	PIT	NL	35	32	1	8	2	3	2	4	0.250	—	—	—	—	0.0
1942	PIT	NL	37	40	3	8	1	3	5	4	0.200	—	—	—	—	0.0
1943	PIT	NL	33	65	5	16	2	4	5	2	0.246	.255 (-4%)	.324 (-8%)	.346 (-20%)	.671 (-14%)	-141.5
1946	BOS	AL	28	16	1	5	0	2	0	2	0.312	—	—	—	—	0.0
1947	BOS	AL	28	9	1	1	0	0	0	2	0.111	—	—	—	—	0.0