Topps baseball card - 1952 Series, #249
Robert Henry (Bobby) Adams (December 14, 1921 - February 13, 1997) was a third baseman/second baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1946 through 1959, he played for the Cincinnati Reds & Redlegs (1946-1955[start]), Chicago White Sox (1955[end]), Baltimore Orioles (1956) and Chicago Cubs (1957-1959). Adams batted and threw right handed. He was born in Tuolumne County, California.
In a 14-season career, Adams posted a .269 batting average with 37 home runs and 303 RBI in 1281 games played.
Adams started his major league career in 1946 with Cincinnati as their regular second baseman. Despite his infield background, the next five years he served mostly as a backup for Grady Hatton (3B) and Connie Ryan (2B). Finally, Adams became the regular third baseman for Cincinnati in 1951. His most productive season came in 1952, when he led the National League in singles (152), at-bats (637) and games (154), while batting .283 with career-numbers in hits (180) and doubles (25). One of his career highlights was getting 6 consecutive pinch hits (2 short of 1-season record) for the Cubs in 1958.
In the 1955 midseason, Adams was purchased by the Chicago White Sox. Traded to the Baltimore Orioles before 1956, he also played and coached for the Chicago Cubs from 1957-59, helping young infielders improve their play.
Following his playing career, Adams continued as a coach with the Cubs. In 1966, the organization named him manager for Triple-A Tacoma Cubs of the Pacific Coast League. But Adams’ six-year tenure in Tacoma ended in 1971 when Chicago pulled out of Tacoma, moving its team to Midland, Texas. After that, he retired from baseball.
Bobby Adams died in Gig Harbor, Washington, at age 75.
Facts[]
- Adams broke a no-hitter when he hit a lead-off home run against Phillies pitcher Robin Roberts. After that, Roberts retired the next 27 batters en route to a one-hit, 8–1 victory over the Redlegs (May 13, 1954).
- His brother Dick played briefly with the Phillies in 1947, and his son Mike played with the Twins, Cubs and Athletics between 1972 and 1978.
External links[]
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