Bob Speake

Born: 8/22/1930 in Springfield, MO, USA

Died: 10/3/2024 in Topeka, KS, USA

MLB Debut: 1955-04-16 | Final Game: 1959-06-08

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 178 lbs

Full name: Robert Charles Speake

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Biography

Bob Speake was a professional baseball player born in 1930, who made his mark as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1955 to 1959. Over the course of his career, Speake played in 305 games, showcasing his skills primarily as an outfielder. He recorded a total of 170 hits, including 31 home runs, and drove in 104 runs, finishing his career with a batting average of .223. Known for his power potential, Speake contributed to his teams with both his offensive capabilities and his speed on the bases, achieving 8 stolen bases. Speake's career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, marked by the post-war expansion of the league and the increasing integration of players from diverse backgrounds. His playing style reflected the evolving nature of the game, where power hitters began to emerge as key components of team success. Although his career was relatively short-lived, Speake remains a part of baseball history, contributing to the rich tapestry of the sport during a vibrant period in its development.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
305	761	110	170	26	10	31	104	8	80	158	0.223	0.301	0.406	0.707	-246.2

Career AVG .223 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — 13.3% below league average.

Career OBP .301 vs. league average .326 across their career seasons — 7.8% below league average.

Career SLG .406 vs. league average .393 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.707 vs. league average 0.719 across their career seasons — near 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
1955	CHC	NL	95	261	36	57	9	5	12	43	3	28	71	0.218	.258 (-16%)	.332 (-10%)	.393 (+9%)	.726 (avg)	-47.1
1957	CHC	NL	129	418	65	97	14	5	16	50	5	38	68	0.232	.257 (-10%)	.323 (-8%)	.391 (+3%)	.715 (-2%)	-220.1
1958	SFG	NL	66	71	9	15	3	0	3	10	0	13	15	0.211	.257 (-18%)	.324 (+3%)	.394 (-4%)	.719 (-1%)	20.9
1959	SFG	NL	15	11	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	0.091	—	—	—	—	0.0