Bob Oldis, baseball player, 1953-1963

Bob Oldis

Born: 1/5/1928 in Preston, IA, USA

Died: 9/21/2025 in Gilbert, AZ, USA

MLB Debut: 1953-04-28 | Final Game: 1963-09-29

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: Robert Carl Oldis

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Biography

Bob Oldis was a professional baseball player born in 1928, who played in the Major Leagues from 1953 until his retirement in 1963. Primarily a position player, Oldis appeared in 135 games throughout his career, showcasing his versatility and determination on the field. He recorded 56 hits, including one home run, and drove in 22 runs, finishing his career with a batting average of .237. Known for his steady presence, he made his mark during a transformative era in baseball, which saw the sport evolving through the post-war years into the more modern game. Oldis's playing style was characterized by his fundamental approach and consistent defense, valuable traits during a time when teams began to emphasize a balance between power and strategy. His contributions may not have garnered the spotlight of some of his contemporaries, but he played an important role as a dependable player within the teams he was a part of. While he did not steal any bases during his career, his overall performance reflected the grit and determination of players who navigated the complex dynamics of the game in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
135 236 20 56 6 0 1 22 0 20 22 0.237 0.297 0.275 0.572 -370.6

Career AVG .237 vs. league average .257 across their career seasons — 7.6% below league average.

Career OBP .297 vs. league average .326 across their career seasons — 9.0% below league average.

Career SLG .275 vs. league average .390 across their career seasons — 29.4% below league average.

Career OPS 0.572 vs. league average 0.716 across their career seasons — 20.1% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1953 WSN AL 7 16 0 4 0 0 0 3 0 1 2 0.250 — — — — 0.0
1954 WSN AL 11 24 1 8 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 0.333 — — — — 0.0
1955 WSN AL 6 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1960 PIT NL 22 20 1 4 1 0 0 1 0 1 2 0.200 — — — — 0.0
1961 PIT NL 4 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1962 PHI NL 38 80 9 21 1 0 1 10 0 13 10 0.263 .257 (+2%) .326 (+12%) .393 (-21%) .719 (-6%) -18.8
1963 PHI NL 47 85 8 19 3 0 0 8 0 3 5 0.224 .246 (-9%) .308 (-19%) .371 (-30%) .680 (-25%) -351.8

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1960 WS PIT 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
3B 2 2 0 0 0 0
C 120 54 422 40 8 12

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1953 WS1 C 7 0 23 3 0 1
1954 WS1 3B 2 2 0 0 0 0
1954 WS1 C 8 6 30 2 2 0
1955 WS1 C 6 2 12 1 0 0
1960 PIT C 22 3 42 2 0 0
1961 PIT C 4 1 11 3 0 3
1962 PHI C 30 23 134 14 2 4
1963 PHI C 43 19 170 15 4 4

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 120
Third Base 1